Gadsden Independent School District has been named the 2025 National Hispanic Institute (NHI) School District of the Year, a distinguished national recognition honoring school systems that demonstrate sustained commitment to developing Latino student leadership, civic engagement, and college readiness.

This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our students, school counselors, campus administrators, district leadership, and community partners who continue to invest in opportunities that elevate and empower student voice.

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What is the National Hispanic Institute?

The National Hispanic Institute is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to developing leadership capacity among high school and college-age Latino students across the United States and Latin America.

Through programs such as:

• The Great Debate
• The Lorenzo de Zavala (LDZ) Youth Legislative Session

students engage in immersive experiences designed to strengthen:

• Public speaking
• Policy writing
• Critical thinking
• Civic engagement
• Professional communication
• Consensus building

These programs help increase Latino representation in professional and civic sectors while preparing students for postsecondary success.

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GISD Student Leadership Impact

Since 2022, 57 GISD students have participated in the Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Students from:

• Alta Vista Early College High School
• Chaparral High School
• Santa Teresa High School
• Gadsden High School

have served in leadership roles across the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the LDZ program.

In 2025, GISD students earned multiple honors, including:

• Dennis Chavez LDZ Governor
• Dennis Chavez LDZ Lieutenant Governor
• Majority Leader of the House
• Most Persuasive Speaker
• Honorable Cabinet Member
• Authorship and passage of student legislation

Additionally, Ramon Enriquez, Gadsden High School Class of 2024 Valedictorian, was named the 2025 NHI College Student of the Year.

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NHI Campus Visit – February 26

To commemorate this recognition, Gloria De León, Co-Founder of the National Hispanic Institute, will visit Gadsden High School on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

During the visit, she will:

• Meet with campus leadership and counseling staff
• Recognize participating students
• Express appreciation for GISD’s partnership
• Encourage eligible 10th and 11th grade students to participate in future LDZ sessions

This visit highlights the critical role our school counselors play in recruiting, mentoring, and supporting students through leadership opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.

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Board of Education Recognition

The district will also formally recognize this honor during the upcoming Board of Education meeting at Loma Linda Elementary School.

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This national recognition affirms Gadsden ISD’s commitment to developing students not only as scholars, but as future civic leaders prepared to make meaningful contributions in their communities and beyond.