AUSTIN, Texas — Matias Segura is officially the new superintendent of the Austin Independent School District (AISD).
The district named Segura the lone finalist for the position in December 2023 but had to wait a mandatory 21-day waiting period before approving his contract.
Segura had been serving AISD as their interim superintendent since December 2022, before being unanimously voted in. There were six finalists for the position, but AISD's board decided against a nationwide search for a permanent replacement.
AISD board president Arati Singh said although Segura was a strong contender and considered the "easy choice," the district was focused on making the "right choice."
"We just wanted to make sure our focus was on the work," Singh said. "We want somebody who is committed to the school district and to our students, and I think [Segura's] roots are here and we're just going to we're just going to take advantage of that."
Singh added that Segura's roots in AISD and connections with his children being part of the district were just additional reasons he was right for the job. Segura attended Kocurek Elementary and Covington Middle School before graduating from Bowie High School. His mother was also a teacher with AISD for more than 40 years.
Segura said during his role as interim superintendent, he and his colleagues have been able to grow and keep the district stabilized. That work included the Texas Education Agency overseeing Austin ISD's special education plan.
"We have been working for the last 11 months, really trying to stabilize, trying to grow, trying to build a system up to begin to move outcomes for our students," Segura said.
Now moving into a more permanent role, Segura said his approach would be different in terms of meeting that growth.
"I care about this organization so deeply, and [I'm] excited about the work ahead," Segura said in December.