08/25/2026
šÆThis was the BEST start to a school year that Iāve experienced. Iām starting my 22nd year in education (I took a seven-year hiatus to run my own business). Iāve worked in both Louisiana and Texas public schools from a teacher and bus driver to a dean of students, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent. I say all of that to say this: Thank you Ganado ISD students, parents, teachers, staff, administrators, and Board membersā¦you are incredibly awesome! I am blessed to work with you.
Iāve preached it 1,000 timesā¦with staff stability, āall things educationā only gets better. Factā¦elementary schools across the nation dread dismissal the first few weeks of school. Guess whatā¦August 12th - the first day of school - at exactly 4:11 p.m., the last student departed Ganado Elementary School. It looked like mid-November or late March. Will it always be perfectā¦no! Will a student occasionally miss the bus or his/her ride, yes! However, the good will outweigh the bad. Stability proved that parents remembered procedures from the last couple of years. Thus, hereās another thank you to the parents for making our lives easier and most importantly, the lives of our students safer.
The first week was even better when TEA released the 2026 State Accountability Ratings. Wow! Based on the current accountability system, our District earned its highest ever grade, an 83(B) up from a 76(C) in 2025. In Region 3, we jumped 15 places, finishing in 16th across the 37 member schools. This is huge because it means that we GREW our students. How well did we grow our students? Letās start with Ganado Elementaryā¦Team Beldin grew 11 points from a 76(C) in 2025 to an 87(B) in 2026. In the current accountability system, this is Ganado Elementaryās second highest performance. Their growth was the most of any school in the District. Next, Ganado Junior High produced its highest ever score in the current accountability system. Team Guerrero grew 8 points from a 68(D) to a 76(C). Iām so happy for Ganado Junior High! Finally, Ganado High remained a B, jumping 4 points from an 82(B) to an 86(B). Team Martinās 86(B) is the highest performance in the current accountability system. Allow me to reiterate what was posted on our page on August 12thā¦success on the field AND success in the classroom!
Moving on, look out for construction workers in the District for the foreseeable future. The remediation of the foundation at both the elementary and secondary buildings (Phase I) began on August 24th and should finish almost three weeks ahead of schedule. Remember, this is part of the January 10, 2025, settlement in Ganado ISD v. Travelers Ins. Co., et al. Phase II will encompass drainage and elevation. In terms of Bond 2025, architects will soon hold meetings with various stakeholders to begin developing renderings. The wheels are moving!
How can you not be excited if you are an Indian or Maiden? Goodness abounds and enthusiasm is everywhere. From test scores to extracurricular accolades, Ganado is just getting started. As we say around hereā¦Donāt mess with Ganado!
Dr. Szymanski
