Welcome Message from Dr. Gerardo Cruz, United ISD's New Superintendent

Gerardo Gabriel Cruz, PhD, has dedicated over 27 years of his career to advocating for advancing educational excellence at Laredo Independent School District (LISD). Some of his core values include integrity, innovation, transparency, trust, and teamwork guide his vision, mission, and goals.

Early Life and Education Born and raised in Laredo, Dr. Cruz is a product of the United Independent School District (UISD) system. He attended Nye Elementary, United Middle School, and United High School class of 1990. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Educational Administration at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU). To further hone the depth and breadth of all matters relating to leadership, teaching, and learning, he pursued and acquired a PhD in Education Administration from Texas A&M University, College Station. His dissertation focused on the impact of high-stakes accountability systems on instructional practices. In addition, he holds multiple certifications from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) including Teacher, Principal, and a Superintendent certification.

Professional Experience

Dr. Cruz's career in education began in 1992 as an elementary teacher’s aide and tutor where he first acquired his skills in supporting student learning and development. His professional teaching career began in 1997. He taught biology, chemistry, and physics at J.W. Nixon High School for several years. Igniting his interest in intervention programs such as LISD Sacred Heart Program and Migrant Project SMART, he developed a deep understanding of individualized instruction for at-risk students. As a teacher turned supervisor, Dr. Cruz created curriculum, supervised instruction, and communicated regularly with classroom teachers on student needs, emphasizing differentiated instruction. His dedication to his work and innovative approach to in-class instruction led to his appointment as Science Coordinator in 2002 and three years later as Science Dean.

Taking on more administrative and leadership roles within the District, Dr. Cruz was selected as the Principal of Cigarroa Middle School, where he established a Parental Involvement Center to strengthen school-parent relations. At this point in his career, he realized the importance of collaborative partnerships with teachers and parents. In 2007, he was promoted to Director of Secondary Education. He worked alongside teachers and principals to develop effective practices in curriculum and instruction. In 2010, his role expanded to include leading the Federal Programs Department, where he worked with the District to prepare and manage a multi-million dollar fiscal federal funds budget and met all compliance regulations.

In 2011, he was selected as the Principal of J.W. Nixon High School. Under his tenure, significant improvements were made to student outcomes, including increased graduation rates, additional opportunities for students to earn college credit through Dual Credit study, added more AP course offerings, and launched CTE Pathways—achieving all of this while J.W. Nixon HS was under construction. During these two challenging years of remodeling, the teacher retention rate was notably high while Dr. Cruz prioritized safety for all, and quality student instruction remained uninterrupted.

In the Fall of 2017, Dr. Cruz was promoted to Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. He implemented effective programs such as wage and salary administration, recruitment and staffing, and employee communication. He interpreted and recommended personnel policies and regulations for the District.

A year later, in 2018, Dr. Cruz was entrusted with the position of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment due to his extensive leadership roles. He has contributed to the District’s recognized success in curriculum and leadership. His accomplishments include leading the department and campus principals to an "A" Rated District by TEA, designing a district-wide curriculum that supports teachers, and collaborating with other departments. In addition, Dr. Cruz has been instrumental in identifying and developing future leaders as part of the Holdsworth Leadership Program. Furthermore, he has presented at state-wide educational conferences representing LISD.

His commitment to higher education began in Fall 2018 as an adjunct professor at TAMIU. Since then, he has taught graduate-level courses in the Department of Education and developed content for courses in Organization and Evaluation of Curriculum, Principalship, School Administration, and Superintendency. Dr. Cruz was recently named the lone finalist for the UISD Superintendent of Schools position.

Personal Life and Legacy

Aside from Dr. Cruz's professional career, family plays a vital role in his life. He has been married to Maria Isela Garza-Cruz for 26 years, and together, they raised three children who are graduates of UISD (Alexander High School).

As a father and an educator, he understands the high expectations set on public education by parents; therefore, he strives to ensure the highest quality educational experience for all students. Furthermore, he aims to build a trusting partnership among students, parents, staff, the school board, and the community. In a recent interview, Dr. Cruz stated, "Being entrusted to lead United ISD makes me feel honored and humbled. I am dedicated to enhancing the District’s long-standing reputation of excellence to guarantee all students access to the best possible education. I'm excited to work with our committed faculty, staff, parents, school board, and community partners to create an atmosphere where every child can flourish and realize his/her full potential." Over the years, he has applied his foundational belief that every student deserves a quality education- a core value that continues to guide him throughout his professional career.

Dr. Gerardo Gabriel Cruz's career is a testament to his unwavering dedication to improving education and empowering students and teachers. His legacy of leadership and innovation continues to inspire future generations of educators.