"Thanks to my fellow Trustees, my view has significantly widened since the day I stood in the middle of hundreds of acres of undeveloped Northside ISD and literally could not see the trees for the forest. Our Board views the District's success by the opportunities provided for all children to succeed. All Northside Trustees share a vision of excellence for all students. We also strive to ensure that our decisions are based on our vision for all students and not on the individual issue or problem. Unlike the limited view I used to have, now as a member of the Northside Board, I can see the forest in spite of the trees."

Robert Blount, Jr. was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1999 and is Chairman of the Finance Committee and serves on the Academics and Technology committees. He serves as the President of the Bexar County School Boards Coalition, and has achieved the status of "Master Trustee" as a graduate of the TASB Leadership Program.

Blount is the founder and Director of both the Department of Energy Regional Science Bowls in San Antonio and the Texas Solar Race Car Event. His employer, The MITRE Corp., and NISD serve as hosts for both events. He serves as Chair of the Youth Orchestra San Antonio (YOSA), Chair of the TASB Lone Star Investment Pool Board, and Past-President of the Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members. Blount also is on the Board of the P16 Plus Council of Greater Bexar County and the San Antonio Education Partnership.

Blount earned his law degree from George Mason University and holds a master's degree in systems management from St. Mary's University and a bachelor's degree in engineering science from the United States Air Force Academy. Blount and his wife, Sandra Sandoval, have two children, one a graduate of Communications Arts High School and Stanford University, and the other a student at Communications Arts High School.