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HARLINGEN — The Harlingen school board is launching a national search for the district’s next superintendent after officials announced Superintendent Alicia Noyola is retiring after more than two years on the job.
After a May 9 executive session meeting, officials announced Noyola was retiring.
“The board is committed to a national search process to identify the best possible candidate to lead the district,” officials stated.
Noyola is retiring effective Aug. 31, Marcy Martinez, the district’s spokeswoman, stated.
“I leave confident that the district is well-positioned to navigate the future challenges and opportunities in education,” Noyola stated. “Our exceptional staff and resilient students will undoubtedly continue to achieve greatness and make our community proud.”
As part of the district’s announcement, board President Bobby Muniz stated he had “mixed emotions” amid Noyola’s retirement.
“It is with mixed emotion that we bid goodbye to our superintendent,” he stated. “Dr. Noyola’s dynamic and bold leadership combined with her understanding of the importance of having systems in place in order for an organization to function at a high level has positioned our district to face the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.”
GUIDING DISTRICT THROUGH PANDEMIC
Hired at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Noyola guided the district “through perhaps its most difficult time in history” while marking accomplishments, officials stated.
“Despite this challenge, Dr. Noyola, along with the board of trustees, staff and community partners, implemented numerous innovative programs to continue to elevate student learning,” the district stated. “This included opening an Early Childhood Academy for the district’s youngest learners, systematically rolling out a dynamic approach to learning that fosters individualized student learning pathways and student academic ownership and attaining IB (International Baccalaureate) designation for three campuses.”
“Under her leadership, HCISD received approval as a Teacher Incentive Allotment district that allows qualifying teachers an opportunity to make up to an additional $25,000, and she positioned the district for increased innovation through the development of a new strategic plan,” the district stated.
BACKGROUND
In December 2020, the school board taped Noyola for the district’s top administrative position after Superintendent Arturo Cavazos resigned after eight years on the job.
After serving as the district’s chief Academic Officer for eight years, Noyola, who had previously served eight years as Vela Middle School’s principal, took the district’s top job.
Noyola holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas-Pan American, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas-Brownsville and a doctorate from the University of Houston.
Editor’s note: This story was corrected to reflect that Noyala is retiring.
