Tag Archives: Ysleta ISD

According to a recent report on America’s best high schools, Valle Verde Early College High School is El Paso’s top-ranked high school campus among both public and charter schools, and the Ysleta Independent School District (YISD) has the best-ranked campuses overall when compared to similar districts in the area.

“We have set up a successful blueprint and instructional framework that works, thanks in no small part to the persistence, dedication, and commitment of our teachers within the four corners of the classroom,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Xavier De La Torre.

“Fortune favors the bold – and we consistently strive to provide compelling, bold, and innovative instruction and programs that prepare our students for the global economy that awaits them upon graduation,” Dr. De La Torre added.

Every spring, U.S. News & World Report releases its Best High Schools list, which numerically ranks high schools nationally and within each state based on six areas:

College Readiness
Math & Reading Proficiency
Math & Reading Performance
Underserved Student Performance
College Curriculum Breadth
Graduation Rate

The 2019 rankings show Ysleta ISD far surpasses similar-sized districts locally when it comes to preparing students to demonstrate proficiency in basic skills, as well as readiness for college-level work.

Ranked 55th in Texas and 333rd in the nation, Valle Verde ECHS outscored the Silva Health Magnet, Harmony Science Academy, Davinci School for Science and The Arts, and all other Early College High Schools in the El Paso area.

Among local comprehensive high schools, four YISD campuses ranked in the top 10: Eastwood (#2 in area, #211 in Texas, and #2,469 in the nation); Del Valle (#3, #287, and #3,375); Bel Air (#5, #319, and #3,889); and Hanks (#7, #351, and #4,388).

Rounding out the 20 top-ranked high schools in the El Paso area were Ysleta (#11 in area, #437 in Texas, and #5,459 in the nation); Parkland (#17, #517, and #6,347); and Riverside (#20, #581, and #7,109).

This year’s list ranked 17,425 U.S. high schools, up significantly from 2,700 schools in 2018. The goal is to provide a clear, unbiased picture of how well public schools serve all of their students in preparing them to demonstrate proficiency in basic skills, as well as readiness for college-level work, according to the publication.

By significantly increasing the number of campuses being ranked on the Best High Schools list in 2019, U.S. News & World Report officials said all communities can now see which schools in their area “are successfully serving their students – including historically underserved populations.”

Click here for more information on the rankings.

Ramona Elementary School teacher Fernando Arriaga and Parkland Middle School teacher Michelle Marie Sandoval were named YISD’s top 2019-2020 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year, respectively, at a special event Friday, May 3, at the Centennial Banquet and Conference Center at Fort Bliss.

In addition, Linda Bustillos from South Loop Elementary School was named the 2019-2020 Support Employee of the Year.

Arriaga, a P.E. and health teacher at Ramona Elementary School, has managed to successfully combine his love of martial arts, physical education, and teaching during his 11 years at YISD and 25 years as a martial-arts instructor.

Arriaga credits his success to an inspirational Army veteran named Isaac Perea, who taught him martial arts as a child and young man. “He is an influential man who lives every day as if it’s his last, and I developed a passion for teaching through his influence,” he said.
“I love my job, and I am passionate about my profession,” said Arriaga, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Other finalists for Elementary Teacher of the Year were: Veronica Aguirre (Dolphin Terrace ES), Gaylynn Caraveo (East Point ES), Laura Fonte (Glen Cove ES), and Lisa Martinez-Medina (Pebble Hills ES).

Sandoval, a math teacher at Parkland Middle School, has worked as a teacher for the past 10 years. Her enthusiasm for education has not waned since the day she stepped inside the “energetic and loving” classroom of her first-grade teacher, whom she describes as “ultimate example of an educator and true role model that I still aspire to be.

“Her impact on my life was grand,” said Sandoval, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from UTEP. “I knew I wanted to become a teacher who would touch the lives of so many young minds.”

Other finalists for Secondary Teacher of the Year were George Padilla (Bel Air HS), Casey Rangel (J.M. Hanks HS), Jasmine Estrada (Riverside HS), and Jessica Pussman (Desert View MS).

Bustillos, who has worked for the district for six years, is currently a Special Education aide at South Loop Elementary School. She routinely goes above and beyond in her duties at YISD – including creating new learning stations at her campus this year.

