Austin school board picks Matias Segura to serve as interim superintendent

The Austin school board on Thursday night tapped Matias Segura, chief of operations, to serve as interim superintendent for the next six months while officials search for a permanent leader for the 74,000-student district.

Segura will replace interim Superintendent Anthony Mays, who is leaving the Austin district this month to become the superintendent at the Alief school district in Southwest Houston.

"I really want to do a good job in this community," said Segura, who will begin his new role Jan. 3. "It’s an honor and it’s a privilege to serve this district. I do love it so dearly."

School board trustees hope Segura will guide Austin schools with a steady hand during a time of significant transition for the district, which is facing teacher retention issues, criticisms of its special education program and the rollout of a $2.4 billion bond voters approved last month.

As chief of operations, Segura heads construction, facilities and maintenance, and he largely led the execution of the $1.1 billion bond voters approved in 2017. Segura has worked for the district almost five years and has a construction management background. He previously oversaw several major construction projects at Travis County.

'He loves Austin independent schools'

A district graduate whose mother taught in Austin schools, Segura will become interim superintendent with the school board's unanimous approval. Those in attendance at the board meeting Thursday celebrated the announcement with applause and a standing ovation.

"I feel really good that you’re going to be the person who is going to lead our district during the next 180 days," District 8 Trustee Noelita Lugo told Segura, tearing up as she spoke about the incoming top administrator.

Segura is a servant leader who loves the community, she said.

District 1 Trustee Candace Hunter said the board wanted someone with passion and who listens to the community to lead the district.

"He loves Austin independent schools and wants what’s best for it," she said of Segura.

He said his priories will include overseeing the $2.4 billion bond, the largest in Austin school history; shepherding the district through its budget process; and improving teacher pay.

"Our teachers are struggling," Segura said. "It is difficult right now to be an educator, period, but also more difficult in Austin, Texas, given how expensive it is."

He also vowed to embrace stability, while addressing needs in areas such as special education and multilingual services.

"There are some things that we really need to think about and invest in and build systems around," Segura said. "It can't wait, because at the end of the day our students are going to show up every single day. Our teachers are going to show up every single day."

The Austin district is in a time of transition, board President Arati Singh said Thursday, hours before naming Segura to the top job.

“We have the potential to become the best district that we’ve ever been with unprecedented student achievement, employees that are excited about working here and families that are valued,” Singh said.

In choosing the interim leader, the board focused on special education and multilingual programs; staff morale and pay; and handling the recently approved bond. It also wanted a chief who could devote attention to Mendez Middle School, where administrators have struggled to bring academic performance up to state standards.

By the time a permanent superintendent starts next year, Austin schools will have had five top administrators in four years.

Mays, the current interim superintendent, announced Nov. 10 that he was leaving the job at the end of the semester. The Alief district named him its lone superintendent finalist a day earlier.

The Austin district is facing challenges attracting and retaining teachers and with guiding students out of the tumultuous pandemic years.

Mays has served in the top administrative post since June, when Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde left Austin to become the Dallas school district’s superintendent.

Elizalde had been the Austin district's superintendent since August 2020, when she replaced Paul Cruz, who had been in the role since 2015.

Mays earns $213,492.25 annually, plus gets a $6,812.50 stipend monthly for his interim superintendent responsibilities, according to the district. Elizalde’s starting salary in 2020 was $325,000.

With the selection of an interim superintendent, the board will now turn its sights to finding a permanent leader.

“As we begin the process to hire a new permanent superintendent, we open a new chapter,” Singh said.

Board members have voiced a desire for more transparency in its search for a new leader.

The district on Dec. 6 advertised its need for a third-party search firm, and the board is scheduled to select a company in January.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin school district selects interim superintendent