MISSION, TEXAS (AUGUST 15, 2025) – The excitement was sky-high as Mission CISD kicked off the new school year with its annual All Systems Go Pep Rally, bringing together the entire district faculty and staff for a celebration of unity, inspiration, and ambition. Held to mark the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, this year’s event was themed around space exploration — encouraging everyone in the Mission CISD family to reach for the stars alongside their students.
Superintendent Dr. Cris Valdez addressed the crowd with a motivating update on the state of the district, proudly announcing that Mission CISD earned a B rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
“That is good,” Dr. Valdez said. “But we want to be great!”
Her powerful words resonated across the arena as staff members cheered, ready to carry that momentum into the classrooms and campuses across the district.
Following Dr. Valdez’s remarks, attendees were inspired by guest speaker Dr. José Hernández, a former NASA astronaut, engineer, author, and proud father. Dr. Hernández shared his personal story of growing up in a migrant farming family, frequently moving and attending multiple schools each year. Despite those challenges, he clung tightly to a dream he’d had since the age of ten: to become an astronaut.
Through determination, hard work, and the power of education, that dream became a reality.
“Education is the key that can unlock any door,” Dr. Hernández told the crowd. “If I can do it, so can our students — as long as we help them believe it’s possible.”
His message of perseverance and purpose fueled the rally’s mission: to remind every educator, support staff member, and leader in Mission CISD that they are part of something bigger — a team that helps launch dreams.
As the district continues its upward trajectory, the All Systems Go Pep Rally served not only as a celebration but as a call to action: to aim higher, push farther, and help every student soar.
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