November 2026 Parent Newsletter

On the cover: Campuses and departments across the district celebrated Red Ribbon Week with rallies, parades, and special events to encourage children of all ages to stay drug-free. 

The Northside ISD Board of Trustees has selected the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Executive Search Services to assist with the search for a new superintendent.

As part of this process, the Board invites school personnel and community members to help develop a leadership profile outlining the qualities desired in the district’s next superintendent. Your input will help identify the characteristics and priorities that will guide the search.

Complete the Leadership Profile Questionnaire. Note: Question 5 has been confusing to some; it is a ranking where you pick a first choice, second choice, etc.

You can reuse the link, so feel free to share it with your child if they would like to provide input. The questionnaire is available in English and Spanish. To access the Spanish version, select “Select another language” at the top of the questionnaire.

Community members are invited to attend a public forum on Monday, November 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Northside Activity Center (7001 Culebra Rd.). The session will be hosted by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), the entity selected by the Board of Trustees to facilitate the superintendent search process, in an effort to collect stakeholder feedback. The session will last approximately 30 to 45 minutes, and no registration is required.

With 13 magnet schools in Northside ISD, students have more opportunities than ever to choose their future. 

The District offers eight magnet high schools and five magnet middle schools in a variety of specialties. Applications open on Monday, Nov. 16 and are accepted through Friday, Jan. 22, 2027. Students will be notified of acceptance via email on Monday, Feb. 1, and will need to accept or decline by Monday, Feb. 8.  

All magnet schools are planning Open Houses, and the District will host two Magnet Fairs in December for families at the Northside Sports Gym and Paul Taylor Field House/Northside Activity Center.

For more information, dates, and deadlines, click here. 

New TEA Graduation Requirement for this school year

Beginning the 2026-27 school year, Texas has a new high school graduation requirement connected to My Texas Future and the state's Direct Admissions program.

 Effective this year, all high school students must meet this requirement before graduating. 

To meet the new state requirement, a student must do one of the following:

• Participate: Establish a profile on My Texas Future and elect to participate in the Direct Admissions program; or
• Opt out: Complete the appropriate opt-out process to decline participation in Direct Admissions.

School counselors will support students in creating their My Texas Future accounts and exploring college and career options as they plan for graduation. Campus- specific dates and scheduling details for completing the Direct Admissions requirement or opting out will be shared through campus November Smores.

Please review the flyer below for more information about the New TEA Graduation Requirement for students beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Stay tuned - new website coming

Northside ISD will launch a new website powered by Apptegy in early December. While visitors will notice a fresh, modern look, the new website represents much more than a design update. It has been built to improve how families, staff, students, and community members access information, connect with schools, and engage with the district. More details to come. 

Partnering for the Future: Talking with Your Student About AI

In Northside ISD, our perspective on artificial intelligence (AI) is clear: technology should support student inquiry, critical thinking, and creativity, never replace authentic student effort, voice, or problem-solving. As AI tools become more integrated into daily learning and life, open conversations at home and school can reinforce academic integrity and healthy digital habits.

If you aren’t sure where to start, use these core guidelines to frame conversations with your child about responsible AI use:

• Know Where AI Is Approved: In Northside ISD, high school students have access to a secure, district-provisioned ("walled garden") Gemini platform and NotebookLM. All students have access to teacher-assigned, curated AI activities through MagicSchool.
• Follow Teacher Expectations: AI guidelines vary by subject and assignment. A teacher may encourage the use of AI to brainstorm ideas or outline study schedules, while another assignment may require completely independent work. Remind your child to check their teacher's explicit directions before using any digital assistant.
• Uphold Academic Integrity: Using AI to clarify a difficult concept supports learning, but submitting AI-generated output as original work violates district academic integrity standards. AI should serve as a thought partner, never an author.
• Evaluate and Fact-Check: AI applications can confidently generate errors or present inaccurate information. Teach your child to verify AI responses against credible educational sources, library databases, and class materials rather than accepting answers at face value.
• Protect Personal Privacy: In alignment with state and district data safety standards, students should never input Personally Identifiable Information (such as full names, student IDs, birthdates, or contact details) into any open AI platform.

Questions to Spark Conversation at Home

• "What guidelines have your teachers shared regarding AI on upcoming assignments?"
• "When working on homework, how do you make sure the final product reflects your original voice and understanding?"
• "If an online tool suggests an answer, how do you double-check that the information is accurate?"

Reinforcing these habits at home ensures our learners continue to use technology ethically, critically, and purposefully across every classroom.

Stevens High School Student-Athlete Honored

Congratulations to Kaleb Ned of Stevens High, who was recognized as a KENS 5 Great Day SA All-Star Athlete during a live segment recently!

An All-District defensive lineman, State Track Meet qualifier in the shot put, National Honor Society member, and Athletics Leadership Council representative, Kaleb continues to shine in athletics, academics, and leadership.

Next year, he'll take his talents to Yale University to play Division I college football.

"We're proud to celebrate your accomplishments and can't wait to see all you achieve, Kaleb," said Interim Superintendent Jessica Palomares. 

Pictures from the live segment recognition are available here. 

Celebrating Two Teachers for Going the Extra Yard

Two NISD educators are being recognized for making a difference in the classroom!

Congratulations to Melissa Tobias of Burke Elementary School and Saul Cepeda of Hobby Health Science Magnet Middle School, who were selected as recipients of the Valero Alamo Bowl’s Extra Yard for Teachers program!

Through this program, the Valero Alamo Bowl, PNC Bank, and the College Football Playoff Foundation celebrate outstanding San Antonio-area educators who make a lasting impact in their classrooms and communities.

Both teachers will receive a $500 DonorsChoose classroom grant to support classroom resources, tickets to attend the Valero Alamo Bowl, and special recognition during the game. They'll also be featured on the stadium video walls when a touchdown is scored.

And the Winner is . . .

Hatchett students recently took part in a district-wide mock election to choose the best fall mascot: Pumpkin or Scarecrow. After students cast their votes, Pumpkin emerged as the overall district winner! 

The fun activity gave students an opportunity to practice the voting process while celebrating the fall season. Congratulations to Team Pumpkin for earning the top spot!

NISD bowlers ready to roll

The NISD High School Bowling League launched its 2026-27 season in style with a festive parade and spirited celebration. School mascots and cheerleaders brought the energy, rallying behind the teams as they gear up for another exciting year on the lanes! For pictures from the kickoff, click here

Click on the graphics to enlarge.