Board of Trustees » Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees

The Southwest ISD Board of Trustees work together in a positive manner, always collaborating as a team to impact student achievement, safety, health, and the learning environment. The SWISD Board of Trustees considers it their duty to value individual learning styles, retain the best teachers, and embrace new technology and teaching strategies. They also ensure that the community feels welcomed when they reach out to them, that facilities are up to standards, and needs are addressed quickly. Collectively, they are strong proponents of addressing the needs of the whole child, and while they understand that a school’s primary mission is to educate, they realize that children spend close to eight hours a day, five days a week in our care and that meeting nutritional, physical, holistic and mental needs can only add to their academic performance.  


Regular Board Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month in the SWISD Board Room, 11914 Dragon Lane, Building 400. Click here to view the Board Agenda and next meeting date.

Sylvester Vasquez Jr., President

 Sylvester Vasquez, Jr. Sylvester Vasquez Jr. was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2000 and currently serves as President. During his tenure, he has served on the Facilities Committee, School Health Advisory Council, and Growth and Planning Committee. Mr. Vasquez was elected to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) in 2003 where he has participated in the Delegate Assembly and is currently the president-elect. He is also the National School Board Association Hispanic Caucus Southern Regional Director. A construction estimator/supervisor for SANTEX Painting and Drywall, Mr. Vasquez has been a member of various volunteer organizations, including the Southwest High School Band and Athletic Boosters, and has coached with the Southwest Pony League and the CYO at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. He currently serves his community as a founding member of the Bexar County Board Coalition and is a lifetime member of the PTA. Mr. Vasquez earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Texas Lutheran College in 1981.

Ida Sudolcan, Vice President

 Ida SudolcanIda Sudolcan was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2003 and is currently serving her fourth term. She currently serves on the Curriculum Committee and has served on the Scholarship Committee, Growth and Planning Committee, the District Improvement Team, the Campus Improvement Team, and the Core Value Development Team during her tenure. She acquired her love for the SWISD community from her parents, both of whom graduated from Southwest High School in the 1950’s.  Prior to being elected Mrs. Sudolcan served on the Pony League Board for four years, two years as the Secretary and two years as the President. She and her husband David have four sons who graduated from Southwest High School. Three have gone on to graduate from Texas A&M San Antonio and one from The University of the Incarnate Word. Mrs. Sudolcan has numerous nieces and nephews who attend schools in the district which allows her to continually be involved in school activities. 

Florinda Bernal, Secretary

 Florinda BernalFlorinda Bernal was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2006 to fill an unexpired term. She serves on the Growth and Planning, District Improvement Team, District Technology Advisory, and School Health Advisory Committees. During her tenure on the Board, she has also served on the District Grants Advisory Committee, No Child Left Behind Effectiveness Review Committee, Core Beliefs Planning, and Steering Committee, and is currently the Board Representative to the Southwest ISD Education Foundation. Mrs. Bernal was the SWISD Delegate for the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) in 2008 and 2009. She is an active member of the Bexar County School Board Coalition, National School Boards Association (NSBA), National Hispanic Caucus of School Boards, Mexican American School Boards Association (MASBA), and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO). Mrs. Bernal has served tirelessly as a community volunteer. She held the office of Treasurer of the Southwest Athletic Booster Club for two years, President for one year, and was inducted as a Lifetime Member in 2006. She has participated in the Blue Santa Program for more than twenty years and participates in fundraising for the annual Relay For Life event.

James Sullivan, Asst. Secretary

 James SullivanJames Sullivan was first elected to the Board in 2005 and is a member of the Calendar Committee. During his tenure, he has served on the Customer Service Committee and has participated in the Delegate Assembly for the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). While Mr. Sullivan is not a Southwest High School graduate, his wife Elaine’s family’s involvement in the community dates back more than 60 years. Mr. Sullivan is a salesman for Royce Groff Oil Company and serves as President on the Atascosa Rural Water Supply Board.  He is also involved in the community as a sponsor for the Southwest Pony League, the KAGlife Foundation, the Southwest Buyers’ Club, and the Relay for Life. Mr. Sullivan is a member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.

