Six Socorro Independent School District teachers were awarded a $1,000 scholarship each by the University of Texas at El Paso to complete dual credit credential courses as part of the Teachers for Dual Credit Scholarship program.
“We are proud to assist more Team SISD educators to earn their dual credit teaching credentials, which allows us to continue expanding dual credit opportunities and free college classes for our students,” said SISD Superintendent José Espinoza, Ed.D.
“Our focused approach to ensure college readiness for all students is second-to-none. We greatly appreciate the partnership with UTEP to allow us to enhance our teachers’ skills and grow our college and career readiness opportunities for students.”
The six SISD teachers won the most awards given to educators in area school districts for the summer 2018 dual credit scholarship program. SISD partners with UTEP to offer the scholarships to its educators as part of the district’s Operation College Bound, which is designed to increase college awareness, activities, and readiness to students in grades Pre-K through 12 at all campuses in SISD.
The Teachers for Dual Credit Scholarship, sponsored by the Meadows Foundation, provides financial assistance to Region 19 teachers enrolled at UTEP seeking credentials to teach dual credit courses.
SISD educators received six of the 14 scholarships awarded by UTEP.
The Teachers for Dual Credit Scholarship recipients in SISD are Esteban Gonzalez from Bill Sybert School, Mitchell Davis from Sun Ridge Middle School, Rebeca Dantoni from Montwood Middle School, Iliana Gonzalez and Mayra Moreno from Eastlake High School, and Christian Tinoco from Montwood High School.
“I was super excited when I found out I won. The scholarship is very helpful,” Moreno said. “I want to teach dual credit because the courses save students money and it gets them exposed to what college really is.”
Team SISD offers dual credit courses at all high schools in the district and has the most early college programs in the region, which gives students the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree or 60 college credit hours along with their high school diploma.
SISD continues to increase free college classes to help students and their families save money in future college expenses.
According to district officials, last year alone, SISD students collectively enrolled in college courses to earn some 26,000 college credit hours valued at some $9 million in college cost savings.
