Texas A&M University-Kingsville Honors Dr. Salazar-Zamora as Hispanic Heritage Hero

KINGSVILLE, Texas –  In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, Tomball ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora has been selected as a Texas A&M University-Kingsville Hispanic Heritage Hero.

“As a proud alumna, I’m very honored to be selected as a Hispanic Heritage Hero, and have the opportunity to return home to Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and celebrate the many accomplishments and reflect on the advances we have made culturally as a society,” Dr. Salazar-Zamora said. “I’m proud of my heritage and proud to call Kingsville home. It will be a great day in Javelina Nation!”

Most recently, she was named a Top 5 Finalist for Texas Superintendent of the Year, and represents the Houston area as the 2023 Region 4 Superintendent of the Year. She was also named one of Houston’s Top 30 Influential Women this year.

Bringing over 36 years of experience in education, Dr. Salazar-Zamora has served as Tomball ISD Superintendent since 2017 and is a role model and a positive influence in public education, serving as the first female Superintendent of TISD and as the first Hispanic Superintendent of TISD. Prior to being named Superintendent, she worked as the District’s Chief Academic Officer for three years.

As part of the college’s recognition of its Hispanic Heritage Hero celebration, Salazar-Zamora will be recognized on October 7 on the Texas A&M-Kingsville campus during a luncheon and home football game. A tribute will also be shared in the University Museum to honor her as a Hispanic Hero.

Dr. Salazar-Zamora not only leads a fast-growth district, but one of the highest academic achieving districts in the State of Texas, all while maintaining strong financial management practices.

She has elevated Tomball ISD into the Top Ranked School District in Harris County, while also being honored as a 2023 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards finalist in both Large School District and Outstanding School Board categories, the only school district in Texas recognized for one than one award.

Under Dr. Salazar-Zamora's leadership, Tomball ISD continues to set the bar high with innovative programs and initiatives that are student-centered and intentional, including the most recent implementation of the District’s first UIL-sponsored Mariachi program at THS this year.

Since 2017, she has also led the implementation and opening of Tomball Star Academy, the District’s early college high school, Tomball ISD’s Two-Way Dual Language Academy, the District’s first P-TECH focused on healthcare, a Pre-K Center for young learners, the state-of-the-art Tomball ISD Stadium and Event Center, along with the opening of several campuses and CTE programs, which are in place to accommodate the fast growth and high-demand for young talent happening in the Tomball area.

Salazar-Zamora without a doubt has put Tomball ISD on the map as a pillar of excellence through leadership and a continuous drive for high achievement and innovation. 

Whether it was implementing Strategic Plan 2025, or the passing of Bond 2021, Salazar-Zamora has been forced to make critical decisions that ultimately impact the future of Tomball ISD. She spearheaded the purchase of a commercial/industrial complex, valued at over $400 million today, for just $37.5 million to become a multi-purpose educational facility now named the Tomball Innovation Center, all while maintaining solid financial ratings.

Salazar-Zamora balances the pursuit of academic success and the management of student growth with fiscal responsibility. In fact, because of this, TISD is consistently recognized by TXSmartSchools as a coveted “Five Star'' District. Under her leadership, TISD has been committed to significantly higher standards in financial reporting and has received multiple awards for transparency, financial statement presentations and disclosures. Notably, a very small percentage of school districts throughout the state have received the high ratings in financial excellence that sets TISD apart. 

In addition to strong finances, and in order to support high academic achievement, Salazar-Zamora is intentionally focused on the learning excitement within the school atmosphere, specifically related to the Professional Learning Community (PLC) process. Because of that focus, Tomball ISD is a Model PLC District by Solution Tree, only one of four districts in Texas and one of just 32 in the nation with that distinction. Also, 11 TISD campuses have been recognized as Model PLC campuses. In addition to the PLC process, TISD has implemented Great Expectations (GE), a strong character education program at all elementary and intermediate campuses with 11 earning the highest recognition as GE Model Schools. 

Leading over 22,000 students and over 3,100 employees district-wide, Dr. Salazar-Zamora remains committed to the growth of public education and the impact it plays in our local community by serving her time on numerous boards. 

She currently is a member of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner’s Cabinet, Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) President-Elect, President of Fast Growth School Coalition (FGSC), the Texas Representative on the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Executive Committee, Vice President of The Council of Women School Executives (TCWSE), a member of the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Tomball Board of Trustees, a Board Member for the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce,  and Past President of Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (TALAS).

Her representation and her ability to provide valuable insight by serving on these committees and executive boards has positively impacted Tomball ISD, the community of Tomball, and education as a whole.   

ABOUT TOMBALL ISD
Tomball ISD educates students to become responsible, productive citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous, and personally valuable educational experiences. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates over 22,000 students across 23 campuses.