SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Independent School District Board of Trustees voted on July 20, 2026, to appoint Adrian Bustillos as superintendent. Bustillos is expected to begin his role in August 2026.

Bustillos was voted as a finalist for the role on June 24, 2026, following a nationwide search. The board discussed submitting a request to waive the superintendent certification requirement for Bustillos during the July 20 meeting, as he did not yet hold the specific credential.

Board President Alicia Sebastian expressed support for the appointment. "We believe Adrian Bustillos is the leader for this moment," she said.

Bustillos outlined his approach in a statement. "From the moment I began learning about the students, families, staff and community partners who make this district so special, I was inspired by the shared commitment to student success," Bustillos said. He added that he intends to collaborate with district stakeholders. "I look forward to listening, building relationships, and working alongside our dedicated educators and families to ensure every student has the opportunities, support, and encouragement they need to thrive," he said.

The appointment drew objection from at least one board member regarding Bustillos' professional history. "I have concerns. He was involved in a cheating scandal at El Paso ISD," Board Member Jacob Ramos said. Bustillos worked as an assistant principal at El Paso Independent School District prior to his tenure in Aldine.

Records show Bustillos served a yearlong probated suspension sanctioned by the Texas Education Agency in 2017. The sanction coincided with a broader investigation into academic fraud at El Paso ISD, which resulted in the district’s accreditation being downgraded to probation. The controversy involved manipulating student test participation and accountability data.

Bustillos succeeds Jaime Aquino as superintendent. Aquino announced in March 2026 that he will retire from the district in January 2027. Under Texas law, superintendent finalists must wait 21 days before formal appointment, a requirement that aligned with Bustillos’ August start date.