Tag Archives: Ysleta ISD

Dana Boyd, principal of East Point Elementary School in the Ysleta Independent School District (YISD), was among six U.S. education leaders and former governors who were appointed Thursday to serve on the nonpartisan National Assessment Governing Board by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

In her role on the Governing Board, Boyd will help set policy for The Nation’s Report Card – or the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) – which provides data on student performance to the public and to education policymakers at the national, state and local levels, officials said.

Boyd’s four year-term on the Governing Board begins Oct. 1. Other members include governors, state legislators, local and state school officials, educators and researchers, business representatives and members of the general public.

“It’s a privilege to have an accomplished educator such as Dana Boyd to oversee NAEP,” Secretary DeVos said. “The Board plays an important role in assessing student achievement, and her perspective will be critical as we work to close the achievement gap and ensure all students have equal access to a great education.”

During her tenure at YISD, Boyd has enjoyed a bevy of awards and honors, including being named 2016 Texas National Distinguished Principal and 2007 Texas Teacher of the Year, and being inducted this year into the El Paso Commission for Women’s Hall of Fame. In her seven years as East Point ES principal, she has led the development of professional learning communities and the use of data in implementing needed interventions and enrichment.

Since 1969, NAEP has served as a national yardstick of student achievement. Through The Nation’s Report Card, NAEP informs the public about what American students know and can do in various subject areas; and compares achievement between states, large urban districts, and various student demographic groups.

The 26-member nonpartisan, independent Governing Board determines the subjects and content tested by NAEP, sets achievement levels for reporting, and publicly releases the results.

Boyd takes office as the Governing Board fulfills its strategic vision, which calls for developing strategic partnerships with groups to disseminate NAEP data and resources; and advancing the content, design and reporting of NAEP. The National Center for Education Statistics, within the Institute of Education Sciences, administers NAEP.

Ysleta ISD’s Valle Verde Early College High School (VVECHS) was honored Thursday morning by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School

Students and staff from VVECHS, as well as Superintendent of Schools Dr. Xavier De La Torre, were gathered in the Ysleta ISD Central Office Theater watching a livestream feed from the U.S. Department of Education, announcing that the school had been named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School.

Upon the announcement, all began cheering and celebrating the national honor.

In January, VVECHS was among only 26 schools in Texas – and three in El Paso – to be nominated for the National Blue Ribbon Schools program. The school then completed a rigorous application process through the U.S. Department of Education.

VVECHS is the 11th YISD school to become a National Blue Ribbon School.

In recent years, the 400-student VVECHS has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School, a Texas Early College High School Demonstration School, and was listed in 2016 as the top-ranked public high school in the El Paso region by U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek.

WATCH: VVECHS Video 2017

Beginning September 12, students at four YISD schools will receive fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day on Tuesdays and Thursdays through May 31, 2018.

Participating campuses are Capistrano, Cedar Grove, Constance Hulbert, and North Loop elementary schools.

These campuses were awarded more than $89,000 by the Texas Department of Agriculture to purchase fruits and vegetables for the program.

Officials with the district say the program is an effort to promote healthier eating habits and improve overall student well-being.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service, which provides free fresh fruits and vegetables to students in participating elementary schools.

YISD applied for the program in the spring, and four campuses were selected.

In the span of a day, Ysleta Independent School District (YISD) students and employees raised more than $31,000 to aid flood victims in southeast Texas through its “Jeans for Texans” fundraiser, with the proceeds being donated to the American Red Cross during Wednesday’s regular meeting of the YISD Board of Trustees.

“It has been extremely humbling, gratifying, and heartwarming to see our YISD community come together so quickly to aid in vital recovery efforts for our fellow Texans,” YISD Superintendent Dr. Xavier De La Torre said. “Not only did employees and students help YISD raise a substantial amount of money for the storm victims, but many went a step further and adopted Houston-area schools devastated by the torrential rains.”

“Once again, we are reminded that by working collectively, there is much we can accomplish to help those in need,” De La Torre added.
To participate in “Jeans for Texans,” YISD employees and students were asked to donate $5 per employee or $1 per student to wear jeans to work and school on Thursday, Aug. 31 – only three days after the 2017-18 school year began.

YISD’s jean-day fundraisers are among the most effective methods for raising money districtwide, routinely bringing in donations of more than $20,000. It has been used in the past to support those who have suffered devastating, tragic, or catastrophic losses.

However, the one-day “Jeans for Texans” fundraiser appears to be the most successful to date. Students and employees reached deep into their hearts and pockets to donate a total of $31,244.57 to the American Red Cross El Paso and Southern New Mexico chapter, which is helping provide shelter and supplies to Gulf Coast residents affected by Hurricane Harvey.

The check will be presented to Red Cross representatives at Wednesday’s board meeting, which takes place at 6 p.m. in the Ysleta Room at YISD Central Office, 9600 Sims Drive.

