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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced the eight Texas school districts that were selected to be part of the inaugural Lone Star Governance (LSG) Exemplar Cohort and the San Elizario Independent School District (SEISD) made it on the list.

“I feel very excited our district qualified,” said Irene D. Jaquez, San Elizario ISD Board President. “It is such an honor to be part of a training that will streamline our main objectives which are student outcomes. We ask the students to raise the bar, and we should lead by example,” she added.

The LSG Exemplar Cohort is designed for high-performing local governing teams—school board members and their superintendents—that want to continue honing their focus on improving student outcomes.

San Elizario ISD Superintendent, Dr. Jeannie Meza-Chavez, shares the same excitement as Jaquez and is looking forward to the support and unprecedented experience that will be provided by TEA and certified LSG Coaches.

“I am excited for the San Elizario ISD team. This speaks highly to the work that continues to be done by all at different levels in our district,” Meza-Chavez said.

Mike Morath, Texas Commissioner of Education, says school districts like SEISD are already demonstrating effective governance practices where the success of every student is the focus.

“As part of the inaugural LSG Exemplar Cohort, the school board members and superintendents in these districts seek to take their efforts to the next level, which can lead to better student outcomes in their communities,” Morath said.

San Elizario ISD, along with the other seven districts that were selected, will take part in the Texas Education Agency’s Lone Star Governance training for school board members with their superintendents.

For more information about Lone Star Governance, visit TEA’s website- https://tea.texas.gov/LSG/

For a second year in a row, San Elizario High School (SEHS) coach Cesar Morales, received the ‘State Coach of the Year for Boys Cross Country’ award.

The honor is awarded on behalf of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

“It is truly an honor to receive this award once again for what WE have achieved,” Morales said.

“I say ‘WE’ because this is a group accomplishment— my assistant coach, Jorge Maese, and the Boys Cross Country team, also play an essential role and together we contribute to the success of the team.”

The NFHS bestows this prestigious award to one coach in each sport for each state association.

Recipients of this award reflect excellent coaching abilities on and off the athletic arena.

Morales will be recognized November 3rd during the 4A Boys awards ceremony in Round Rock, Texas.

The San Elizario Independent School District (SEISD) is pleased to announce the creation of the College Credit Pathway Initiative to support the various opportunities for post-secondary success offered at San Elizario High School (SEHS).

“A campus that provides any type of college credit opportunity for their students, is a good school,” said Maribel Guillen, SEHS Principal. “We have the best of both worlds at our school. We are still a comprehensive high school with sports and extra-curricular activities while at the same time a Dual Credit institution.”

This initiative will help SEISD to incorporate the new Texas higher education plan, 60X30TX, by streamlining those goals within the post-secondary decision making of students at SEHS.

The College Credit Pathway Initiative is a bold plan as it hopes to ensure 100% of SEHS students are on track to earn a certificate, license or degree by 2030.

Students will be afforded the opportunity to enroll in one of four distinct college credit pathways offered at SEHS:

– Dual Credit (DC) Academy

The Dual Credit Academy at San Elizario High School is a comprehensive program that prepares students for continued success at a post-secondary institution. Students accepted into the academy are provided with an opportunity to earn as many as 43 dual credit hours.

These college credits are based on a focused concentration of courses aligned with El Paso Community College’s (EPCC) core curriculum plan (SB 1091). For school year 2017, dual credit students saved an estimated $70,000 in tuition.

– Advanced Placement (AP) Academy

The Advanced Placement Academy enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. SEHS offers 17 advanced placement courses along with an opportunity to take the AP exam.

A qualifying exam score helps students earn credit or placement at most four-year colleges and universities in the United States. For school year 2017, SEHS students who took and achieved a qualifying score on an AP exam saved an estimated $605,000 in tuition.

– APDC³ (Advanced Placement/Dual Credit Hybrid)

APDC³ allows students to take both dual credit and AP courses to achieve a tailored college ready experience. Students will be allowed the flexibility to select courses based on post-secondary goals while learning the skills to succeed in the workplace.

SEISD officials add, “Research shows that students who take either a dual credit or AP course are much more likely to complete a college degree on time-saving tuition.”

– Western Tech Associates Program

This partnership between Western Tech and SEISD will give SEHS students the opportunity to graduate from high school while at the same time obtaining an Associate’s Degree from Western Tech in the area of Refrigeration, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

The cost of this program is usually $36,000 but because this is a Dual Credit instructional offering, this cost is being subsidized by local scholarships from Western Tech and a reduced tuition rate which will be paid for by SEISD.

This financial support ensures that this opportunity will not impact the students’ future federal financial aid and will be offered at zero cost to the families and students participating in the program.

