Texas Education Agency Appointed New District Conservator
South San Antonio ISD families will see new state-appointed leadership overseeing local school management.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Administration
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The Texas Education Agency has appointed Diana Sayavedra as the new conservator for the South San Antonio Independent School District. She replaces Abe Saavedra, who resigned from the oversight role due to a family illness.
Why it matters
The appointment maintains the state's intervention in the district, which was triggered by ongoing school board dysfunction. This transition aims to help the district meet the necessary criteria to eventually return to local control.
While the district works toward state exit criteria, latest data shows 9 of the 12 total campuses achieved a C rating or higher as of August 2026. The new conservator brings experience from her former tenure as superintendent of El Paso ISD.
The players
Texas Education Agency
The state government entity responsible for oversight of school districts and implementing interventions in response to local administrative failures.
Diana Sayavedra
The former superintendent of El Paso ISD who now serves as the state-appointed conservator for the South San Antonio Independent School District.
Abe Saavedra
The former district conservator who previously managed the oversight process through both the initial appointment and the subsequent state takeover.
The details
The Texas Education Agency appoints a conservator to act as a crucial liaison between the local district and state regulators. The official works alongside state-appointed leadership to manage operations and guide the district through the challenges that led to the initial February 2025 takeover. Diana Sayavedra, who has been monitoring the district since February 2026, will now take over these management responsibilities.
Timeline
2023: Abe Saavedra was first appointed as the district conservator.
February 2025: The state agency officially took over South San Antonio ISD.
June 2025: Diana Sayavedra retired from her position at El Paso ISD.
February 2026: Diana Sayavedra began monitoring the district for the TEA.
August 2026: The state released new accountability scores for local campuses.
The Home Front
The appointment follows the February 2025 state takeover of South San Antonio ISD, signaling a continuation of the state-led management structure. This intervention remains a significant departure from standard local governance models for school districts across Texas.
Families in the district should look for future updates from the district office regarding upcoming school board meetings or management initiatives. Monitoring these communications can help you understand how new leadership changes might influence campus policies or district-wide academic goals.
The takeaway
The change in conservators signals that state oversight will continue as the district works toward meeting exit criteria. Families should watch for future communications from the district regarding leadership goals and updates on campus accountability performance.
Further reading
Learn more about local school management in the San Antonio Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Antonio Express-News.
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