Teachers are able to use all four stations (exercise movement, writing, reflection, and cool-down) to enhance student learning.

Other Support Employee of the Year finalists were: Barbara Licon (Cesar Chavez Academy); Lorraine Baeza (J.M. Hanks HS); Bernadette Ross (Parkland ES); and Ida Ruiz (Central Office).

Arriaga and Sandoval will now go on to compete in the Teacher of the Year competition for Region 19.

A list of all 2019-2020 YISD campus Teachers of the Year and Support Employees of the Year can be found on below.

Earlier this week, the Ysleta ISD Board of Trustees honored a young student fighting a big battle with the heart of a superhero with the YISD President’s Award: Eastwood Heights Elementary School kindergartner Zoey Spinks.

Despite her tender age, Zoey already has years of experience raising awareness and money to fight cystic fibrosis – a rare, genetic disease that she has been diagnosed with.

While most adults might feel defeated or helpless after receiving this kind of diagnosis, Zoey’s realization of her illness has only inspired her to make the world a better place.

She is an active spokesperson for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation created by her mother to support El Pasoans with the disease.

Locally, Zoey helps promote the nationwide Great Strides Walk, the largest fundraising event for cystic fibrosis. She has recorded public service announcements about her disease and medications, made public presentations, conducted media interviews, and distributed flyers to raise awareness of the Great Strides Walk.

On the day of the event, Zoey not only rolls up her sleeves to help with set-up, but she participates with her team called, “Zipping for Zoey,” which has raised more than $30,000 in the past four years!

In addition, Zoey goes the extra mile to help others in need, she’s gone so far as to try and donate her allowance to a homeless woman she once saw in a wheelchair.

Instead, Zoey and her mom decided to create care packages with toiletries, socks, granola bars, and peanut-butter crackers, which Zoey hands out to the homeless at stoplights.

She also performs community service through her Girl Scout troop; and she recently won the Extraordinary Eagle Award at Eastwood Heights for demonstrating kindness in all she does.

Though she is still very young, Zoey has already proven that she is more than capable of making a profound difference in other people’s lives.

The President’s Award is given by the President of the Board of Trustees to a YISD student who has demonstrated exceptional and/or innovative, out-of-the-ordinary service to others, particularly those within the YISD community.

The month of April has been good to Riverside High School, as a team of students and a Ranger program each earned regional awards in the fields of environmental engineering and applied mathematics, one of which resulted in a $3,000 cash prize from the Prudential Foundation.

s a team of students and a Ranger program each earned regional awards in the fields of environmental engineering and applied mathematics

The most recent recognition took place Saturday, April 20, during the City of El Paso Environmental Services Department’s annual Earth Day celebration in downtown El Paso.

During this event, officials hosted the first-ever Environment Excellence Recognition Program (EERP) awards ceremony, a legacy program initiated by state Sen. Jose Rodriguez’s Senate District 29 Environment Advisory Committee.

Among the winners was Riverside High School’s Solar Technology program, which won the EERP award in the category of Education.

“The goal of the EERP is to identify, articulate and strengthen a regional culture of conservation, preservation and best practices for the environment,” said state Sen. Rodríguez. “The program will create an archive of leading projects, practices, and actors in the field, hopefully inspiring us all to do more in our areas of influence.”

The Riverside Solar Technology program, which began in 2017, is the first public high school in the nation to offer the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) associate photovoltaic certification.

With the NABCEP certification, students are able to enter the workforce anywhere in North America in the solar energy industry upon graduating from high school.

Earlier this month, a team of five Riverside High School students won first place at the Prudential Math Challenge, where high-school teams from the regions of Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties competed to solve a real-world problem using applied mathematics.

The Prudential Math Challenge forms part of the 2019 STEAMx competitions hosted by STTE (Success Through Technology Education) Foundation, Workforce Solutions Borderplex, and The Prudential Foundation.

During the competition, participating teams were sequestered for 12 hours and challenged to research and solve a real-world scenario, then present their findings in a research paper.

In order to win, the Riverside students excelled in two separate 12-hour rounds of competition, then addressed an additional problem with findings and another research paper.

By winning the challenge, the Riverside team comprised of Francisco Ontiveros, Ashley De La Rosa, Raul Ramos, Edna Rodriguez, and Karemy Cruz won a $3,000 prize from the Prudential Foundation.

