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The Victoria Independent School Districtòòò½ÊÓƵ™s (VISD) superintendent of schools, Sheila Collazo, introduced five major North Star Goals the district has identified and is targeting for the immediate future.

Those priorities are: Exemplary student outcomes, empowered staff, safe and innovative schools, authentic partnerships and operational excellence.

The district saw a drastic change in personnel in November 2024 with Collazoòòò½ÊÓƵ™s hiring. It put an end to the months-long search for a replacement for Quintin Shepherd, who departed from the district earlier last year.

Collazo laid out the districtòòò½ÊÓƵ™s plan for widespread improvement at the Victoria Chamber of Commerceòòò½ÊÓƵ™s February chamber luncheon. VISD serves 13,000 students, employs 2,400 staff members, has 21 comprehensive traditional schools and four specialized campuses.

The district is larger than 90 percent of school districts in Texas.

òòò½ÊÓƵœWe have a lot of impact,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Collazo said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe are the largest district in the region and that comes with a lot of responsibility. What we know to be true is that a strong Victoria requires strong schools. People are going to move here. People will invest here. When the schools are strong, we are where we need to be.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Collazoòòò½ÊÓƵ™s previous system of schools featured only one campus that was not deemed òòò½ÊÓƵœlow-performingòòò½ÊÓƵ� when she began her position. By the time she departed, the system had received an A rating and featured a National Blue Ribbon School, a distinction awarded to only 30 campuses across the state each year.

òòò½ÊÓƵœOur North Star Goal ensures that every single one of our 13,000 students progresses through the system with the knowledge, the skills and the disposition to graduate college, career, military and most importantly, citizenship ready,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Collazo said.

Collazoòòò½ÊÓƵ™s plan centers on excellence and driving home the concept that òòò½ÊÓƵœexcellence begins with me.òòò½ÊÓƵ� Her proven track record of improving schools and districts was a major factor in her hiring at VISD. Collazo introduced her North Star Goal for the district and focused on preparing students to enter the work force.

òòò½ÊÓƵœAs you say òòò½ÊÓƵ˜excellence begins with me,òòò½ÊÓƵ™ and every student says òòò½ÊÓƵ˜excellence begins with me,òòò½ÊÓƵ™ we will infiltrate our system with the whole idea of excellence,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Collazo said. òòò½ÊÓƵœAs soon as you start shifting the bar, you change expectations.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Collazo identified the districtòòò½ÊÓƵ™s first goal, exemplary student outcomes, as an absolute non-negotiable. She identified this goal, educating students and increasing their academic and social success, as the heartbeat of educational work. This is the districtòòò½ÊÓƵ™s biggest North Star goal.

The quality of a teacher in the classroom has a major impact on the success of the students. The second North Star Goal looks to empower staff to improve the overall educational experience for students and VISD employees.

Approximately 19 percent of VISD teachers are participating in an alternative certification program. Collazo and district administration have planned out the full summer schedule and centered it around building up teacher capacity.

The district will continue to fight for increased teacher wages as well. This would help VISD acquire and attain more qualified instructors.

òòò½ÊÓƵœWhat will it take to ensure that every teacher has the knowledge and skills needed to be a highly effective teacher that stands in front of every single classroom? Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve done it before. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll do it again,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Collazo said.

The North Star Goal òòò½ÊÓƵœsafe and innovative schoolsòòò½ÊÓƵ� is crucial for promoting a safe learning environment and encouraging the pursuit of additional education. VISD looks to address both external and internal safety threats, including bullying on campuses.

Collazo is putting an emphasis on preparing kids for the next generation of work. The district will look to improve upon their P-TECH Academy by adding higher level certifications. The number of CTE programs of study will be increased.

VISD will encourage students to pursue higher learning while in high school through dual-credit and advanced placement (AP) coursework, P-TECH and CTE. The district will promote student efforts to earn associates degrees while in school as well.

Collazoòòò½ÊÓƵ™s plan to further develop VISDòòò½ÊÓƵ™s P-TECH and CTE programs works in tandem with the fourth North Star goal, authentic partnerships.

òòò½ÊÓƵœPartnerships are important, and we are thinking about it in terms of how those partnerships benefit students directly,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Collazo said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThings that will help students as they transition into jobs are going to be critical.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Operational excellence, the final North Star goal, places an emphasis on the districtòòò½ÊÓƵ™s finances and facilities. VISD has a strong financial system, receiving an A rating, or super achievement, on the most recent Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) evaluation.

Collazo addressed the districtòòò½ÊÓƵ™s fund balance and the need to maintain an excess to ensure VISD can be supported in the event of a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

VISD has been operational for 126 years and requires facility maintenance and upgrades. In recent years, the district has replaced HVAC systems and routinely maintained facilities, showing them the attention they need to go another 100 years, Collazo said.