McAllen ISD, Edcouch-Elsa ISD, Dr. Rosalba De Hoyos, superintendent, associate superintendent, Achieve Early College High School, National Blue Ribbon School, Rio Grande Valley, Lucia Regalado
Arnoldo Mata
McAllen TX - The Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District Board of Trustees named Dr. Rosalba De Hoyos as the lone finalist for superintendent following a board vote on Monday, July 6, 2026. A contract will be considered after a mandatory 21-day waiting period.
De Hoyos currently serves as associate superintendent for instruction at McAllen ISD, where she oversees the district’s secondary campuses and instructional support divisions. Her departure after 14 years with McAllen ISD was recognized by board members at the district’s July 23 special meeting, where trustees offered personal remarks expressing gratitude for her service.
Trustee Erica de la Garza-Lopez spoke directly to De Hoyos during the farewell.
“Your leadership and what you’ve given to this district and our team cannot be stated in words adequately. You’re a bright light, and we are going to miss you.”
Another trustee echoed the sentiment. “I second what trustee just said. We’re gonna miss you. Our loss is their gain.”
Trustee Sofia M. Peña added her own tribute. “Thank you for your servant leadership for all these years and working with so many different families and employees. You’ve touched so many people’s lives, so we are very sad to see you go.”
Board President Lucia Regalado offered a personal reflection on De Hoyos’s tenure.
“I remember the day you started at McAllen ISD. She came from PSJA. And I remember the day you started, and you’re just so happy, and you’ve been so happy, and I’m just really, really proud of you.”
De Hoyos responded to the board’s remarks with gratitude and optimism about her new role.
“I couldn’t dream of a better way to close this chapter,” she said. “It just feels right. I’m already missing everybody, but I’m already falling in love with the new community and the staff that I’ve met. I know McAllen is gonna continue to do amazing. I can’t wait to see the successes that will continue to come throughout the year.”
She also noted that all 11 campuses she supervises are on track for A accountability ratings as she closes out her tenure. “Six middle schools and five — I could not dream of a better way to close this chapter and continue on a different chapter over there.”
De Hoyos brings 31 years of experience in Texas public education, all of it in the Rio Grande Valley. She has served as a teacher, counselor, dean of instruction, early college director, principal, district director, assistant superintendent, and associate superintendent across McAllen ISD, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, Edinburg CISD, and Hidalgo ISD.
In 2023, she served as interim superintendent of McAllen ISD. As principal of McAllen ISD’s Achieve Early College High School, she led the campus to recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2015, the same year she earned the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership. She was also twice named a Texas Education Agency High Progress Rewards Principal.
In her current role, she has helped McAllen ISD maintain “A” accountability ratings across all of the district’s high schools.
De Hoyos holds a Doctor of Professional Counseling from Mississippi College and a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Texas-Pan American.