La Joya ISD — a look at the first year under state intervention
La Joya ISD just completed its first school year under Texas Education Agency intervention, and state-appointed Superintendent Dr. Marcey Sorensen said it’s been a year of tough decisions for long-term district success.
Sorensen and the state-appointed board of managers (replacements for the elected board of trustees) came into the district in February 2024 and spent the first year and a half shaking things up at La Joya ISD. Throughout the 2024-25 school year, they introduced new leadership, announced the consolidation and closure of schools, reduced 261 staff positions, adopted new curriculum, adjusted financial practices and discovered some questionable longstanding special education practices. But the new regime also wiped out a $20 million deficit. Leadership and the board provided 4% raises, invested $3 million in classroom technology, restructured positions to boost student outcomes and worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the community on how to build a better future at La Joya ISD during the strategic planning process.
The superintendent described the past year as an amazing and hard experience, but she considers herself fortunate to be La Joya ISD’s leader. She commended the community for its legacy and pride that anchor the district.
“I mean, you have generations of families that have not only gone here, graduated from here, worked here, but people who have lineage who were founders of this district. And that’s not anything I’ve ever experienced,” Sorensen said. “So there is a deep investment in the success of this district; that is rare and that is beautiful…But then it is also hard to make change and make the adjustments that need to be made when you have a district that is so rooted in history and legacy and tradition.”
Sorensen and the rest of La Joya ISD leadership spent the last few months getting well-acquainted with all facets of the community. The district held 23 town halls and 24 advisory committees, with 1,150 participants in various meetings. Many of the district’s program changes are due to stakeholder feedback at these gatherings. Some of those changes — which will go into effect next year — include expanding behavior and mental health resources, creating avenues for more community representation and reimagining the athletics program. At the June 18 school board meeting, several La Joya ISD community members spoke about their positive experiences during the collaborative process.
La Joya ISD alum and Mission CISD Coach Pamela Flores commended the superintendent for introducing female athletic coordinators to the district for the first time in La Joya ISD history.
“I’ve had the privilege of engaging in honest and, at times, difficult conversations with our superintendent, Dr. Marcey Sorensen,” Flores said. “In those conversations, I voiced a concern shared by many — the lack of female leadership representation in our athletic department across both our high schools and middle schools. What followed is what I believe leadership is truly about. Dr. Sorenson, you did not just hear me, you listened, and more than that, you acted.”
Palmview High School Girls Varsity Basketball Head Coach Katy Garza thanked the board and the superintendent for the coaching stipend increase. Vanessa Brown, a long-time LJISD educator, praised the district for investing in dual language education, which her pre-k-age son enjoys. Jesus Garza spoke on behalf of the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) and commended LJISD leadership for reinstating special education stipends.
“We want to begin by expressing our gratitude for being included in decisions and conversations this year in a meaningful way,” Garza said. “Having a seat at the table means a great deal to our members. It reflects a district leadership that values transparency, collaboration and trust.”
However, even with the praise, the superintendent knows there is still a long way to go to get the district where it needs to be. While there were many successes — particularly in the district’s honesty and transparency practices — she believes they could have done better with customer service and instruction. Sorensen stated that she is not pleased with end-of-the-year student outcomes. But she also understands there is a learning curve when implementing a new pedagogy. The state has not finalized STAAR test results, so the superintendent did not want to discuss her concerns.
Much of the 2024-25 school year was about taking a temperature check on the ins and outs of La Joya ISD. But next year, it’s time to start the work, Sorensen said, beginning with the strategic plan. Administration spent months gathering information, now, they’re putting the data together and building what the superintendent calls the “roadmap” for the next five years. She said the district plans to reveal the strategic plan in August. 
“There’s going to be real clarity for everyone on what the next five years of this journey will look like,” Sorensen said. “And not that we won’t be tweaking and adjusting, but people will have a much more solid plan moving forward.”
Although La Joya ISD concluded the strategic planning process, Sorensen said the district will still hold town halls on the strategic plan implementation. She also intends to continue with advisory committees for all stakeholder groups.
It’s been a year of adjustments with more to come, the superintendent said. But it’s all in the district’s best interest. And as district leader, Sorensen assured that she would continue to handle the challenges with care and candor.
“You’ve gotta think about the long term outcome. You’re going to make some tough decisions in the short term, but that’s going to be the long term success,” she said. “So I think there’s gonna be some pain points in the short term that are real; I’m not minimizing any of it, it’s very serious for those experiencing it. But I think about the investment that we will then make in programs, that then yield postsecondary results for kids, that change family trajectories.”
She continued.
“The district has been here for a hundred years,” Sorensen said. “It’s my job to make sure it’s thriving for 100 years m
Editor’s Note:
The headline and article have been updated to reflect the fact that TEA does not run the day-to-day operations of La Joya ISD and the Board of Managers. You can learn more about Boards of Managers here: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/school-boards/school-governance/board-of-managers
