Ricardo López, superintendent of Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) has received the Dr. Nolan Estes Leadership Ascension Award from the UT-Cooperative Superintendency Program (CSP). The award is given to deserving program fellows whose accomplishments have led them on an ascension path towards significant and larger positions of educational leadership responsibility.
López is currently a second-year fellow in the program and during this time he has ascended from the position of area superintendent in the Ysleta ISD to his current position as superintendent at Mission CISD.
The mission of the UT Cooperative Superintendency Program is to prepare executive leaders of public school systems and other public education institutions. The program pairs a course of study with a highly focused practicum, or internship, to guide doctoral-level students.
The award is named for Dr. Nolan Estes, who was the program director for over 20 years. During that time, the program had many doctoral graduates who went on to become superintendents of school systems across the state and country.
Pictured from left to right are: Dr. Nolan Estes, award namesake; Ricardo López, Mission CISD superintendent; Dr. Ruben Olivarez, CSP doctoral program head.