More than 700 school volunteers and staff celebrated their hard work and dedication at YISD’s annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon  at Region 19 Head Start earlier this week.

The event honored and recognized volunteers and staff for their generosity and hard work at their individual campuses throughout the year.

According to YISD officials, more than 3,800 YISD volunteers have logged more than 278,000 volunteer hours so far this school year, resulting in a savings of more than $2 million in labor costs to the district.

Awards presented at the luncheon included:

Outstanding High School Volunteer of the Year:
Hope Gomez, Bel Air High School

Outstanding Middle School Volunteer of the Year:
Claudia Martinez, Rio Bravo Middle School

Outstanding Elementary School Volunteer of the Year:
Darrin Domko, Pebble Hills Elementary School

Years of Service Awards:
40 years –
Maria Vitela, Ysleta Pre-K Center

35 years –
Mirella Herrera, Rio Bravo MS

30 years–
Maria Elena Barrangan, Desertaire ES
Wanda Collins, Hanks HS

25 years –
Josefina Banda, Marian Manor ES
Christine Cooke, Eastwood MS
Maria Corona, Ysleta Pre-K Center

20 years –
Amparo Hernandez, Ascarate ES
Socorro Hinojos, South Loop ES
Raul Nuñez III, Lancaster ES
Maria Rosales, Marian Manor ES
Hortencia Serna, Marian Manor ES

Top Achievement Volunteer Hour Awards:
Alma Bustamante, Parkland HS
Margaret Chaffino, Scotsdale ES
Mirella Herrera, Rio Bravo MS
Ricardo Jauregui, Hacienda Heights ES
Concepcion Portillo, Pasodale ES
Elizabeth Rocha, Pasodale ES
Dora Molina, Dolphin Terrace ES\
Sandra Galvan, Edgemere ES
Denise Juarez, Edgemere ES
Bianca Molina, Dolphin Terrace ES

Top Ten School Awards:
Del Valle High School
Parkland High School
Hanks High School
Rio Bravo Middle School
Parkland Middle School
Del Valle Middle School
Pasodale Elementary School
Cedar Grove Elementary School
Dolphin Terrace Elementary School
Scotsdale Elementary School

As part of as part of the Operation College Bound Initiative, officials with El Paso Community College and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) partnered with Ysleta Independent School District (YISD) to assist seniors in registering for college.

“EPCC is proud to partner with the school districts and UTEP to ensure graduating seniors in our region go to college,” EPCC President Dr. William Serrata said. “Operation College Bound helps students enroll and receive the information they need to make a successful transition from high school to higher education.”

Operation College Bound day at the YISD high schools provided seniors the ease and convenience to enroll in college in a familiar environment with assistance from representatives from the college and university.

“The success of our students is of paramount importance at the Ysleta Independent School District,” said YISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Xavier De La Torre.

“It is our privilege to partner with UTEP and EPCC to host Operation College Bound Days at our high schools, which supports our work to provide students with the opportunity, academic skills, and access toward realizing their dreams of postsecondary education. This allows our students to begin the transition from high school to college in a setting that is familiar to them, with resources for one-on-one assistance that they might not otherwise seek out on their own.”

Operation College Bound took place for Parkland High School on April 15th, the remaining YISD schools will be visited during April.

The Ysleta ISD Board of Trustees honored Hanks High School senior Kristen Apodaca with the President’s Award for March.

“Kristen is a kind-hearted student leader whose commitment to service extends far beyond her campus to the youngest and most vulnerable children in our community,” YISD officials shared Monday. “But what makes Kristen exceptional is that she has purposefully learned the name of EVERY student at Pebble Hills Elementary. In one semester, she has gotten to know the students on an individual basis, and is able to pinpoint when they are struggling so she can give them help and attention when they need it most.”

Kristen volunteers in the library at Pebble Hills Elementary School, helping with a variety of tasks that include reading to students, helping students with their homework, or finding and checking out books students will enjoy.

Teachers and administrators say that Kristen is all heart, and never misses an opportunity to highlight the “awesomeness” of others. Her compassion, kindness, and devotion to community service makes her a stand-out among her peers.

