Biography of Board Members

Librada “Libby” Vela (President) has served on the San Diego Board of Trustees for 25 years.  Mrs. Vela has lived in the San Diego School District her entire life.  Mr. Vela, her husband and their two adult sons are all graduates of San Diego High School.

Mrs. Vela worked 7½ years with the Texas Department of Human Resources as a clerical clerk.  She then was employed for 25 years with the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier until her retirement.

Mrs. Vela is a parishioner at Saint Francis De Paula Catholic Church in San Diego.  She volunteers many hours to her church and congregation.  She is President of the Altar & Rosary Society, member of the Catholic Daughters; and Sponsor for the Junior Catholic Daughters.  She also serves as a lector for the Church.  Mrs. Vela is also a member of the Parish Counsel.  Mrs. Vela is also an advocate for the local nursing home. Mrs. Vela was a member of the Band Booster Club back in the 90’s when her sons were in school.  She also belongs to the Vaquero Booster Club.

Mrs. Vela also served as a representative of the School District on the Duval County Appraisal Board.

Mr. Carlos Espinosa (Secretary) was born in Sonora, Texas and has been a resident of San Diego Independent School District for 57 years.  Mr. Espinosa is a 1978 graduate of San Diego ISD.  He attended and graduated from Del Mar College with an associates in welding and is currently a self- employed contracted welder.

Mr. Espinosa retired early from the company he was employed with after 35 years to proceed with his career as a welder wherein he takes very much pride in his work and considers himself a perfectionist.  He converts metal into unique Bar B Que pits and also creates unique metal art.  Mr. Espinosa enjoys hunting, cooking, gardening and spending time with his family and grandkids. 

He has been on the San Diego independent School District Board of Trustees for 16 years and is proud to be a part of a team that helps our students succeed.

Lucy Maldonado (Member) is a lifelong resident of San Diego.  Lucy’s husband and their children are graduates of San Diego High School.  Her grandchildren all attend school at San Diego Independent School District.

Through Lucy’s career in healthcare, she has witnessed the importance of education, social, and emotional relationships.  

She is honored that her community has the confidence in her to be a part of the San Diego ISD School Board of Trustees.  She believes that every student at San Diego ISD is off to a great future.

Robert Briones is a 17- year experienced Oilfield Consultant. Robert grew up in San Diego, Texas, and he was a class of 1991 graduate from San Diego High School. Robert also attended Texas A&I University.  His hobbies include but are not limited to volunteering as a little league coach for 10 years, and also volunteering his time whenever the community is in need for volunteers.  Needless to say, Robert has never left this small town. San Diego is a community that helps each other, and he wouldn’t leave such a good thing.  His wife is an educator, his son will soon be a Dr. of Physical Therapy, his step daughter is a dental hygienist, his younger step daughter is an LVN, and his stepson is interning with IBM in software engineering.

Being actively involved in the community in a local capacity is important to him, as he explained, we need to push through the small- town clichés and help our students advance in their education and careers.  Becoming a board member was a milestone, and he loves working with a team helping the community and being the voice for students and educators.

Margarito Maldonado III is a lifelong resident of San Diego and a 1992 graduate of San Diego High School. He attended Coastal Bend College and majored in Criminal Justice. Mr. Maldonado worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division. Upon leaving corrections, He began his career in the Oil and Gas Industry as an Health, Safety and Environmental Coordinator and through further education received multiple safety certifications, through his career Margarito has worked in the Oil & Gas Industry for the past 12 years, currently as an HSE Advisor for Bedrock Petroleum Consultants, and currently under contract with Conoco Phillips D&C Wells Group.

His community involvement and service are important to Mr. Maldonado. He is a congregant of Saint Francis de Paula Catholic Church and an active member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2791. He served as a member of the San Diego City Council from 2016-2020. Mr. Maldonado is always ready and willing to volunteer when called upon by the community. His goal is always to move our community forward and help build a better future.

He is honored to be a member of the San Diego Independent School District Board of Trustees and believes that students and the School District is the heart of our community.

Mr. Manuel Molina (Member) has served on the board of trustees since November of 2016 and was re-elected to his second term in November of 2020. Mr. Molina has lived in the San Diego school district all of his life, three of his children have graduated from San Diego High School and he currently has two children enrolled at San Diego ISD. 

Mr. Molina is currently a senior loader at Flint Hills Resources in Corpus Christi. Combined with his time spent at Reynolds Metal as a production coordinator, he has a combined twenty-seven years of refinery experience. Mr. Molina also served four years on the Duval County Appraisal District board of directors. He also served in the United States Navy and received an honorable discharge

Anthony Vela has served on the Board of Trustee since November 2020.  Mr. Vela is a life time resident of San Diego, Texas.  Mr. Vela is a graduate of San Diego High and Texas A&M University Kingsville.  He and his wife Nita have three daughters Miranda, Kriselda and Kaylee.  Kriselda is a 2020 graduate of San Diego High School and Kaylee will be a 2024 graduate of San Diego High School.  He is currently a member of the San Diego Booster club and the local council No. 2791 Knights of Columbus.  Mr. Vela volunteers as much time as possible when called upon by the community or any organizations that may reach out for assistance.   Mr. Vela is currently employed with Conoco-Phillips and, he has been in the oil industry for 24 years.