The United Independent School District is pleased to announce the promotion of Zaida Gonzalez to Executive Director for Elementary Education.
Gonzalez, who most recently served as Director for Elementary Education, brings a wealth of experience and accomplishments to her new role.
“As Executive Director, I'm truly excited to foster even stronger collaboration among our exceptional elementary principals, teachers, and instructional coordinators. Together, we'll build powerful academic opportunities that help every single student achieve academic growth and success,” she said.
“We will ensure elementary students across the district have equitable access to high-quality instruction, resources, and opportunities,” Gonzalez added.
Gonzalez brings 25 years of dedicated service to United ISD, having most recently served as the Director for Elementary Education since 2019. Her distinguished career is marked by significant accomplishments, including her tenure as principal at Andrew Trautmann Elementary School, which earned the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Recognition as an Exemplary High Performing Campus in 2016.
Her exceptional leadership was further recognized when she was named the Excellence in Education HEB Principal of the Year in 2018, and she was also nominated for Woman of the Year by the Laredo Commission for Women in 2016.
Gonzalez’s journey in education began in August 2000 as a 4th-grade teacher at Dr. Henry Cuellar Elementary. She further honed her expertise as a Reading First Literacy Coach at Juarez-Lincoln Elementary, specializing in literacy instruction and student reading achievement.
In March 2007, she transitioned to the Curriculum and Instruction Department as a Special Education Coordinator in Mathematics, providing vital instructional support. After serving as assistant principal at Dr. M.E. Malakoff Elementary, she became the proud principal of Andrew Trautmann Elementary, where her collaborative efforts led to consistent academic excellence.
Prior to her current role, she served as Director of Bilingual Education before becoming Director of Elementary Education, working closely with campus administrators and teachers to foster academic excellence across the district.
Gonzalez holds an Associate in Arts from Laredo Community College (1998), a Bachelor's in Arts in Early Childhood Education (2000), and a Master's in Educational Administration (2007), both from Texas A&M International University.
She firmly believes in the importance of family life and is happily married to Jorge Gonzalez Fisher. They have been married for 24 years and have two wonderful children: Zaida Alexa, 21, and Fisher Jeffrey, 16.
“My spare time is dedicated entirely to my family. We love to get away to the ranch, enjoying nature and making memories. It's a wonderful way to recharge, and it reinforces my belief that truly appreciating the little things in life is key to happiness,” Gonzalez said.
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
