Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) District 2 member, Ruben Cortez, visited Victoria ISD on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021.
During his visit, Cortez toured Smith STEM Academy, Shields Elementary, Personalized Learning campus, and O’Connor ACE Elementary. During Cortez’s visit, he was able to participate in STEM activities around critical thinking and problem solving and see firsthand the small group and online learning, or personalized learning approach. At O’Connor ACE Elementary, Cortez saw firsthand what it means for ACE students every day at school: “Every Student Matters. Every Moment Counts!”
Tuesday afternoon, Cortez met with local media partners, Crossroads Today and the Victoria Advocate.
“It was inspirational,” Cortez said of his visit. “I’ve never seen these kinds of programs implemented at the lower elementary grade levels and it was very impressive. The way the students and teachers engaged with one another was a sight to see.”
Cortez was first elected to the State Board of Education in November 2012 and re-elected to a four-year term in 2014 and 2018. His current term expires Jan. 1, 2023. Cortez served as secretary of the board from February 2015 through January 2019.
He currently serves on the board’s Committee on School Initiatives, which oversees agenda items related to charter schools, State Board for Educator Certification rules, and the appointment of school board members for districts located on military bases. In addition to this, Cortez also currently serves as vice-chair of the Region One Education Service Center Board of Directors.