As the Alamo Colleges District braces for a round of leadership changes this spring, Northside ISD trustee Gerald Lopez will be stepping into a new role. Unopposed for the seat being vacated by longtime trustee Roberto Zárate, Lopez is set to bring his considerable experience from representing District 2 since 2015 to the higher education board. Lopez, a man familiar with shepherding students' transitions from K-12 to college, vows to continue his community-focused agenda.
Lopez's journey through educational governance is characterized by his attempts to cement the bridge between stages of learning. “Right now it is me taking them from K-12 and getting them ready for a college or career and now I am going to be helping them try to get a career and trying to find opportunities for them to be successful in life [and] to be a productive citizen in the community,” Lopez told the San Antonio Report. His tenure at NISD was marked by initiatives like partnering with Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, an issue close to his heart.
Bobby Blount, the current NISD board president, highlighted Lopez's unique perspective, noting his inclusive consideration of not just parents, but also grandparents in the caregiving equation, an angle that redefined some of the board's mission and decisions. With this thoughtful mindset, Lopez is poised to fill the shoes left by Zárate on the Alamo Colleges District board.
The district also faces other changes, including a contested race for the District 6 seat, with Gene Sprague, a long-serving trustee of 30 years, challenged by Nicolette Ardiente. Ardiente, a 34-year-old community engagement manager, aims to bring her “lived and learned skill set” to advocate for accessible and affordable higher education, she conveyed in a statement obtained by the Express News. This election cycle stands in contrast to that of 2018's crowded field, showcasing a quieter, perhaps more contemplative transition of power within the district.
As Lopez prepares for his new role and the Alamo Colleges District adjusts to its evolving leadership landscape, eyes are also on the search for Lopez's replacement at NISD. The district is seeking candidates to fill the soon-to-be vacant spot with application materials available on NISD’s website until the April 17 deadline. The appointed trustee will have the responsibility of providing stability and continuity until the next trustee election in May 2025.
