Royal ISD is proud to announce the appointment of Mrs. Maria Jimenez as the new Director of CTE & CCMR. In this role, Mrs. Jimenez will oversee all areas of Career and Technical Education, and College, Career, Military Readiness. She will also be responsible for the district’s CCMR accountability and ensuring students leave RISD CCMR-ready.
Maria Jimenez brings 18 years of experience in Texas public education to her role as Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) at Royal ISD. Throughout her career, she has remained deeply committed to student success, leading with integrity, purpose, and a belief that excellence is demonstrated through consistent action, not just intention.
Mrs. Jimenez has served the entirety of her career at Nixon-Smiley CISD, where she developed as an educator and leader through a progression of roles, including secondary science teacher, instructional coach, CCMR coordinator, assistant principal, and, most recently, high school principal. In the classroom, she taught physics, astronomy, and research and design, earning recognition for excellence in Pre-College Physics from the Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers. She was also named a 2017 HEB Excellence in Education Award semifinalist.
As an instructional coach, she mentored new teachers and supported veteran educators in implementing brain-based instructional strategies. She also collaborated in establishing a structured teacher-mentor program to support first- and second-year educators, thereby strengthening teacher development and retention. In her role as CCMR coordinator, she led the development of systems that expanded student opportunities, including the establishment of testing centers and the alignment of college and career pathways. Her leadership helped create dual credit partnerships that led to the first associate degree completions in the history of Nixon-Smiley High School.
During her tenure as principal, Mrs. Jimenez’s team maintained a 100% graduation rate for three consecutive years while steadily increasing CCMR outcomes and associated outcome bonuses. She ensured that all students graduated with at least one endorsement by strengthening CTE pathway alignment and expanding access to meaningful postsecondary opportunities. Her leadership consistently emphasized academic rigor, meaningful relationships, and a commitment to developing the whole child.
“I am honored to serve the Royal ISD community and to help guide students toward success beyond the classroom,” Jimenez said. “As a first-generation college graduate, I believe deeply in the power of public education to transform lives and open doors of opportunity.”
Mrs. Jimenez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Secondary Education from the University of Houston–Victoria and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University–Portland. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Higher Education at Lamar University. Having previously served in the military, she is also a proud veteran of the United States Army, where she served as a Satellite Systems Network Coordinator (31S1C).
She and her husband, Israel Jimenez, have been married for 19 years and are the proud grandparents of five—Nathaniel, Vaughan, Andres, Nadia, and Nathan. Mrs. Jimenez is fluent in Spanish. She enjoys traveling, learning about new cultures, and is a self-proclaimed foodie. She and her husband look forward to becoming active and engaged members of the Royal ISD community.