In a show of support and solidarity with the victims of widespread flooding in the southeast Texas area, the Ysleta Independent School District will hold a district-wide “Jeans for Texans” fundraiser on Thursday, August 31, to help raise funds for those suffering the devastation of Hurricane Harvey.

To participate in “Jeans for Texans,” YISD employees and students were asked to donate $5 per employee or $1 per student – in exchange, they will be allowed to wear jeans to work and school on Thursday.

All proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross El Paso and Southern New Mexico chapter, which is helping provide shelter and supplies to Gulf Coast residents affected by Hurricane Harvey.

By and large, the YISD “jeans” fundraiser is one of the district’s most successful campaigns to raise money – it routinely brings in donations of more than $20,000 in a matter of days, and has been used in the past to support those who have suffered devastating, tragic, or catastrophic losses.

“YISD employees are second to none when it comes to helping those in need,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Xavier De La Torre. “It gives me great pride to see the kind of care, compassion, and generosity that is consistently demonstrated by our employees, students, and families.

“By working collectively with our stakeholders, as well as relief agencies such as the Red Cross, there is much we can accomplish to help our fellow Texans in need,” De La Torre said.

The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the public’s generosity to help perform its mission to help shelter, feed, and provide emotional support to disaster victims. It also supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood, teaches skills that save lives, provides international humanitarian aid, and supports military members and their families.

The Red Cross has a massive relief response underway in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Those who would like to help people affected by Hurricane Harvey should visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

High schools in the Ysleta Independent School District earned the most state distinctions among all El Paso school districts in connection with this spring’s testing results, according to figures released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

All YISD schools achieved the rating of “Met Standard” in 2017 state test results, along with 7,830 campuses across Texas, TEA officials said.

By earning the “Met Standard” rating, schools were eligible to receive “Distinction Designations” for academic achievement in English/reading, math, science, and/or social studies; or for placing in the top 25% for student progress, closing performance gaps, and postsecondary readiness.

Ysleta High School was one of only two comprehensive high schools in the El Paso region to earn distinction designations in all seven areas.

In addition, three high schools (Bel Air, Del Valle, and Riverside) each earned distinction designations in six areas, while Eastwood and Hanks high schools earned distinctions in five areas.

Overall, YISD high schools earned a combined 42 distinction designations. By comparison, El Paso ISD high schools received 38, and Socorro ISD high schools received 15.

Distinction designations are awarded to campuses based on achievement in performance indicators relative to a group of 40 campuses of similar type, size, and student demographics.

Overall, six YISD campuses won every Distinction Designation available for their school type.

Lancaster, Vista Hills, and Ysleta elementary schools earned the maximum six distinctions for primary grades, while Camino Real Middle School, Eastwood Knolls International School, and Ysleta High School won all seven distinctions available for secondary grades.

TEA officials said only about 400 schools across the state earned all distinction designations available to their school type based on 2017 state test results.

“Amazing work takes place in classrooms across our state every school day, but especially on these campuses where every possible distinction has been earned,” said TEA Commissioner of Education Mike Morath.

At the primary level, five YISD elementary schools earned five of six designations – they are Eastwood Heights, Glen Cove, North Star, Ramona, and Scotsdale. In addition, Eastwood Middle School earned distinctions in six of seven areas.

The Ysleta Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a 1.5-cent tax rate decrease for 2017 during its regular meeting Wednesday night.

The 2017 tax rate decrease of one and a half cents per hundred dollars of valuation, coupled with the additional homestead exemption will result in an average decrease in property taxes of $12 per year.

“This tax rate decrease for our community is another way we are fulfilling our promise to be good stewards of our citizens’ hard earned tax dollars, “ said YISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Xavier De La Torre. “Every year, we strive to implement cost-effective strategies in our budgeting while still providing our nearly 42,000 students with a quality education.”

The 2017 tax rate of $1.46 per $100 of home valuation is a decrease from the $1.475 tax rate from 2016.

The tax rate reduction is a result of favorable market conditions for the January 2017 bond sale and additional state funding in the form of Existing Debt Allotment and Instructional Facilities Allotment.

YISD continues to be the only local school district that offers its homeowners an additional homestead exemption of 20 percent of total home value.

Sarah Venegas, current Title I instructional coordinator at the El Paso Independent School District, has been named principal of Eastwood Middle School.

Venegas began her 17-year career in education as a third-grade teacher at Helen Ball Elementary School.

Since that time, she has also worked as a middle-school English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) facilitator, instructional coordinator, and assistant principal.

Venegas holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s degree in educational leadership, both from UTEP.

For the second year in a row, high school football fans at the Ysleta Independent School District will be able to purchase 2017 season tickets that entitle them to reserved VIP seating at five home games, with priority being given to last year’s season ticketholders.

By purchasing season tickets, fans can enjoy watching home games from prime viewing areas not available to other ticketholders, such as the 50-yard line. In addition, season ticketholders sit in individual stadium seats featuring sturdy chair backs, rather than standard
bleacher seats.