“This initiative will transform the high school experience of our students by laying out a sequence of courses that students will follow while simultaneously being advised and monitored to ensure student success,” said Dr. Tomas Sigala, College & Career Readiness Facilitator for San Elizario ISD.

Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, the San Elizario Independent School District (SEISD) and Western Technical College will take their ‘Partners in Education’ relationship to an entirely new level.

This new Dual Credit partnership between SEISD and Western Tech will give San Elizario High School students the opportunity to graduate from high school and at the same time obtain an Associate Degree from Western Tech in the area of Refrigeration, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

While the cost of the program is usually $36,000, thanks to the Dual Credit instructional offering, the cost is subsidized by local scholarships from Western Tech and a reduced tuition rate which will be paid for by SEISD.

SEISD officials said, “This financial support ensures that this opportunity will not impact the students’ future federal financial aid and will be offered at zero cost to the families and students participating in the program.”

The San Elizario ISD and Western Tech A.O.S Degree Program is a 3-year program for eligible SEISD students beginning their Sophomore year in high school.

Students will attend Western Tech the second half of their instructional day for all 3 years and will have the opportunity to earn their AOS Degree to include the following:

• EPA 608 Certificate
• R410 A Safety Certificate
• HVAC Excellence in Electrical
• TDLR R-HVAC Technician License

According to Western Tech officials, the HVAC industry is projected to grow 14% annually for at least the next 6 years and is in need of qualified HVAC technicians.

SEISD officials add, “[This] program isset to change the future of Career and Technical Education in El Paso and possibly the entire state of Texas…upon completion of this program, SEISD students will find themselves eligible to take advantage of this growing job market.”

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 For more information about this topic, please contact either Michael Rodriguez with San Elizario ISD at 915.872.3900 or rodriguezm@seisd.net​ or Marco Martinez with Western Technical College at 915.760.8157 or mmartinez@westerntech.edu.  

There is a new kind of energy in the air in San Elizario. This time it comes in the form of high school football, something the San Elizario High School (SEHS) Eagles have not had an opportunity to be excited about in a long time.

The Eagles, who finished with a 0-10 record in 2017, are surprisingly optimistic for the 2018 season.

It starts with the hiring of a new head football coach, Ray Aguilar Jr. Coach Aguilar has instilled a set of core values that are posted just about everywhere you look in the hallways of the new Vicente Delgadillo, Jr. Field House.

“When my kids or coaches are asked about SEHS Football, they will tell you about the core values. It is the backbone of this program— it is who we are,” said Aguilar. The core values are Energy, Accountability, Grit, Love & Family, and Effort.

Since Aguilar’s arrival in May 2018, the Eagles have seen some major changes including record numbers in student participation, a new culture of positivity amongst athletes and coaches, the development of a freshman football team, the hiring of a well experienced coaching staff, success in the 7 on 7 passing league, and even a new logo.

The change in culture combined with the return of several starters could lead to a winning season for the Eagles.

The defense will be led by their talented senior safety Nathan Guerrero. The offense returns some serious fire power in running back Ray Acevedo who will line up behind a young but powerful offensive line. Senior Quarterbacks Jacob Lopez and Chris Olvera will compete for the starting job.

“We’ve been working really hard this offseason to win a district championship,” said Acevedo. “The talent and energy is here we just need to give our best effort. Our coaches are helping us get 1% better every day and when the season is here we will turn it around.”

It is evident that Coach Aguilar has the Eagles believing in change. With all the effort, excitement, and change that is evident in San Elizario, it would no surprise to see the Eagles win their first district championship since 1999.

The Eagles will kick-off their season at home versus Riverside High School on August 31^st at 7:00 PM.

Story courtesy SEISD Website

The Council on Regional Economic Expansion and Educational Development (CREEED) awarded the Sylvia Hopp San Elizario College Scholarship to San Elizario senior Angelica Jasso in the amount of $2,500.

The scholarship fund, established in 2017, will award a total of $20,000 in scholarships over the next 8 years to help students cover tuition or other costs associated with attending and completing college.

“I’m excited about the opportunities that CREEED is creating for our students to support their pursuit of a college degree,” said Sylvia Hopp, a former San Elizario ISD Superintendent. “During my time as an educator and administrator, I was constantly moved by the dreams and potential of our students and it’s important to have community advocates like CREEED who are providing the resources students need to succeed. Ms. Jasso is an exemplary student who has shown tremendous personal growth during her four years at San Elizario High School and is committed to making her dreams a reality.”

The scholarship fund builds on CREEED’s existing efforts to support El Paso students build the skills and knowledge they need to graduate college and career ready, including the launch of Girls Who Code chapters in El Paso, creating the ACT El Paso scholarship fund to expand the number of teachers who are credentialed to offer dual-credit courses in high school, and providing local school district and higher education institutions with grants to implement innovative initiatives.

