Michael Cardona

Michael A. Cardona was named Superintendent of Schools for San Marcos CISD on May 2, 2016. Prior to this position, Michael served as the Chief School Officer in the Houston Independent School District, the state’s largest school system where he oversaw 42 schools with over 40,000 students. Prior to joining Houston ISD, Michael was both a middle and high school principal, as well as, an assistant principal in the North East Independent School District in San Antonio. During this period, he earned numerous awards that included being a state semi-finalist in 2011 and 2012 in the Secondary Principal’s Category for the H.E.B. Excellence in Education Award. In 2014, he was awarded the Paul R. Hensarling Award for Distinguished Scholar from Texas A&M University for his work on advancing equity in school systems.Under Michael’s tenure, San Marcos has added five dual-language campuses, moved to become an AVID district; a program that helps students become college confident and career and military ready.  San Marcos has invested in SEL counselors at all secondary campuses and Communities in Schools in 10 of 11 schools. San Marcos CISD recently received the Project AWARE grant from TEA which provides additional therapists and clinicians. San Marcos continues to challenge students by moving all eligible 8th graders into Algebra I. San Marcos also invests in teacher self-care through a partnership with Pure Edge. Additionally, San Marcos empowers teacher leadership through the gamification of professional development embodied in the Hall of Fangs. Michael sits on the Texas Association of School Administrators Professional Learning Community Committee, TASA’s Race, Equity, and Diversity state committee, Texas State Universities Education Advisory Committee, Greater San Marcos Partnership Board, San Marcos Education Foundation Board as Secretary, San Marcos Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents Board, along with being a member of the San Marcos Lion’s Club.  Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University - College Station in Political Science. He went on to earn a Master of Education from Texas A&M - Kingsville in Mid-Management and earned his Doctor of Education at Texas A&M University-College Station in August of 2021. Michael has two son’s Mac (22) and Jack (18), who live in San Antonio, and a step-daughter Sienna (17) who attends San Marcos HS. Michael is married to his wife Laura, a retired educator.