Del Valle ISD Appoints Dr. Mark Cantu Interim Chief
The appointment follows the resignation of former superintendent Dr. Matthew Gutierrez, who is headed to Houston.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Administration
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Del Valle ISD families have a new interim leader following the appointment of Dr. Mark Cantu to the school district's top administrative post. The Board of Trustees selected Cantu during a special meeting after the previous superintendent, Dr. Matthew Gutierrez, announced he was leaving for a position in Houston.
Why it matters
The leadership change arrives as the district prepares for its next chapter, with the Board of Trustees currently working to finalize plans for a permanent superintendent search. For families, the interim period marks a transition in the district's top executive oversight after Gutierrez's departure.
The Board of Trustees officially appointed one interim superintendent following the resignation of the district's prior leader. The timeline for selecting a permanent successor remains under development.
The players
Dr. Mark Cantu
The new interim superintendent of Del Valle ISD who previously served as the district's deputy superintendent of governance and education services.
Dr. Matthew Gutierrez
The former Del Valle ISD superintendent who resigned his position to take a job in Houston.
Del Valle ISD Board of Trustees
The elected governing body responsible for overseeing district policy and appointing administrative leadership.
The details
Dr. Mark Cantu, who previously served as deputy superintendent of governance and education services for Del Valle ISD, steps into the interim role effective immediately. His background includes prior leadership experience at San Antonio ISD and Seguin ISD. The board voted for the appointment at a special meeting on October 21, 2026, to ensure continuity following the departure of Dr. Matthew Gutierrez, who accepted a new role in Houston.
Timeline
Dr. Matthew Gutierrez announced his departure in October 2026.
The Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Mark Cantu on October 21, 2026.
The district formally announced the appointment on October 22, 2026.
The Texas Context
This leadership transition mirrors a broader trend of administrative turnover seen in fast-growing suburban Central Texas school districts. It follows a similar pattern to other recent district shifts where outgoing superintendents have moved to larger urban systems.
District families can expect continued operations as the interim superintendent begins oversight of daily administrative duties. Future information regarding the search for a permanent replacement will be released as the Board of Trustees finalizes those plans.
The takeaway
Families should watch for upcoming district communications regarding the permanent superintendent search process. The board will provide details on the timeline for finding a long-term leader once those plans are fully settled.
Further reading
For more updates on leadership changes across the metro area, visit our Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KXAN.
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