Rich Sena's grandparents arrived in America from a small Southern Italian village carrying one core conviction: education was the path forward. Neither of Sena's parents spoke English when they began school, and formal education was something his grandparents never experienced themselves. Yet they understood with the clarity of sacrifice that learning would give their descendants a life in this country. That belief now shapes Sena's service as Secretary of the Boerne Independent School District Board of Trustees, where he is seeking re-election in the May 2 school board race alongside Board President Kristi Schmidt.
"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." Sena has held his board position since 2014, a period during which Boerne ISD has grown from 7,200 students to more than 11,200. His own children attended district 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," Sena said. "No amount of time dedicated to this volunteer position is adequate to support them in achieving their dreams." This personal connection extends beyond the boardroom through decades of community service, including roles as President of the Boerne Sunrise Rotary, Sunday School teacher at Currey Creek Church, board member of the Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center, and conservative columnist for the Boerne Star.
Under the current board's leadership, Boerne ISD has maintained a top A-rating from the Texas Education Agency every year since the accountability system was established, a distinction shared by only 31 of Texas's more than 1,200 districts. The district is the only medium-large district in the San Antonio area with this status, graduating 95 percent of students ready for college, career, or military service compared to the state average of 82 percent. Sena attributes these outcomes to community support rather than personal accomplishment. "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."
Managing rapid growth while preserving traditions has been a central challenge. When Sena's oldest child started at Fabra Elementary in 1992, the district enrolled roughly 3,200 students - nearly a quarter of today's enrollment. Maintaining cultural touchstones like the Homecoming Parade, Boerne Outdoor Academy, and close-knit campus communities during this expansion has required careful stewardship. "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."
