The Northside Independent School District (NISD) is making waves in education with the launch of a sports medicine magnet program at Stinson Middle School. This innovative initiative, set to begin with an inaugural sixth-grade class of approximately 140 students on August 10aims to provide students with an early glimpse into sports medicine careerssuch as physical therapists and athletic trainers.
The program’s location at Stinson was strategically chosen, as the school is situated near key athletic facilities, including the Northside Sports Gymthe Dub Farris Athletic Complexand the NISD Natatorium. Jeannette Rainey, the school’s magnet coordinator, expressed her enthusiasm for the program, stating, “The hope is the kids get the confidence to enter the health care world.”
Inspiring the next generation of sports medicine professionals
On June 4, 2026soon-to-be middle schoolers who had been accepted into the magnet program gathered at the Northside Sports Gym to meet their future classmates and learn from local sports medicine professionals. Among the speakers were Matthew Costona primary care sports medicine fellow with Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonioand Danielle C. Aguilara sports performance therapist with Reaction Rehab & Sports Performance.
The students were eager to learn, bombarding the speakers with questions about their experiences and the sports medicine field. While neither Coston nor Aguilar had worked with current Spurs players, they shared valuable insights into their careers and the rewards of working in sports medicine. Coston, who began his career as a military medic, emphasized the unique motivation of athletes to return to their passions. Aguilar, a former college basketball player, highlighted her company’s motto: “Build better athletes.”
Comprehensive curriculum and state-of-the-art facilities
As part of the new magnet program, Stinson Middle School is undergoing renovations to include a new physical therapy room. The curriculum has been tailored to focus on sports medicine, with sixth graders taking a science course that explores exercise science concepts, a language arts course centered on resilience and perseverance, and a career investigations course that incorporates lab- and project-based learning.
By eighth grade, students will have the opportunity to earn a CPR certification and potentially gain high school credits. The program is designed to attract and retain students, aligning with NISD’s ongoing “optimization” process to identify areas for investment and consolidation. The district already offers several magnet programs, with the popular health magnet program at Health Careers High School receiving over 500 school-choice applications for the upcoming school year.
Meeting industry demands and inspiring young minds
The Stinson sports medicine magnet program not only attracts families but also addresses the growing demand for professionals in the field. With hospital systems expanding in San Antonio and Texas being the largest employer of athletic trainers in the country, the program is well-positioned to prepare students for successful careers in sports medicine. According to the Texas Workforce Commissionthe field of sports medicine physicians is expected to increase by about 13.73% across the state in the next few years.
One of the program’s first students, Alexis Greenan 11-year-old soccer player and aspiring volleyball player, expressed her excitement about the program. Inspired by watching athletic trainers rush the court during Spurs games, Green hopes to work on the sidelines of big games like the professionals she admires. “I thought that was really cool,” she said.
The deadline to apply to the Stinson sports medicine magnet program is July 1with the deadline to accept an offer being July 10. This innovative program is set to make a significant impact on the lives of its students and the sports medicine industry as a whole.
