Mariachi Teacher Keeps Program, But SAISD Displacements Continue

Augustine Ortiz’s Program Safe for Now

In San Antonio, beloved local Mariachi teacher Augustine Ortiz has had his teaching position, and the program he envisioned 12 years ago, reinstated following previous threats of it being disbanded. Mariachi Los Tigres, under the watchful tutelage of Augustine Ortiz at the San Antonio ISD’s Poe Dual-Language Academy, acts as a cultural lifeline for local students. Ortiz, an alumnus of the SAISD himself, passionately communicated the importance of such a program; stating “To show them their first note, how to hold the instrument, you get to give them a sense of culture that they wouldn’t normally get anywhere else.”

SAISD Displacements Threaten Staff and Programs

The potential disbandment of Ortiz’s program came amidst growing concerns over enrollment at the SAISD and rapidly changing school budgets. With fifteen schools already marked to close their doors, local administrations are assessing the number of required personnel and practicality of extracurricular programs. A sense of betrayal was palpable from Ortiz as he spoke about the situation, “Not towards our district, because our district is doing the best that they can. I feel a sense of betrayal from people that represent us, from the state.”

Statewide Budget Concerns

State funding for each pupil hasn’t seen an increase since 2019, putting pressure on not only the SAISD but districts all over the state. Other districts, such as Fort Worth ISD and Keller ISD, have had to make the difficult decision of cutting programs and displacing teachers due to budget constraints. Representatives from SAISD have not been able to provide an official, on-camera comment, but a video statement from the district did touch on their ongoing efforts to balance budgets: “Some principals may have requested additional allocations beyond their given budgets and we are assessing these requests as promptly as possible.”

Relief for Ortiz

Relief on the part of Ortiz was experienced when his principal informed him that his program had been granted the additional allocation it needed to continue. However, the joy is mixed with sorrow for his fellow educators still being displaced. “You feel depression, anxiety, you feel unsure of things, you know your life’s about to change dramatically,” Ortiz said. Despite the uncertainty, teachers like Ortiz are determined to continue their mission, showing the importance of perseverance amidst adversity and the irreplaceable value of cultural education in our schooling systems.