SAN ANTONIO – Northside ISD trustees have appointed a longtime district educator and administrator to lead the state’s fourth-largest school district through an upcoming leadership transition.
At a called meeting on July 19, the Northside ISD Board of Trustees appointed Jessica Palomares as interim superintendent, effective Aug. 1, 2026.
She will lead the district while the board establishes a timeline to select a permanent replacement for Superintendent Dr. John Craft, who is retiring and transitioning into a superintendent emeritus role.
Palomares, a Holmes High School graduate and lifelong product of Northside ISD, currently serves as the assistant superintendent for elementary administration.
Her 30-year career in the district began in 1996 and has included roles as a special education and behavior mastery teacher, a campus vice principal and the principal of multiple elementary schools, including opening two new campuses.
She later moved into central administration, serving as director and executive director of elementary administration before being promoted to assistant superintendent in 2021.
Palomares earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in 1996 and a master’s degree in education in 2003 from The University of Texas at San Antonio.
Northside is truly blessed to have such an outstanding pool of talent within our district,” Board President Dr. Sonia Jasso said. “These decisions are never easy when you have so many exceptional candidates. We are grateful to have Jessica Palomares leading us through this transition. Her experience and dedication to Northside will provide the steady leadership our students, staff, and community deserve.