SISD’s new superintendent begins today

Today is the first day of school for the new superintendent of the Socorro Independent School District.

Dr. Jose Espinoza’s hiring was announced on Sept. 4 during an SISD board meeting. Espinoza served as an associate superintendent with Houston ISD and has been in education for 16 years, also working in the Rio Grande Valley.

“I’m familiar with border towns and as a child growing up in poverty, I know what many of the Socorro students are going through,” Espinoza told ABC-7 after his hiring was made public last Tuesday.

Espinoza recorded a video message played at schools across the district Monday morning, introducing himself and encouraging open communication with students and faculty. Campus visits are scheduled for the rest of the day, with a welcoming reception tonight at the SISD Services Center.

The board signed Espinoza to a three-year contract at $240,000 annually, with a monthly allowance of $1,300.