Mission CISD names finalist for superintendent, Place 7 appointee

Dr. Cris Valdez

During a special meeting on Wednesday, the Mission CISD Board of Trustees named Cris Valdez as the finalist for superintendent.

“I adore Mission; this is home for me,” Valdez said in a news release Thursday. “This was where my journey in executive leadership began, and I can’t wait to get started.

With 32 years of experience in education, Valdez’s most recent role was the deputy director for curriculum, instruction and assessment at the Region One Education Service Center.

Through 2017 and 2018, Valdez served as interim superintendent at Mission CISD.

Previously, Valdez served as interim superintendent in Weslaco ISD in 2021 following former Superintendent Priscilla Canales’ resignation.

On May 27, after voting to place former Superintendent Carol Perez on administrative leave with pay, the school district named Valdez as interim superintendent.

Valdez will officially begin her tenure as superintendent after a required 21-day waiting period before the hiring is finalized, the release stated.

“I thank the board for the honor, trust, and confidence they have in me,” Valdez said in the release.

Minnie R. Rodgers

In the same meeting, the board of trustees also appointed Jesus Daniel Martinez to the Place 7 board seat, following Minnie R. Rodgers’ resignation. The board accepted Rodgers’ resignation on Aug. 2.

The district said in the release that the Place 7 board position was publicly posted for 10 days to invite community applications.

“Following the application period, the board conducted an anonymous vote to select the top candidates, narrowing the field to four individuals who were then invited for interviews,” the release stated.

Currently serving as a watch commander with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Martinez is also noted in the news release as being an active parent in the Mission CISD’s community and regularly participates in school activities and events.

Martinez will be sworn in during a special meeting on Sept. 2, with the district adding that the Place 7 seat will be up for reelection in 2026.

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