ALAMO, Texas - Four former educators have banded together to run as a slate of candidates for election to the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD board of trustees.
The four are: Ricardo Rodriguez, Griselda Quintanilla, Ramona Barron, and Victor Perez. Their slogan is "Moving Forward Together."
Recently, the Rio Grande Guardian conducted individual video interviews with all four candidates to ask why they are qualified to be school board members and why they should be elected. All four provided brief biographical details about themselves.
Ricardo Rodriguez is running for Place 4 on the PSJA school board. His educational accomplishments include a Master’s in Educational Administration from UT-Pan American; a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, also from UT-Pan Am, and a principal’s certificate.
“I am an accomplished and livelong educator at PSJA ISD. I was a teacher and department chair of history for middles schools, and was involved in curriculum writing, training of new teachers and more. As assistant principal, I oversaw curriculum and instruction and was in charge of supervising staff and the educational needs of all students. I also previously served as San Juan city mayor pro-tem. I understand the needs of PSJA ISD employees, students and families, and I am ready to serve,” Rodriguez said.
Ramona Barron is running for Place 6 on the PSJA school board. Her educational accomplishments include a Bachelor of Social Work, from UT-Pan American. She is a PSJA ISD graduate.
“I have dedicated my career to serving South Texas families as a parent family community engagement director with the Texas Migrant Council, where I assisted migrant families with their social services needs and goals. I serve on the Hidalgo County Appraisal District Review Board, where I participate in mediation between the county and property owners. A strong community advocate, I also previously served on the PSJA ISD School Board as well as in other leadership capacities on various local, state and national organizations,” Barron said.
Griselda Quintanilla is running for Place 5 on the PSJA school board. Her educational accomplishments include a Master’s of Education from UT-Pan American, and a Bachelor of Spanish and English, also from UT-Pan Am. She is a PSJA ISD graduate.
“I am a dedicated educator with a career spanning 29 years in public education. I began my career as a middle school Reading teacher, and served as a dean of instruction, coordinator for advanced academics, and director for career and technical education, among other leadership roles at PSJA ISD, Valley View ISD, and Edinburg CISD. Upon retirement, I continued to contribute to education as a field supervisor for an alternative certification program and as a coordinator for Workforce Solutions,” Quintanilla said.
Victor Perez is running for Place 7 on the PSJA school board. His educational accomplishments include a Master of Education Administration from UT-Pan American, and a Bachelor of Science, also from Pan Am. He is a PSJA ISD graduate.
“I am president and CEO of Pharr Economic Development Corporation, where I have championed economic growth while investing in student internships and scholarships. My extensive education background includes serving as an administrator, principal, and director of the Early College High School Academy at Progreso ISD, where I focused on expanding student opportunities. As a former PSJA ISD school board member and city commissioner for Alamo, I deeply understand community needs. I am committed to evading PSJA ISD, its students, families, and staff to educational excellence,” Perez said.
