Premont ISD seeks applicants for multiple 2026-2027 school roles

Premont ISD has put out an early call for applicants for the 2026-2027 school year, and the list of openings shows where the district may feel the most pressure to staff up before students return. The vacancies include two special education teachers, a technology director, an 8th grade ELA teacher, a secondary social studies teacher with possible coaching duties, an ag science teacher, paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, and teaching-pool applicants.

The spread of openings points to more than one short-term gap. Special education posts are often among the hardest roles for small districts to fill because they carry heavy student-service demands, and Premont ISD is also looking for a technology director and an ag science teacher, both positions that can be difficult to recruit in a regional market where larger districts may have more salary flexibility and deeper applicant pools. If those slots remain open into August, the impact can show up quickly in classroom coverage, student support, and the day-to-day stability parents notice first.

The district’s employment page directs applicants through PowerSchool Applicant Tracking, signaling that Premont ISD is trying to move hiring forward now rather than waiting for summer turnover to sort itself out. That timing matters in a district where late hires can ripple through schedules, extracurriculars, and campus routines before the first bell rings. The hiring push came into sharper focus after the Alice Echo News Journal published the story on June 19, 2026.

Premont ISD serves the city of Premont and rural areas of southern Jim Wells County and southeastern Duval County. The district says it was founded in 1921 and reported about 747 students as of December 2024, while the Texas Tribune Schools Explorer lists 761 students on two campuses. That relatively small footprint means each vacancy carries outsized weight, especially in a district where 96.6% of students are Hispanic and 86.7% are economically disadvantaged.

The staffing campaign is unfolding during a leadership change as well. Premont ISD’s website identifies Mareka Austin as the district’s new superintendent, after Dr. Maria T. Canales had served as interim superintendent earlier in 2025. For a district of Premont’s size, filling classrooms and support roles before the 2026-27 year begins will be a test of whether the district can compete successfully for teachers and staff across South Texas.