Rich Sena's commitment to public education in Boerne, Texas, is rooted in a family story that began in Southern Italy. His grandparents, who lacked formal education themselves, immigrated to America believing education was the path forward for their descendants. Neither of Sena's parents spoke English when they started school, yet the family conviction that learning provided opportunity became the foundation for Sena's decades of community service.
Now serving as Secretary of the Boerne Independent School District Board of Trustees and seeking re-election in the May 2 school board race, Sena connects his personal history to his current responsibilities. "My grandparents, despite their lack of formal education, were constantly stressing the value of education and learning because that was the meal ticket to get ahead in our great nation," Sena said. "I learned two things from my parents that stand out above all else: always be grateful, and always give back to the nation and community that has given us so much opportunity."
This perspective matters because it informs how Sena approaches educational leadership in a rapidly growing district. Since he joined the board in 2014, Boerne ISD has expanded from 7,200 to more than 11,200 students. Managing this growth while maintaining academic excellence represents a significant challenge with implications for property values, community cohesion, and student outcomes across the region.
The district's performance under the current board demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach. Boerne ISD has maintained its top A-rating from the Texas Education Agency every year since the accountability system was established, a distinction shared by only 31 of the more than 1,200 districts in Texas. As the only medium-large district in the San Antonio area to hold this status, Boerne ISD graduates students at a 95 percent rate of readiness for college, career, or military service, well above the state average of 82 percent.
"A community can have beautiful parks and great roads, but it cannot truly thrive unless it has strong public schools preparing the next generation," Sena said. "Public education is the great equalizer." This philosophy has guided the board's work as enrollment has nearly quadrupled since Sena's oldest child started at Fabra Elementary in 1992, when the district enrolled roughly 3,200 students.
Sena's personal connection to the district strengthens his commitment. His children attended Boerne ISD schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, his daughter still lives in the community, and his grandchildren will soon begin their education in the same classrooms. "I feel as my fellow trustees feel - that I have 11,200 children, because that's the number of kids in our district and I care about their future," he said. "No amount of time dedicated to this volunteer position is adequate to support them in achieving their dreams."
Beyond the boardroom, Sena has served as President of the Boerne Sunrise Rotary, as a Sunday School teacher at Currey Creek Church, as a board member of the Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center, and as a conservative columnist for the Boerne Star. He has led civic organizations and volunteered across the Hill Country for more than three decades, demonstrating how individual commitment can shape community institutions.
The election comes at a critical time for the district as it balances growth with preserving traditions families value, including the Homecoming Parade, the Boerne Outdoor Academy, and close-knit campus communities. Sena emphasizes that maintaining standards requires community support. "It starts with a supportive community, people that believe in the value of education. We have that here in Boerne," he said. "Standards are not what we state. They're what we accept."
Early voting for the May 2 election begins April 20, with information available at https://www.senaforbisd.com/. The election outcome will determine whether Sena continues to apply his family's educational philosophy to guide one of Texas's highest-performing school districts through continued growth and challenges.
