Antonio and Sandra Verduzco have been part of Dallas ISD for 53 years combined as district students and employees.
Both raised in Oak Cliff, they attended schools on opposite sides of the district. Antonio is a Class of ’93 Skyline graduate, having spent his early years in Dallas ISD at Nancy J. Cochran Elementary, T.W. Browne and W.H. Atwell middle schools.
Sandra started her education in México, where she was born. She arrived in Dallas, speaking no English, at the age of 9 and attended L.P. Cowart Elementary, then L.V. Stockard Middle School, graduating from Sunset High School in 1997.
Fast forward to their professional years. Antonio began teaching at Margaret B. Henderson Elementary in 2001. He later served as assistant principal at Fred F. Florence Middle School and Kleberg Elementary, then transitioned to a principal role at Julius Dorsey Elementary.
Sandra’s career began outside Dallas ISD. She worked in news broadcasting for six years before joining the district’s Communications Department as Spanish spokesperson in 2004.
Antonio and Sandra often bumped into each other in districtwide events such as teacher recognition events and convocation, but it was through a mutual friend that they were introduced and after five years of being together, they married in 2011. Shortly after, both embarked on different professional opportunities outside of Dallas ISD, but Dallas ISD remained in their hearts.
“While I was loving the experience as a national communications manager for the American Heart Association, something was missing for me,” said Sandra. “I needed to be connected with the community that saw me grow, and I realized how much more I had to give back to the district, so when the opportunity came, I returned home to Dallas ISD.”
Sandra returned to the Communications team in 2017 as media coordinator and has served as marketing director for the past two years.
A few months after her return, Antonio also found the path back home and has been principal at B.H. Macon Elementary since 2017.
“I have never been more proud about being part of Dallas ISD. This is home for me because the district is the foundation that has gotten me where I am today,” said Antonio. “Without the education and leadership guidance received from Dallas ISD, I wouldn’t be who I am and what I am today.”
Their ties to the district grew stronger when they became Dallas ISD parents of their sons Felipe and Gilberto, now 8 and 5 years old respectively, who currently attend Rosemont Primary.
“Rosemont provides a well-rounded experience for our boys,” said Sandra. “They are surrounded by diversity and are part of a strong dual language program, which is helping them build a strong educational foundation while learning their family’s first language and culture. We both want the boys to be products of Dallas ISD like we are because if we both turned out okay, our boys have a chance of doing greater things, thanks to the district’s innovation.”
“Our inspiration to serve the district comes from the heart, because we want to serve families and children the way we’d like others to impact our own children,” Antonio said.
If you and your significant other are Dallas ISD Darlings, we invite you to share your story with us by sending an email to: thisishome@dallasisd.org.