Kristen also volunteers at El Paso Children’s Hospital and the Center Against Family Violence, where she dresses in costume as “Elsa” from the popular Disney movie, “Frozen,” and sings to the children with her twin sister, Kayla.

The President’s Award is given by the President of the Board of Trustees to a YISD student who has demonstrated exceptional and/or innovative, out-of-the-ordinary service to others, particularly those within the YISD community.

Bel Air High School senior Vanesa Carrillo is one of 12 students in Texas – and the only student from El Paso – to be selected as a 2019 Coca-Cola Scholar.

Carrillo is also one of 500 students in the country to be awarded the prestigious 2019 Dell Scholarship, bringing her postsecondary funding so far to $40,000.

“I feel blessed, grateful, and excited to have been chosen among an extensive number of applicants for the Coca Cola and Dell scholarships,” said Carrillo. “Being able to represent my Hispanic community and becoming a role model for many students is a privilege, and I am beyond grateful for the support that my family, teachers, and advisors provide for me.”

As a Coca-Cola Scholar, Carrillo will attend a four-day Leadership Development Institute at the Coca-Cola Company’s International Headquarters in Atlanta next month, where she will participate in activities and workshops to develop leadership skills, as well as tour local landmarks and participate in a group community service project.

The Dell Scholarship will not only provide Carrillo with $20,000 towards college tuition, but will also provide academic, financial, and emotional support throughout her college career, as well as funding for textbooks and a new laptop computer.

This award is funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.

Carrillo, who is also a finalist for the Terry Foundation Scholarship, plans to study marketing and psychology this fall.

This is the second year in a row that a YISD student has been selected as a Coca-Cola Scholar.

Each year, students across the region celebrate the 100th day of the school year with creative and imaginative events.

Students at Tierra Del Sol Elementary School celebrated “100 Days of School” with an event to learn about the importance of this large, three-digit number.

Preparation for the special day began prior to the designated day by creating their individual “100” project at home. Everything from cheerios and sequins, to stickers, seeds, Legos, and gumballs were used to create their unique set of 100 objects.

When the 100th day arrived, students participated in a 100-day parade chanting “100 days brighter.”

Special guests included the Hanks High School drumline, cheerleaders, Renaissance dance team and Pikachu from Los Amiguitos.

The students spent the day refining their math skills by participating in a variety of games and activities centered around this very important number.

Each of the activities reinforced the point that hands-on activities not only actively engage children in the learning process, but also prove that learning can be fun

The Elementary Destination Imagination (DI) team from Alicia R. Chacon International School won 1st place at the regional DI competition recently held at Eastlake High School.

Destination Imagination is a global creative problem-solving organization that prepares kindergarten to high school students for college, career and life through 21st century thinking and learning principles.

More than 145 teams and about 28 districts from El Paso County participated in the day-long event. Teams competed in academic challenges in the fields of technical, science, fine arts, improvisation, engineering and service learning.

Students took part in two challenges: a central challenge, which they have been working on months prior to competition, and an instant challenge, which is spontaneous and they learn about on day of the contest.

Participants solve challenges by generating ideas with team members through research, exploration and presentation of solutions.

The Alicia R. Chacon School opened its doors in 1995  as a dual language program for kinder to 2nd grade. As the years passed, the school gradually added grade levels until reaching its current kinder through 8th enrollment.

The team will now represent the area in the state competition held at Corpus Christi, later this year.

The 2019-2020 campus Teachers of the Year at the Ysleta Independent School District (YISD) were honored during a reception at Central Office Wednesday evening.

During the ceremony, YISD officials also announced 10 finalists for the district’s top two teaching awards: the Elementary Teacher of the Year and the Secondary Teacher of the Year.

All campus Teachers of the Year, as well as all campus Support Employees of the Year, will be honored at the YISD Teacher and Support Employee of the Year Masquerade Ball that takes place at 6 p.m. May 3 at the Centennial Conference Center & Banquet Hall at Fort Bliss.

At this event, the top two YISD Teachers of the Year will be named, as well as the top Support Employee of the Year.

