Brownsville ISD opens search for new superintendent
The Brownsville Independent School District Board of Trustees has launched the search for the district's next Superintendent of Schools and is accepting applications from qualified candidates through May 22 at 12:00 p.m. local time.
The board is conducting a confidential search through its retained search firm, O'Hanlon, Demerath, & Castillo PC. Candidates must apply online at www.808west.com/current-searches. Materials received after the deadline will not be considered, the board said in a news release about the opening.
After placing former Superintendent Jesus H. Chavez on administrative leave earlier this month, the board appointed Alda T. Benavides interim superintendent. Benavides is the former longtime superintendent of La Joya ISD, who retired in 2019 before returning in 2023 to serve two years as the Edcouch-Elsa ISD superintendent.
She is to serve until the new permanent superintendent is named.
Brownsville ISD is one of the largest public school systems in South Texas, serving more than 34,000 students across 50 campuses, including 31 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, seven early college high schools, and two alternative campuses. The district employs more than 5,900 staff members and operates on an annual budget of approximately $609.4 million. Brownsville ISD maintains a 95% four-year graduation rate and earned a B rating in the most recent state accountability cycle.
The board of trustees is seeking an experienced executive leader with a proven track record of success in large, complex public school districts. The ideal candidate will bring strong instructional leadership, fiscal and operational expertise, a collaborative approach to board governance, and a demonstrated commitment to community engagement and student outcomes, the news release stated.
Full qualifications, application requirements, and submission instructions are available in the official posting.
The profile was shaped by extensive community input. Over recent weeks, the board and search firm hosted three community town halls in English, Spanish, and bilingual, a business leaders roundtable, an elected officials roundtable, and meetings with teacher representatives. A District Climate Survey conducted in Spring 2026 drew responses from employees to assist in the creation of the job posting.
Across these sessions, stakeholders consistently called for a leader who is visible and engaged in the community, responsive to the region's evolving workforce needs, committed to substantive engagement with teachers and bilingual families, and accountable in the stewardship of public resources.
These themes are reflected in the qualifications the board is prioritizing: a unifier capable of rebuilding trust across the organization, a clear communicator, a culture-builder who supports staff, a student-centered decision-maker, and a capacity-builder attentive to workload and staffing pressures.
The board anticipates a competitive pool of candidates and expects to name a new superintendent in time for a July 1 start date. Updates on the search process will be shared with the community as the timeline progresses.
For more information about Brownsville ISD, visit www.bisd.us.
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