Harlandale ISD Superintendent Gerardo Soto has been named the 2025 Superintendent of the Year for Region 20 by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). The honor recognizes Soto’s exemplary leadership, public education dedication, and commitment to student success.
The surprise announcement was made by Education Service Center Region 20 Executive Director Dr. Jeff Goldhorn, with Harlandale Board Trustees, district leaders, and Mr. Soto’s family in attendance. As Region 20’s honoree, Mr. Soto will now represent the region in the fall statewide competition at the 2025 TASA/TASB Convention.
Transforming Harlandale ISD
Mr. Soto, who began his career as a paraprofessional aide and now holds over 31 years of experience in education, has served as Harlandale ISD’s superintendent since 2019. His leadership has resulted in transformative changes across the district, including:
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Passage of Bond 2022 – The largest in district history, funding a new CTE Center, Memorial Stadium upgrades, and a future multipurpose arena.
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State’s Highest Financial Rating – Achieved an “A – Superior Achievement” for financial management.
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Career & Technical Education Expansion – Students now earn industry-recognized certifications in trades like barbering, dental, welding, HVAC, and cybersecurity.
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Improved Connectivity – Launched Texas’s first LTE private network with towers and WiFi-enabled buses.
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Mental Health Focus – Introduced the Early Alerts system and expanded services through the Harlandale Care Center.
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Community Partnerships – Collaborated with Toyota, SAWS, the DoSeum, AVANCE, and more to create innovative, hands-on learning opportunities.
A Vision for Student Success
“This recognition reflects the incredible work we’ve done together to support our students,” said Soto. “Every decision we make puts student success first.”
Harlandale School Board President Norma Cavazos added, “Mr. Soto leads with purpose and heart. His leadership inspires all of us and brings pride to our entire community.”
Congratulations to Mr. Soto, may he continue to lead the way at Harlandale Independent School District. Learn more about Harlandale ISD at www.harlandale.net.
