Brownsville ISD retains Jesus H. Chavez as superintendent

The Brownsville Independent School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday retained Superintendent Jesus H. Chavez, opting to extend his contract for another year.

The board initially hired Chavez as interim superintendent in late 2023, luring him out of retirement after 10 years, then persuaded him to stay on in the top job.

On Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to approve Chavez’s annual evaluation, but took no action on his contract and allowed it to roll over for another year.

“Dr. Chavez, I wanted to let you and the community know that you were ranked a strong and effective leader. Thank you so much for your leadership. We appreciate you,” Board President Daniella Lopez Valdez said.

Chavez then said he has glad to be back in Brownsville.

“I was born here, went to Cromack Elementary, Faulk Intermediate, Brownsville High School, which is now Hanna, and Porter. For me, when you think of the first part of my career, which was 35 years, I really had always wanted to be in Brownsville. … For me, it’s always been about doing great work for our students and our community,” Chavez said.

During the meeting’s public comment period, Patrick Hammes, of the employee union BEST-AFT, said Chavez has been unusually easy to work with.

“In working with Dr. Chavez on numerous issues that pertain to our members and educators and employees of this district, we have found him to be a willing listener, we have found him to be open to suggestions, but he is not one who just sits there and rolls over and agrees with us either,” Hammes said.

He added that BEST-AFT invited Chavez to a members meeting, at which he took questions, unfiltered, for an hour and a half. At the end of that time he stepped out into the hallway and took individual questions from individual members, Hammes said, indicating a genuine interest in their concerns.

“We have not had that ever before,” he said.

The meeting was contentious, with blogger Frankie Olivio also speaking during public comment about individuals arrested on charges of having sexual relationships with students at Rivera Early College High School.

The board’s attorney stopped Olivio’s presentation several times for violating board policy on making personal attacks. Finally, Chavez asked to have him removed.

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