For Ruby Campuzano, Spring Branch ISD (SBISD) is more than the place where she has built a 25-year career. It is the community where she grew up, raised her family and discovered possibilities she never imagined when she first joined the district.
Campuzano attended Ridgecrest Elementary (RCE), Landrum Middle School (LMS) and Northbrook High School (NHS). Her family has called the Spring Branch community home for 47 years and her children attended SBISD schools.
This year, as SBISD celebrates 80 years of serving students and families, Campuzano is celebrating a milestone of her own: her 25th year as an SBISD employee.
“It’s a great feeling,” Campuzano said. “I attended SBISD schools as a kid. To still be here and see my kids go through SBISD schools as well, it’s a great feeling.”
A career that grew with her
Campuzano was 23 when she began working in SBISD as a limited English proficient, or LEP, assistant. With young children at home and family members already working in the district, SBISD seemed like a natural fit.
What she did not know was how much opportunity she would find along the way.
After beginning in the classroom, Campuzano transitioned to supporting the campus front office. She spent eight years at the campus level before moving to the Administration Building as a paraprofessional application processor, a role she held for six years. She later worked in the substitute office and today supports the district’s Workers’ Compensation and Safety Department.
“I’ve literally spent my young adulthood working in SBISD,” Campuzano said. “I have learned tremendously in various areas, and I’m thankful I got the opportunity to work in different roles.”
Along the way, professional development helped her build new skills and discover new opportunities. When Campuzano first joined SBISD, she expected her work to remain in the classroom. Instead, she found training and continuous learning opportunities available to paraprofessionals, including the opportunity to earn her CEOP certification.
Just as important were the people who encouraged her to keep growing.
“They always saw the best in me when I didn’t see it myself,” Campuzano said. “Sometimes we get comfortable in our lives and stay stuck where we are, but I’m very grateful for those who pushed me and believed in me.”
A first day she will never forget
One of Campuzano’s most lasting memories of SBISD came on her very first day of work: Sept. 11, 2001. As the tragedy of 9/11 unfolded, she watched educators and staff care for students while also reassuring worried families.
“On such a devastating day, I witnessed firsthand how school staff not only cared for children but were also calming parents,” she said. “I didn’t let that stop me from returning the next day, and here I am 25 years later.”
That sense of community has remained an important part of her SBISD experience.
“It’s a family-oriented community,” Campuzano said. “I’ve always had awesome co-workers who have taken the time to show me or push me to want more. From teachers who I assisted in their classrooms to my principals, they saw potential in me when I didn’t.”
Finding opportunity in public education
Campuzano’s journey is also a reminder that working in public education can take many forms.
Her advice to someone considering SBISD is simple: Don’t assume you need to be a teacher to make a difference.
“You do not need a teaching degree or a background in a classroom to start,” she said. “Skills from your own experience, such as customer service, management and caregiving, can all be put to use in a school district. There are many students with different backgrounds. You never know where your experience will help others.”
After 25 years, Campuzano is still excited about what comes next. She points to the new Guthrie Center and its expanded career and technical education opportunities as an example of how SBISD continues evolving to meet students’ needs and prepare them for their futures.
As the district celebrates 80 years, Campuzano’s story reflects generations of students, families and employees who have called Spring Branch home and helped shape what it is today.
And when asked to finish the sentence, “For me, what’s possible in SBISD is ...,” her answer brings her 25-year journey together: