How Southwest ISD Built Belonging and Opportunity Beyond Game Day

A Small Town Feel Inside a Growing Texas District

Southwest ISD sits just outside San Antonio, Texas, blending rural roots with rapid growth. While it’s a large district, the culture feels personal.

“It’s a small town in a big district,” said athletic director Peter Wagner. “And that’s what makes it special.”

That sense of closeness matters. And when district leaders looked at how technology could enhance events, the goal wasn’t just bigger screens – it was stronger connection.

Going Bigger - So Every Program and Student Is Part of Game Day

Like many Texas districts, Southwest ISD already had digital scoreboards and message centers. But leaders saw an opportunity to do more in a way that respected strong football traditions while expanding the experience for everyone.

“When you live in Texas, everyone thinks it’s just about football,” said Athletic Director Peter Wagner. “But we wanted to make sure all our kids knew they were important.”

Rather than focusing on a single venue, the district installed Daktronics LED video boards where they would have the greatest impact, across multiple campuses and activities.

“We have Daktronics products at our football and soccer field, in our basketball and volleyball gym, and at the baseball field,” said Joe Vega, Audio/Video Teacher at Southwest Legacy High School.

That approach made inclusion part of the culture.

“No matter who you are throughout the stadium, no matter what group you’re in, you’re going to be on the board at some point,” explained David Ellis, Audio/Video Teacher at Southwest High School.

That means football, band, dance, pep squad, ROTC, and student organizations all get their moment on screen and in front of the community.

“When the kids see themselves up there, and when their families see them up there, there’s more buy‑in from the community,” Ellis added.

Career Pathways That Go Beyond Athletics

So how can experience with video boards turn into a real career pathway for students? 

“That market for careers is not going away,” Wagner said. “There are kids who will never want to be in sports – and that’s fine. Now they can still be part of the environment.”

During events, students take on real production roles that mirror what they’ll see at college and professional venues, including:

• Producers, directing camera shots and deciding what goes on the screen 
• Camera operators, following the action on the field and in the stands
• Live directors, coordinating timing and transitions during events
• Content creators, building graphics and visuals for game day
• Technical operators, ensuring the video boards show exactly what the audience needs to see

Students are already seeing how these skills translate beyond high school.

“As a producer, you’re directing the cameras and telling them where to go,” said junior Isabella Aragon. “You have to keep your eye on the field and make sure what’s on the board is what people are really seeing.”

For some students, that hands‑on experience changes how they see their future.
“This class showed me that I can do this in college or as a career,” said junior Adda Almacan.

Senior Jacob Monsivais echoed that sentiment. “If you get into it, this can take you far. Far, far, far.”

These roles give students a clear picture of how live event production works – and confidence that they can do this even after they leave Southwest ISD.

Watch the Southwest ISD Story

Southwest ISD’s story shows what’s possible when technology is used to build belonging, open career pathways, and strengthen community across multiple campuses.

Watch the Southwest ISD story and explore more schools creating opportunity in Stories Beyond the Display.