The top five finalists for the 2019-2020 YISD Elementary Teacher of the Year are:

Dolphin Terrace Elementary   |  Veronica Aguirre
East Point Elementary  |  Gaylynn Caraveo
Glen Cove Elementary   |  Laura Fonte
Pebble Hills Elementary   |  Lisa Martinez-Medina
Ramona Elementary   |  Fernando Arriaga

The top five finalists for the 2019-2020 YISD Secondary Teacher of the Year are:

Bel Air High   |  George Padilla
Hanks High   |  Casey Rangel
Riverside High   |  Jasmine Estrada
Desert View Middle   |  Jessica Pussman
Parkland Middle   |  Michelle Sandoval

A list of all 2019-2020 campus Teachers of the Year and Support Employees of the Year can be found by clicking here.

Dr. Catherine Kennedy, Ed.D, associate superintendent of middle schools at the Ysleta Independent School District, will be honored for her wide-ranging contributions to education this month when she is inducted into the 2019 El Paso Women’s Hall of Fame.

With a career spanning 29 years as a teacher and administrator, Kennedy oversees nine middle schools, two international schools, and the Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Ysleta ISD, which serves 41,000 students at 60 campuses.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in science, a master’s degree in educational administration, and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Texas at El Paso.

The El Paso Women’s Hall of Fame was established in 1989 by the El Paso Commission for Women to honor outstanding women for their long-term contributions to the community.

Kennedy will formally be inducted into the El Paso Women’s Hall of Fame during the El Paso Commission for Women’s Induction Ceremony and Luncheon on March 30.

This week, officials with Ysleta ISD announced the 2019 – 2020 Campus Teachers and Support Employees of the Year.

“These dedicated teachers and support staff were selected by their campuses to represent the hard work and a determination to help all children succeed,” YISD officials shared. “They are honored for outstanding leadership, excellence, and inspiration to students, their colleagues and the community.”

The campus Teachers of the Year will be honored at a reception on March 6 where the top ten teachers will be announced. The finalists will undergo another round of interviews to compete for the top spot as Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Ten finalists for Support Employee of the Year finalists will be announced at a later date.

Five finalists will be named and the Ysleta ISD Support Employee of the Year will be announced at the gala in May.

All employees will be honored at the 2019-2020 Teacher and Support Employee of the Year Gala on Friday, May 3, 2019 at the Centennial Conference Center and Banquet Hall on Ft. Bliss. The program will begin at 7 pm. Tickets will go on sale on March 11 for $30 per person. For ticket information, call 434-0690.

The 2019-2020 Teachers and Support Employees of the Year are:

Students at Young Women’s Leadership Academy enjoyed an eventful day, full of learning, teamwork, and cooperation during a STEAM E-Day.

The 6th – 9th grade students participated in campus-wide enrichment activities as they rotated among a variety of projects that included robotics, science experiments, and hands-on activities. This enabled them to engage in activities, extending their knowledge of scientific concepts.

The activities included chromatography, designing their own race car using recyclables, and a homopolar motor, to name a few. 

In the chromatography activity, the students used coffee filters with colored markers dipped in water to explore the rate at which different colors separate.

In the race car activity, students were given recyclable materials such as water bottles, rubber bands, balloons, and skewers to design a functional, self-powered race car. Lastly, for the homopolar motor, they were given magnets, an AA battery, and copper wire.

The objective was to bend the copper wire in order to create a rotating conductor around a fixed axis.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math.

A group of Eastwood Middle School students visited the Bioscience Research Building at the University of Texas at El Paso to get an up-close look at studies conducted by the facility.

After UTEP’s Biological Science chair Dr. Bruce Cushing spoke to the students about the types of research they conduct, the students toured different labs and visited with several doctoral and graduate students from UTEP about the research they are conducting.

Many of the research projects are linked to curing diseases and cancer.

In addition to their roles as teachers, faculty members are also actively engaged in research in their areas of interest, with opportunities for undergraduates to participate in these research programs.

The faculty’s research covers areas of interest in Immunology and Infectious Disease, Neuroscience, Toxicology, Cancer Biology, Epidemiology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, and Evolution Biology.

UTEP Officials shared tat the University’s location in the northern part of the Chihuahua Desert, the valley of the Rio Grande, and the border between the United States and Mexico all provide a unique research and instructional setting.

The Department of Biological Sciences is housed in two buildings, the Biology and Bioscience Research buildings. The Bioscience Research Building is about 92,500 square feet of research, office and conference space.

The student’s visits took place last week.