Board of Trustees

The Southwest ISD Board of Trustees works together positively, constantly 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 whole child's needs. 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 the next meeting date.

Sylvester Vasquez Jr., President

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 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 graduated 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 Bernal, a dedicated advocate for children in our community and a devoted volunteer, was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2006 to complete an unexpired term. In 2008, she ran for election and was successful in securing her own term, consistently winning subsequent elections thereafter.Mrs. Bernal achieved the designation of "Master Trustee" upon graduating from the Leadership TASB program in 2023 and is an active member of the LTASB alumni association. She currently serves on various committees, including Growth and Planning, District Improvement Team, School Health Advisory, School Safety & Security, and Facilities Committees. Throughout her tenure on the Board, she has proudly represented the Southwest ISD Education Foundation since its inception in 2010. Moreover, Mrs. Bernal has diligently served as the SWISD Delegate for the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) since 2008 and has been a longstanding member of the Legislative Advisory Council (LAC), stemming from the local Region 20 Grassroots meetings. She maintains active membership in the Bexar County School Board Coalition, National School Boards Association (NSBA), Mexican American School Boards Association (MASBA), and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO). In addition to her board commitments, Bernal held the office of Treasurer of the Southwest Athletic Booster Club for two years, served as President for one year, and was honored as a Lifetime Member in 2006. Her community involvement extends to participating in the SAPD Blue Santa Program for over thirty years and contributing to fundraising efforts for the annual Relay For Life event. Furthermore, she volunteers for two annual Southwest Education Foundation events, namely Casino Night and the Annual Golf Tournament. Mrs. Bernal has been happily married to Roberto Carlos Bernal since 1985, and together they have four children, all of whom are proud graduates of Southwest High School. They are also proud grandparents to three grandchildren, one of whom is currently attending a SWISD elementary school, while the other two are not yet of school age.

James Sullivan, Jr., Assistant Secretary

James 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.

Daniel Carrillo, Member

Mr. Daniel R. Carrillo is serving his first term after being appointed in May 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 continued 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 and graduated from SW Legacy High School. 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 for many years. He also served as the Athletic Booster Club President at SW Legacy for the last four years, ensuring students received scholarships from the first graduating class. Mr. Carrillo earned an A.A.S.-Computer Information Systems degree from Palo Alto C.C. in May 2012. He is also part of the SWISD ESports committee.

Jose Diaz, Member

Mr. Jose Diaz is currently serving his inaugural term after his election in May 2023. With a deep-rooted connection to the Southwest ISD community spanning 23 years, Mr. Diaz and his wife have raised their three children in SWISD schools. His active involvement over the past 7 years has been instrumental in the Southwest ISD Scholarship Committee, while he has dedicated 4 years to the Growth and Planning Committee. Prior to being elected as a SWISD trustee, he served as a Southwest Education Foundation board member for four years. Currently, Mr. Diaz is actively engaged in several roles, including memberships in the Southwest ISD Scholarship Committee, the Growth and Planning Committee, the SWISD Safety and Security Committee, and prestigious associations such as the Mexican American School Board Association (MASBA), National School Board Association (NSBA), and National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO). His commitment extends to his role as an engaged member of the Bexar County School Board Coalition. Beyond his civic engagements, Mr. Diaz, is the owner and managing member at Rolling Rock Transport, LLC, a trucking enterprise serving San Antonio and its neighboring regions since 2003.

Mr. Diaz also presently serves as a Board member on the Atascosa Rural Supply Water Corp. Additionally, he is a parishioner at Mission Concepcion Catholic Church, where he fulfills roles such as a member of the church council, co-chair of the Archbishop’s Appeal for Mission Concepcion, Lector, and a member of the production team responsible for live-streaming the weekly Sunday Noon Mass.

Mr. Diaz and his family actively participate in and attend a range of events, spanning from sports to fine arts and academics, providing invaluable support to the students of the Southwest ISD community. Mr. Diaz takes pride in his two daughters’ alumni status from Elm Creek Elementary, McNair Middle School, and Southwest High School. Presently, they are pursuing higher education at the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Texas at Austin. Meanwhile, his son is a senior at Southwest High School.

James Gonzalez, Member

James Gonzalez was elected in 2023, and is currently serving his first term as Southwest ISD Board Trustee. He has enjoyed the privilege of considering Southwest ISD as home for 46 years. Born in the Azores, Portugal in 1970, he and his family made San Antonio their home when his father was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, setting down roots on Five Palms Drive, right at the heart of the District. His mother still resides there to this day. Mr. Gonzalez is proud to say he attended Indian Creek Elementary, Sky Harbor Elementary, Southwest Junior High, and ultimately, Southwest High School where he participated in a number of extracurricular sports and clubs before graduating in 1988. In 1991, James Gonzalez married his high school sweetheart, Lucina Tamayo-Gonzalez, who has dedicated 28 years of service to the district as an educator. Together, they are blessed with three beautiful children. Their son, Donovan, who graduated from Southwest High School in 2008. Their youngest, Baylie, currently flourishes as a 6th grader at McNair Middle School. Their beloved Angel Kristie attended Scobee Middle School before her passing in 2008 at the tender age of 14. In her memory, the family established the KAGLife Foundation, which has generously awarded more than $60,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors from both Southwest and Southwest Legacy High Schools.Currently, James serves as a board member for the Atascosa World Water Supply Corporation, highlighting his commitment to community engagement. His deep connection to faith extends through his affiliation with Southwest Baptist Church. Mr. Gonzalez has dedicated an impressive 31 years to Frito-Lay Incorporated. However, his passion ignited 12 years ago when he embraced the role of district announcer, and now is affectionately known as the "Voice of Southwest ISD."