After serving as an interim, Matias Segura has been officially named the new superintendent of Austin Independent School District. The announcement comes roughly 18 months after the district has been without a permanent leader. In a decision aimed at bringing lasting stability, the board unanimously appointed Segura, who will earn a base salary of $362,250 annually.
Segura has the hefty task to quickly address a multi-million-dollar deficit, now whittled down from $52 million to about $30 million. In a statement obtained by the Austin Monitor, he emphasized a commitment to investing in the staff "to take a meaningful step in ensuring that, over a period of time, the folks that support AISD have the opportunity to live in the community they serve."
Alongside the financial challenges, Segura has prioritized improving the district's special education services. According to the Austin Monitor's interview, the district has already made progress by adding 50 new special education teacher positions and offering a $7,000 stipend to attract suitable candidates for these challenging roles.
Recruitment and retention efforts don't stop with compensation, as Segura made clear. The district launched an initiative to "strategically abandon" excessive demands placed on teachers over years, aiming to create more balanced workloads. "I do not want teachers to worry about whether they’re safe," Segura told the Austin Monitor. He insisted that he wants teachers to focus only on education and the student experience within classrooms.
Segura's rapport with the community is reflected through his transparent and open approach. Regularly updating his calendar for public access and spending time on campuses, he encourages community engagement at every level of the district. Reflecting on his own experiences as an AISD graduate, Segura shared with Austin Monitor the diverse influences on his education journey, from family to district employees, underscoring the message that individual success is a collective endeavor and "we want you to be you."
The full interview with Matias Segura detailing his vision and plans for Austin ISD can be found via the Austin Monitor's report.
