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Southwest ISD Superintendent Jeanette Ball announced her resignation at a school board meeting on Wednesday, just weeks before the school year is set to begin.<\/p>\n
Robin Jerstad, San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n
Less than three weeks until the first day of school, Southwest Independent School District Superintendent Jeanette Ball has resigned, citing a desire to \u201cdo something different.\u201d Her resignation will take effect at midnight on Wednesday, and a new interim leader will start Thursday.<\/p>\n
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District trustees unanimously voted to approve her resignation at a board meeting Wednesday night. She will not complete the final year of her contract, which runs through June 30, 2027. She was paid just over $270,000<\/a> annually.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n After approving Ball\u2019s resignation, trustees appointed Deputy Superintendent Brandon Crisp as acting superintendent. Classes begin Aug. 24.<\/p>\n Ball\u2019s departure throws yet another Bexar County school district into leadership upheaval. Since last fall, the superintendents of\u00a0North East<\/a>, Northside<\/a>, San Antonio<\/a> and Judson ISDs<\/a> have departed their school systems. None\u00a0left for another superintendent job<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Following Wednesday night\u2019s vote, Ball said she believed Crisp would do a great job in the role and that her decision to step down was bittersweet.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cLittle did I know God would bless me so much,\u201d Ball said. \u201cIt was a very hard decision to decide to leave not a job, but a home. But I tell people every day, ‘Be bold. Be courageous. Do something different.’ So, I myself have to take my own advice and do something different.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Board Vice President Ida\u00a0Sudolcan congratulated Ball and thanked her for believing that every child matters. She said the superintendent\u2019s humility, dedication and commitment to the community left an impact that will be felt for years to come.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I admire most is your humanity. You were never afraid to ask for help, to listen to others or to bring people together for the good of our district,\u201d Sudolcan said. \u201cYou understood that true leadership isn\u2019t about having all the answers, but surrounding yourself with people who share the same commitment to serving others. Because of that, our schools, our staff and our community grew stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n Ball became Southwest ISD superintendent in February 2023 after resigning from the top job at\u00a0Judson\u00a0ISD the previous November. At the time, Ball had\u00a0more than two years remaining on her Judson contract<\/a>. Judson trustees voted to give her a $140,000 payout\u2014 more than half her then-salary. Neither Ball nor Judson trustees publicly gave a reason for her abrupt departure.<\/p>\n The longtime educator began her career with Southwest\u00a0ISD as a middle school teacher for students learning English. She later became principal of the district\u2019s Big Country Elementary School. After moving on to administrative roles, Ball left\u00a0SWISD to lead Uvalde Consolidated ISD in 2013. Ball started as superintendent of Judson ISD\u00a0in 2018.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n During her time at Judson ISD, Ball was named the 2021 Superintendent of the Year by the Education Service Center for Region 20, an area of school districts that includes Bexar County.<\/p>\n Weeks before announcing her resignation from Judson, voters\u00a0passed a $345 million bond proposal<\/a>.\u00a0Soon after Ball joined Southwest ISD, voters approved a\u00a0$250 million bond election<\/a> in\u00a0May 2023.<\/p>\n After announcing she would return to Southwest ISD\u00a0in 2023, Ball said she was proud to be a part of the district\u2019s community.<\/a> The district\u00a0serves\u00a0nearly 15,000 students on San Antonio\u2019s Southside.\u00a0<\/p>\n Superintendent turnover across San Antonio\u00a0<\/p>\n Ball\u2019s departure from SWISD marks the fifth superintendent shakeup across San Antonio\u2019s public school districts this\u00a0year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Southwest\u00a0ISD joins four of the area\u2019s largest school systems, which all experienced superintendent turnover in 2026.<\/p>\n