About the Director

Suzette M. Barrera has dedicated 34 years of service to the children of Zapata County Independent School District.  She was raised in Zapata and graduated from Zapata High School in 1985.  She continued her education at Laredo State University where she completed her Bachelors with a Cum Laude distinction in Business Administration in 1989.  Immediately after graduation, Mrs. Barrera sought to teach for ZCISD to follow in her father's footsteps.  She continued her education and taught sixth grade the following year.  She completed her Texas Teacher's Certificate in the summer of 1990.  Mrs. Barrera continued teaching for six years and completed her Masters in Education with an emphasis in School Administration in 1995 from Texas A & M International University.  Upon completing her Masters, she was promoted to Assistant Principal.  After six years of serving the District's students as Assistant Principal, she was promoted to Principal.  She served as Principal of the District in both an Elementary School and the Middle School for a total of 7 years.  Mrs. Barrera has been privileged to serve her community as Director of Federal Programs, Director of Compensatory Education and Chief Financial Officer for a total of fifteen years.  She completed her Texas Superintendent's Certificate in 2016. Mrs. Barrera is the mother of three: Alonzo, Amador & Areli and is married to Alonso Amador.  She enjoys helping her community by volunteering through church.  Currently, she is in charge of the Federal Programs Department where she continues to strive so that "all children are given an equal opportunity to succeed".