 

Yolanda Garza-Lopez, Member

Yolanda Garza-LopezYolanda Garza-Lopez was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2008. During her tenure on the board, she has served on the Facilities & Maintenance Committee, Curriculum & Instruction Committee, Growth & Planning Committee, and the Scholarship Committee. As a Southwest High School graduate, Mrs. Garza-Lopez earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Trinity University. She was a businesswoman for 15 years, as the South Texas District Manager for a national retail company before making the decision to stay home and raise her children. Mrs. Garza-Lopez has been a long-time SWISD community volunteer and child advocate. She substitute-taught and tutored reading, math, and social studies for five years before being elected to the school board. She was active in PTA at Kriewald Road Elementary and on the SWISD District PTA Council for 15 years. She served as President, Vice-President, and Treasurer during her tenure. Additionally, she served as a board member of the Southwest Pony League in the capacity of treasurer for three years. Her family moved into the SWISD community in the 1970s, where she married her high school sweetheart and raised her three children. Her love and connections for this community run deep and wide, and she is proud her granddaughter is 6th generation SWISD.

Pete "Pedro" A. Bernal, Member

 Pete BernalPete "Pedro" A. Bernal III, is serving his first term after being appointed in November of 2020. He is currently active in several SWISD committee's to include the Growth & Planning, Curriculum & Instruction, and Safety & Security committee. His involvement with district expands over 20 years, with his wife being a graduate of Southwest High School. The Bernal's have raised three boys through the system, with two graduating from Southwest HS and one currently attending at CAST STEM. He's also been involved as a coach for Miller's Pond participating in Southwest Pony League Baseball, athletic/band boosters, PTSA, Relay for life, and was on the Southwest Bond Committee. He is a retired, non-commissioned officer with 15 years of Army service as a medic, pharmacy tech, armor, and logistician. He has held supervisory roles in all positions in addition to being Human Resources NCO and Training NCO. He is also a current college student and Palo Alto Alumni obtaining Logistics and Supply Chain Management. He has obtained A.A.S '20 and Liberal Arts A.A '20, Logistics with Management Cert '20, and Manufacturing Management Cert '20.

Daniel Carrillo, Member

Daniel CarrilloDaniel R Carrillo is serving his first term after being appointed in May of 2021. Mr. Carrillo is a class of 1996 Southwest High School graduate. Mr. Carrillo moved into the district in 1986 when his father, an Air Force Veteran, was stationed in San Antonio at Kelly A.F.B. He started at Southwest Elementary in third grade before moving to Big Country elementary in the fourth grade to be one of the first students to attend the opening of that school. Mr. Carrillo separated from the Air Force, as an NCO, after six years of service in the Cyber Security career field. After separating from the Air Force, he continued to serve the Air Force as a cyber-security analyst and contractor and continues that mission. After separating, he moved his family back to the SWISD community because that was home, and the community always felt like his family. His wife is also a class of 1998 Southwest HS graduate. All three of their children have attended SWISD schools, with their two oldest graduating from SW Legacy High School and their youngest a junior at SW Legacy High School. For many years, Mr. Carrillo has been a baseball/softball coach at the SW Pony League and worked with the SW Legacy High School fall baseball teams as a coach. He also served as the Athletic Booster Club President at SW Legacy for the last four years and ensured students received scholarships from the very first graduating class. Mr. Carrillo earned an A.A.S.-Computer Information Systems degree from Palo Alto C.C. in May of 2012. He is also part of the SWISD ESports committee.
Term Dates

Sylvester Vasquez, Jr.
President
210-889-4094
Elected in 2000
Term Ends in May 2025

Ida Sudolcan
Secretary
210-630-8768
Elected in 2003
Term Ends in May 2025
 
Florinda Bernal
Member
210-674-7300
Elected in 2006
Term Ends in May 2024    
 
James Sullivan, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
210-622-9500
Elected in 2005
Term Ends in May 2024
 
Yolanda Garza-Lopez
Member
210-416-6199
Elected in 2008
Term Ends in May 2023
 
Pete Bernal
Member
210-291-2524
Elected in 2020
Term Ends in May 2023
 
Daniel Carrillo
Member
210-409-8665
Elected in 2021    
Term Ends in May 2024