The Somerset ISD Board of Trustees welcomes Dr. José H. Moreno to the Somerset family. Dr. Moreno has over 28 years in education, eight of which he has served as superintendent. Prior to serving as superintendent, he served as an assistant superintendent of leadership, Sr. executive director of curriculum and instruction, principal, and bilingual teacher. He also served as a reading technical assistance specialist, executive leadership coach, adjunct professor, and regional manager implementing a national school reform program that focused on increasing the literacy skills of children in low-performing schools.

Before Dr. Moreno came to Somerset, he was the superintendent of schools for the Robstown Independent School District. He was recently named the Region 2 Superintendent of the Year and serves as the Region 2 Superintendent Advisory Committee President, serving 42 superintendents. Under his leadership, the district has experienced significant gains in its state accountability ratings as well as improvements in its college, career, and military readiness performance. Dr. Moreno has also implemented several innovative programs including STEM, Robotics, Health Services, Veterinary Science, Welding, Instrumentation, Sigma Gamma Women’s Leadership, and newly designed school academies. Previous to Robstown ISD, he served as superintendent for the La Vernia ISD where he created the district’s first dual language program. The district also experienced significant gains in its state accountability ratings including an increase in dual credit performance. Dr. Moreno was recognized and praised for his ability to lead and inspire those he served in times of success as well as times of challenge.

“I am humbled and honored by the board’s decision to select me as their next superintendent of schools. The Somerset Independent School District and its community are known for their school pride and strategic efforts to provide a quality education for their children. I will work diligently to serve the amazing students and staff of Somerset ISD and look forward to working side-by-side with its highly committed board, as a Team of 8, to achieve our mission of providing exemplary preparation for higher education and life.”

Roy Brown has been a member of the Somerset community since 1970. Roy is married to Jane Bielefeld Brown, has 2 boys, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great grand children. Roy currently lives in downtown Somerset. Roy has served the community as an active member of the Somerset Methodist Church, as a member of the Somerset Volunteer Fire Department, the Somerset ISD School Board, the Somerset City Council, and the Bexar County Emergency Service District 5. Roy was an Engineering Technician, Telephone System Coordinator/Manager, Supervisor of PC Desktop Computers, and Supervisor of Communications Project Management for City Public Service before retiring after 31 years. Roy is currently active in the Somerset Methodist Church and the Somerset ISD Education Foundation. Roy has a small farm/ranch with a few cattle to take care of.

Michelle Villanueva is married to Frank and has 3 children and 6 grandchildren. She graduated in 1989 from Southwest High School. She became a Somerset Community member in 1994 when her daughter started Pre-K. She was a housewife for 8 years until she started subbing in 1996 for Somerset ISD. In October 1998, she became full time when for Pattie Ayers hired her at Somerset Elementary. She has worked for Somerset ISD going on her 26th year. She is currently the Secretary for District Police and Instructional Services. She is also the Treasurer for the Athletic Booster Club, member of SYLO (Somerset Youth Livestock Organizations) and Somerset FFA. She took a 7 year break from it when she resigned from the Booster Club in 2011 after working it for 8 years. She also served on the Somerset Little League Board as the VP from when her kids started Tee ball until they went to High School. All 3 of her children graduated from Somerset and she now has 5 grandchildren in Somerset schools.

Bradley S. Balderrama, a native Texan, grew up in Austin, Texas and received his BBA from Concordia University with Honors. He attended St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio and became a Prosecutor for the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. While there he tried numerous felony and misdemeanor cases to jury verdicts in the Criminal Trial Division, the White Collar Crime Division and the DWI Task Force. In 2009, he joined the law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP where he currently practices.

Married to Elsa and has 2 sons (David-16) and (Nicholas-10)

Education
Graduated from Freer High School in 1987
BS- Southwest Texas State University 1992
MS- Texas A&M Kingsville-2002
Doctorate of Education – 2015 from the University of Texas-Austin
Received Superintendent certification from UTSA in 2007

Employment
22 years of experience in Education.
Has worked in Somerset ISD for the last 10 years 4 years as a Junior High Principal and 6 years as superintendent of Schools.

Highlights
Represented Region 20 as Principal of the Year
Served on Region 20 Executive Committee in At-large position for 3A Schools
Was featured in San Antonio Express News for going district-wide with Teacher Advancement Program
Somerset ISD will be starting an Early College High School in 2014
Helped Somerset ISD pass successful Bond and TRE which was used to build a new Junior High in 2010
Helped bring in STEM into the district with the purchase of 2 labs which were featured in local media.

Organizations
Member of TASA
Member of TASSP
Member of Somerset Lions Club
Member of Knights of Columbus at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church

Laura Sue “Susie” Pool was born in Dallas Texas; grew up and graduated from Van High School in Van Texas, but has resided in Somerset since 1983. She is currently employed as Community Relations Specialist at Somerset ISD, since January 7, 2013. She is also a Board Member and serves as Executive Director to the Somerset ISD Education Foundation. Prior to her employment at the school district, she worked at Texas Community Bank, formerly Somerset National Bank for 22 ½ years from June 18, 1990 until December 11, 2012. She held many positions at the bank during those 22 ½ years; starting in 1990 as a teller and ending her career in banking as Vice President and Branch Manager for the Somerset, TX branch. Throughout her years in Somerset, Susie has volunteered for various organizations and civic groups, is active in the Somerset Methodist Church, served as Treasurer in 2021 and 2022, and has served on the Education Foundation Board since 2009.