SAN ANTONIO — Jessica Zapata commutes nearly 100 miles to and from work every day. She’s been a teacher at Southside ISD’s Heritage Elementary for 16 years. Even her off time is spent teaching. 

“You build a relationship with that person, then you build a relationship with the kids, and it’s just a really cool experience,” Zapata said. 

She’s seen the ups and downs of the education system in San Antonio. Her campus received an “F” rating by the Texas Education Agency and she watched her district get taken over by the state. 

“It was very scary. We didn’t know what was going to happen to us,” Zapata said. “So I’ve been here a long time. I didn’t see myself going anywhere else.” 

The rural district has seen rapid growth and an enormous boost in enrollment. It's growth that could overwhelm teachers, but Zapata said employees rose to the occasion. She said it was a long seven years, but Heritage Elementary turned its “F” rating into an “A”. 

“It’s like you are in a hole and you are just digging yourself out. We are seeing the changes, those light-bulb moments and you continue to see them,” Zapata said. “You continue to see them and you just keep pushing. You don’t stop and you don’t let up.” 

The district’s complete 180 got the attention of TEA Commissioner of Education Mike Morath, who says the turnaround is an example for others. 

“That’s what you’ve seen here is a real focus on the fundamentals of what our kids need and what we as adults have to provide in order for our kids to be successful,” Morath said. 

A state conservator is currently overseeing neighboring district South San Antonio ISD, while the state has full control over Houston ISD. Zapata said Southside ISD is proof it’s possible for districts to dig themselves out of that hole. 

“I would go to colleagues like, 'Hey, how are we going to do this? Tell me. I have a kid who is not getting it,'” Zapata said. “What else do we have? What else do we use?” 

Zapata said great morale was the foundation of their success. 

“All of that hard work, all of those tears, everything we put into this, made it worth it. We did it. Southside Heritage Elementary, we are an A-rated campus, and we want to stay there,” Zapata said.