“I’m very proud to have been chosen as the first recipient of the scholarship,” said Angelica Jasso who plans to study nursing at The University of Texas at El Paso. “I’m also grateful to organizations like CREEED who make an effort to support my dreams and offer financial help so I can reach my goals.”

Angelica is an accomplished student participating in many extra curricular activities including National Honor Society and the San Elizario campus improvement committee as well as varsity track and field, soccer, and cross country.

She is also an active volunteer for the Special Olympics and San Elizario’s special education department.

“The ultimate goal of the scholarship is to support and encourage students to strive for academic excellence beyond high school and obtain a post-secondary degree within 6 years of their enrollment,” said Eduardo “Eddie” Rodriguez, CREEED’s Executive Director. “In addition to preparing students to obtain a college degree or certificate, we need to provide  them with the resources they need to obtain that degree. We are excited about the future college graduates that will benefit from the Sylvia Hopp San Elizario College Scholarship Fund.”

San Elizario ISD held its 2018 Teacher & Employee of the Year Awards Ceremony to honor six teachers and six employees nominated by their campuses for district-wide honors for their outstanding performance and commitment throughout the school year.

Sandra Tinajero from Sambrano Elementary was chosen as the Elementary Teacher of the Year, Andrew Avila from San Elizario High School was selected as the Secondary Teacher of the Year, and Luz Estela Martinez was named District Employee of the Year.

Tinajero has been teaching at Sambrano Elementary for the past three years. She is grateful to be working at the school that received her with open arms when she was a child; she is proud to be from the San Elizario community.

Avila has a total of five years working at San Elizario High School. He had the privilege to work with the Algebra One team, in which they collectively endeavored to earn the Academic Achievement in Mathematics State Accountability Distinction from T.E.A. in 2017.

Martinez has been working for the district as a bus monitor for the past four years. She has a great connection with district faculty and staff, but what she loves most about her job is the children. She believes that working with children is her true calling.

Presenting the winners with their awards the night of the banquet were San Elizario ISD Board President, Irene D. Jaquez; Board Trustee Sandra Licon; Board Trustee, Becky Romero, Board Trustee, Armando Martinez; Associate Superintendent, Ruben Cervantes; and Superintendent, Dr. Jeannie Meza-Chavez.

Both Tinajero and Avila will advance to the Region 19 Teacher of the Year , where they will represent San Elizario ISD this summer.

The winners were announced Friday evening, May 4^th, at the Wyndham El Paso Airport Hotel.

The San Elizario Eagles are rulers of the soccer roost, securing their second Texas State Championship in four years, defeating Palestine 1-0 Friday afternoon.

The Eagles won the trophy by doing what they did all season: solid offensive play and top-notch defensive work; in fact San Eli blanked their last three teams en route to the crown.

Special Photographer to the Herald-Post, David Lord, was at the game and brings you all the excitement in this ‘Story in Many Pics.’

Five San Elizario ISD (SEISD) Middle School Students are among 40 semi-finalists who participated in the 2018 Do the Write Thing Challenge.

Evelyn Trejo, Arlette Esparza, Darlene Silva, Marcos Argumedo, and Dailyn Velez are among the 40 semi-finalists selected from over 7,000 students.

SEISD officials said, “They demonstrated important critical thinking abilities, creativity, and most importantly, their essays offered important solutions to the issue of violence.”

The Do the Write Thing Challenge gives middle school students an opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives. Through classroom discussions and writings, students communicate what they think should be done to reduce youth violence.

They also make personal commitments to do something about this problem.

A recognition event honoring all student finalists will be held on Saturday, April 28^th, at UTEP’s Union Cinema and two students will be announced as the National finalists.

The National finalists, a parent, and a teacher will be awarded with an expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. where they will attend the National Do the Write Thing Leadership activities.

Students and staff from Garcia-Enriquez Middle School (GEMS) in San Elizario have a new reason to celebrate as the doors to their new, state-of-the-art Cafetorium are now open.

The idea of remodeling and expanding the middle school’s Cafetorium was first discussed in 2006 during the TEA IFA funding allotment preceding. San Elizario ISD was awarded enough to money to only cover the middle school’s new library and classroom wing.

When the 2104 Bond was passed, the Cafetorium’s need for a face-lift was placed at the top of the list. The project included the complete renovation of the cafeteria, with an expansion of the kitchen.

The project floor plan increased the square footage from 9,000 square feet to 12,200 square feet with the ability to accommodate around 350 students.

The new Cafetorium comes with a snack bar, a stage with lighting, and sound-control booth.

The middle school’s original Cafetorium was built in 1986 for the sharing of meal services between San Elizario High School and the middle school.