Season tickets are $40 per person and will be sold to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to staffing variations at each high school, ticket sales will begin on different dates at different campuses. The schedule is as follows:

 Hanks, Eastwood, Parkland, Riverside, and Ysleta high schools:
2016 season ticketholders may purchase the same seats for 2017 beginning Monday, July 31. Tickets go on sale to the general public Tuesday, Aug. 8.

 Bel Air and Del Valle high schools:
2016 season ticketholders may purchase the same seats for 2017 beginning Monday, Aug. 7. Tickets go on sale to the general public Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Tickets can only be purchased with cash through the business clerk at each high school on weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon, or 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets will not be sold Friday, Aug. 4, when YISD campuses are closed.

Season tickets are good only for home football games at the high school where the tickets were purchased.

Beginning Sept. 1, any reserved seats from unsold season tickets will be available for purchase on the Friday of each home game at a cost of $10 apiece.

For more information, call your high school or visit the district’s Athletics Department page.

The Young Women’s Leadership Academy will host a week-long summer camp for more than 300 incoming sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students that’s designed to unite and prepare them for the 2017-18 school year.

The interactive camp includes energetic team-building exercises, introductions to the students’ upcoming academic classes, and group activities such as painting river rocks, creating friendship bracelets, exploring the Google Suite of apps, and conducting a fashion show of “dos and don’ts” for the school uniform.

Students will also be able to bring in school supplies for the year to their classrooms and receive school uniforms.

A Field Day of outdoor activities wraps up the camp on Friday.

What: Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) summer camp
When: Monday, July 31 through Friday, Aug. 4
Who: YWLA students in grades 6-8, teachers, administrators
Where: YWLA campus, 7615 Yuma Drive

The Ysleta Independent School District (YISD) announced Thursday morning the appointment of two new principals for Eastwood and Parkland high schools, which were approved by the Board of Trustees during its regular meeting Wednesday night.

Penelope Bankston, current principal at Valley View Middle School, has been named the new principal at Parkland High School following a comprehensive selection process that included 15 applicants.

Bankston began her professional career in 1994 as an elementary school bilingual teacher in Alpine, Texas. Since that time, she has served as a middle-school reading teacher, a high-school dyslexia teacher, high-school instructional specialist, a high-school assistant principal and principal of Valley View Middle School.

Bankston has spent the majority of her career – 18 of 23 years – in northeast El Paso. She holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, a master’s degree in reading, and a master’s degree in educational administration, all from Sul Ross State University.

YISD officials say her knowledge of secondary curriculum, as well as her longtime experience working with the Northeast community, will play a pivotal role in leading Parkland High School toward continued academic success.

David Boatright, current principal at Eastwood Middle School, has been named the new principal of Eastwood High School following a thorough, comprehensive nationwide selection process that included 21 applicants.

Boatright began his career in education in 1991 as a physical education teacher at Irvin High School. Over the course of his career – 18 of which were spent in the Eastwood Learning Community – he also served as a world history teacher, world geography teacher, wrestling coach, Eastwood High School assistant principal, and Eastwood Middle School principal. Boatright holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology

from UTEP and a master’s degree in educational administration from Sul Ross State University.

The respect and success Boatright has earned in the Eastwood community, along with his awareness of Trooper traditions and knowledge of secondary curriculum, will continue to lead Eastwood High School toward higher levels of success, YISD officials said.

Bankston and Boatright’s new positions both take effect Monday, July 24.

The Ysleta Independent School District will host three community meetings this coming week to discuss and gain input on important new construction projects as part of the 2015 Bond program.

All meetings are free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Abigail Tarango, director of special projects and strategic initiatives, at 915-434- 0100.

The three meetings will be:

 New Del Valle Middle/Mission Valley Elementary Combination School; 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, at the Valley View Middle School gymnasium, located at 8660 North Loop Drive.

 New Thomas Manor Elementary School; 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, at the Thomas Manor Elementary School cafeteria (located at the former Cadwallader Elementary School) campus at 7988 Alameda Ave.

 Eastwood High School; 6 p.m. Thursday, June 1, at the Eastwood High School cafeteria, located at 2430 McRae Blvd.

Ysleta Independent School District has launched an online survey to seek input from parents and community members for the district’s new all-boys academy.

The survey aims to collect feedback from participants in order to develop attractive programs and curricula, as well as appropriate grade levels for the new school.

“This survey is an excellent opportunity for Ysleta ISD to hear directly from parents and the community as we develop the new all-boys academy,” said YISD Superintendent Dr. Xavier De La Torre. “Our goal is to provide an attractive school that not only builds on the district’s distinguished academic programs, but also provides students and parents with a slate of specialized programs and activities that will create a sound foundation for our boys to succeed not only at the academy, but throughout their lives.”

De La Torre announced plans to open El Paso’s first all-male public school at his annual State of the District Address in March. The campus location has not been determined; however, the school is slated to open for the 2018-2019 school year.

Parents and interested community members can access the online survey for the all- boys academy by visiting the Ysleta ISD website.