Biography
Dr. Matthew Gutierrez, Seguin ISD superintendent, possesses a bachelor’s degree from Angelo St. University, a master’s degree from Schreiner University and a doctorate from Texas Tech University.
Since being named Seguin ISD superintendent in July 2017, Dr. Gutierrez’s priority is to guide the district down an ambitious path toward overall improvement. Upon his hire, he unveiled a 90 Day Plan to build a framework of community engagement designed to help meet the needs of the 7,000 students in the district.
This was based on the creation of Task Forces, comprised of educators and community members, designed to develop a plan of action to address areas of opportunity in Special Education, Multilingual and Bilingual Education/English as a Second Language, GT/Advanced Academics and Post Secondary Readiness.
As a result, a strategic plan was created in 2018 to serve as a foundation for the daily operations of the district. The three strategic priorities include 1) Improve student learning through improved instructional practice, 2) Engage parents, industry and community partners to enrich the experience of students and staff and to establish Seguin ISD an integral part of the community.
More than 60 community members, students and staff participated in a strategic plan redesign during the spring of 2022. This process built upon and the 2018 strategic plan and helped increase scope and focus. The goal is to continuously improve Seguin schools through the vision, mission and objectives of the strategic plan, which was approved by trustees during summer 2022.
Community engagement efforts include the creation of the Key Communicators committee of 40 community members. These committee members serve as ambassadors for the district to help promote the successes that are occurring daily in Seguin ISD schools.
In an effort to recognize the importance of student feedback, Dr. Gutierrez hosts the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Team. This committee of 24, which meets monthly, is composed of a student representative from each campus who shares important information about his/her school and educational experience with district leadership.
Dr. Gutierrez initiated an independent facilities assessment of district campuses and buildings and the established a facilities committee to solicit vital community input. As a result, in May 2019 voters approved, by a margin of two to one, a $64.7 million bond election. A bond oversight committee of community members adds a layer of accountability for the financial and construction aspects of the bond program.
Since Bond 2019, under Dr. Gutierrez’s leadership, Seguin ISD has embarked upon two demographic studies, redrawing elementary school boundaries, the evaluation of trustee single member district boundaries and a second facilities study to help mitigate anticipated community growth.
Bond 2022 totals $138.5 million and is on the ballot for Nov. 8, 2022. It was designed with stakeholder input to address unprecedented growth and aging facilities.
Prior to his tenure at Seguin ISD, Dr. Gutierrez served as assistant superintendent in Plano ISD in 2016-2017, a district with 54,000 students. While in Plano, Dr. Gutierrez implemented flexible Professional Learning Communities to connect more than 4,000 teachers to professional development opportunities in support of their professional growth. Prior to Plano he served as interim superintendent at Little Elm ISD during the 2014-2015 school year and as Deputy Superintendent from 2015-2016. In Little Elm he implemented board committees, town hall forums and an online feedback tool to increase community engagement and connect stakeholders. There, he also facilitated and monitored a five year strategic plan.
He has also served as an elementary principal and middle school assistant principal during his career.
Dr. Gutierrez appreciates the support of the Seguin ISD school board, students, teachers and parents who have entrusted his leadership to transform Seguin into a destination district.