Mr. Jesse Hernandez
Southside ISD School Board President
Southside ISD Board of Trustees President Mr. Jesse Hernandez began his service on the board in May 2018. As a dedicated father, businessman, and homeowner, Mr. Hernandez’s community service is focused on the District’s 6,000 students. Under his leadership and working with the Board of Trustees and staff, Southside is now one of the top 5 school districts in San Antonio. Mr. Hernandez is proud to see our students thrive over the years. Mr. Hernandez is the CPS Energy Senior Director of Equity, Community Strategy and Engagement. He has been with the utility for the last 12 years. He previously worked for 16 years with local grocery giant H-E-B. Mr. Hernandez is proud of Southside being one of the top 5 schools in San Antonio. As board president, the district has invested in resources and in staff which has caused our students to shine as the bright stars that they are.
Mrs. Katie Farias
Southside ISD School Board Vice President
Mrs. Katie Farias is the Board Vice- President. She has served as a board member since 2019. Mrs. Farias is a proud mother of two school aged children, Niya Marie and Xzavier Gabriel, and a loving wife to her husband of 20 years, Mr. Gabe Farias. Mrs. Farias feels that the transformation of our school district has been one of the greatest team efforts in South Texas school history. Mrs. Farias’s passion for the Southside ISD runs deep as she has been a volunteer at Gallardo Elementary and volunteered and contributed to several community programs and non-profits in the area. Mrs. Farias currently serves as the District Director for State Senator Roland Gutierrez which encompasses the Southside Independent School District. Mrs. Farias is a passionate advocate for public education and ensuring that our children learn in a safe environment.
Mrs. Brenda Nagelhout-Olivarez
Southside ISD School Board Treasurer
Mrs. Brenda Nagelhout-Olivarez serves as the Board Secretary. She is married to Mr. Alfred Olivarez who is a graduate of Southside ISD and has six amazing grandchildren who are part of their everyday lives whether it is attending games or cheering on the pep squad. Mrs. Olivarez has over 25 years of working as a Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) Specialist. During her time as a PEIMS Specialist, Mrs. Olivarez earned a Certification (CTSBO) from TASBO (Texas Association of School Business Officials) in 3 different areas: PEIMS, Human Resources, and Management Information Systems. Mrs. Olivarez is currently a Senior Client Support Analyst for Frontline Education. Mrs. Olivarez is committed to serving the community and students of Southside ISD. She is currently part of the Leadership Texas Association of School Boards (LTASB) cohort to be a Master Board Member. Her goal is to develop positive relationships with students, staff, and community through accountability, communication, and trust.
Ms. Margarita Morales
Southside ISD School Board Trustee
Southside ISD Trustee Maggie Morales is a proud Cardinal and 2011 Southside High School graduate. Mrs. Morales loves spending time with her family and her adorable dogs and cat. Ms. Morales is a dedicated community activist who is working to build a brighter community for future Cardinals and their families. Ms. Morales grew up in the Southside Community and recognized various levels of inequality that lead to children’s scholastic and athletic performance. Those disparities helped shape her into the trusted leader she is today. Ms. Morales graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Government from the University of the Incarnate Word and earned her Master’s Degree in Non-profit Management from Our Lady of the Lake University. As a community advocate, Ms. Morales has worked to make life better for immigrants as a Faith in Public Life campus organizer at the University of the Incarnate Word.
Mrs. Lisa L. Salazar
Southside ISD School Board Trustee
Mrs. Lisa L. Salazar was first elected to the Southside ISD Board in 2006-2013. She has served a short term as Secretary and six years as President, making history as the first female. During this time, she was successful with graduating Leadership Texas Association of School Boards (LTASB) as a Master Trustee with the State of Texas in 2008 and has over 300 continuing education credits through TASB. In 2008, she was a State Conference presenter. She was re-elected to serve in 2019 but began sitting as a member of the board in May 2022. She is a 1986 graduate of SISD and a 2016 graduate of Alamo Colleges, Palo Alto, a 2018 graduate of Texas A&M San Antonio with a B.A. and a 2022 graduate of Schreiner University with a Master of Business Administration degree. Mrs. Salazar currently serves as the Child Nutrition/Custodial Services Director for a local school district. Mrs. Salazar is an Army Brat and attended both DOD schools as well as public. Her father retired here in San Antonio in 1984. She has been married to her husband, Richard (Rick), for over thirty years, and together they have one daughter, one son, and two grandchildren. Both of their children are graduates of Southside High School.
Mrs. Mary Silva
Southside ISD Board Trustee
Mrs. Mary Silva is a long-time Southside ISD community member who has a long history connected to the school district. For 38 years, Mrs. Silva worked as the district’s Bilingual Community Liaison, Title I Reading Aid at Southside Junior High School (present day Losoya Middle School), Librarian at Southside Junior High School (present day Losoya Middle School), Attendance and PEIMS clerk at Southside Junior High School and Matthey Middle School, and as a substitute teacher. Mrs. Silva genuinely cares about our students and wants to assist in making the district better. Mrs. Silva volunteers her time organizing the Kym Rapier Verette Food Pantry. Mrs. Silva has been married to Mr. Johnny Silva for 52 years. They have three children, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
Mrs. Mary Belle Unger-Robles
Southside ISD Board Trustee
Mrs. Robles started serving as a board member in September 2022. Mrs. Robles taught business education for 10 years at Matthey Middle School prior to retiring. After retirement, she continued to support the district as a substitute teacher. She hopes her leadership role is an example to the district’s students. Mrs. Robles wants to give the students from Southside something to look forward to after graduation. Mrs. Robles absolutely loves supporting our Southside students. She is at every football game no matter where the team plays and supports our students at academic and athletic activities. Mrs. Robles is a 1970 graduate of Southside High School, married mother of four children, 13 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.