Rio Grande Valley School Administrators Start School With A Good Breakfast
Tuesday, September 5, 2006

The Valley's district school superintendents and principals started off the new school year with good news at the fourth annual Tech Prep-RGV's Back to School Breakfast. “Tech Prep students pursue higher education and complete higher education at a higher rate then the general population,” said Jack Damron, Region One Education Service Center Executive Director. Representatives from the 32 Valley districts attended the breakfast where they heard about the achievements of Tech Prep students and learned about Tech Prep’s plans for the coming school year.
Acknowledging that now is a time-critical point in the school year, Damron also stated that in the coming year Tech Prep would work with more partners to continue programming that is providing success for thousands of students. “When we can get students involved with hands-on activities, when can make learning relevant, then we have won half the battle.” Damron introduced the school superintendents who serve on the Tech Prep Board: Dr. Linda Wade of Harlingen ISD, Dr. John Edwards, and Dr. Danny King.
Tech Prep RGV Director Pat Bubb ran through the program's validating statistics rapidly, pointing out how much Valley Tech Prep students had saved at three area colleges. Thanks to articulated and dual credit courses, in the 2005-2006 year alone, parents and students saved a total of $3,846,000 in tuition and fees at three regional colleges.
Rick Tijerina, Senior Assistant Principal at PSJA's North High School, shared his first hand knowledge about the benefits for parents of Tech Prep students as well for the teens themselves. “Parents save a lot money,” he said, noting that his son graduated from high school with close to one year's worth of college credit for high school courses.
Each superintendent received a copy Thomas Friedman's book The World is Flat, which emphasizes that education must be relevant to the needs of workplace. Tech Prep Board President and professional engineer, Cesar Maldonado, said that the challenge lies in recognizing things as they are, not as our long-held perceptions dictate. He hoped reading the book would spur action. “Our real competitors are the countries that have the capacity for knowledge and technological applications, not the places with oil and cheap labor.”
Maldonado added that Tech Prep is helping Valley students to prepare for this changing world by “…doing things here at Tech Prep that are not being done in other parts of Texas.” He went on to thank the school administrators for their assistance and added, “Every chance you get to form a collaboration with a business person, do it”.
Tech Prep has been very successful in building student interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers that offer so many well-paying job opportunities. . For example, the health sciences program is expanding as students become aware of the demand for skilled staff across the spectrum of healthcare specialties. For the new wired generation, the communications field holds a lot of excitement and opportunities, added, Adrian Garcia, CATE for Region One
However, never one to rest on its laurels, Tech Prep is preparing an evaluation survey of RGV students who go on to college. With the information gathered from this survey, Tech Prep and its partners in the school districts and the business world will be able to improve on services to future generations of students.

Dr. John Edwards, Dean La Fever and Cesar Maldonado discuss Tech Prep's plans for the future.


Mission ISD Superintendent, Oscar Rodriguez, shares information on teacher student ratios with new high school principals, Janie Vega of La Joya and Richard Atkinson of Mercedes.

To Understand What Employers Need, Teachers Become Interns for 3 Weeks
Thursday, July 20, 2006

Weslaco....After teaching for 18 years, Ramon Garcia this summer found himself embedded at Channel 5, complete with a laminated photo ID badge and a job title of Intern. The McAllen high school teacher spent three weeks gaining insights into the media field to take back to the classroom as part of Tech Prep-RGV's Academic Leadership Alliance.

Tech Prep matched 32 Valley counselors and high school teachers with 32 valley businesses and organizations to give the educators a first hand look at the real world. “This shows me what skills our students need learn in order to be successful in this field,” said Garcia, who teaches economics and government. Being able to working collaboratively and having strong communications and technology skills are essential, he discovered, reaffirming what he has been teaching..

“One thing I'm going to have my students do is a mini-newscast,” Garcia said.. “If everyone doesn't do his or her job correctly, it has an impact on everyone else.”

Garcia himself learned how a commercial is put together, answered calls to the news hot line, got to sit at the news desk and meet local celebrities, and served as an assistant to an assistant newsroom editor, loving every minute of his summer occupation in the various departments at the television station.

“This is a fascinating job, but my job as an educator has more impact on the lives of young people,” Garcia said at a weekly debriefing for the teachers. He was echoed by Myrna Apostal who teaches physics and chemistry at La Joya HS. Apostal interned at the distribution center for Symbol Technologies, a maker of bar code machines and scanners. She worked with staff on safety, industrial engineering, manifesting, administration, customer returns, and quality.

“I was trying to find the connections between what I teach and the world of work,” said Apostal, who was impressed by the company's organization, its motivated employees and in-house training opportunities. “Teaching physics I can relate to how work can de done by machines. What I noticed is that everyone is cross-trained and multi-tasking. I can tell the students why they need to know something and how knowing it can make them successful in the future. They need computer skills and more communications skills.”

Joel Reyes, VP of Global Manufacturing at Symbol, said this is the company's fourth year with the ALA program. “We love the educators have such enthusiasm. They pinpoint things themselves that they develop into their lesson plans. He has seen teachers observing that materials clerks must know how to calculate box dimensions to load them on a pallet efficiently and has had a teacher admit she was unaware of the critical skills necessary in the real world.

Employers participating in Tech Prep's ALA program ranged across the region and included accounting firm Long Chilton, the Hidalgo police department, hospitals, banks, UTPA, McAllen Construction, Homeland Security, and the Foreign Trade Zone.

Tech Prep Real World Students Go to Basketball Camp and Come Home with Leadership Skills
Thursday, July 20, 2006

Dozens of basketballs bounced on the gym floor or rolled way from the high school schools attending the Camp of Champs at Texas State Technical College-Harlingen. But the 180 Tech Prep students who were dribbling balls and practicing chest shots and jump shots have set their sites on higher education rather than basketball's hall of fame.

Camp of Champs, led by retired basketball star Greg Manning, is a life skills clinic on a basketball framework that is designed to assist young people in reaching for their best. The high-energy camp helped wrap up a year of Tech Prep-RGV sessions which focused on mentoring, choices for the future, job shadowing and participation in community service projects.

“You're going to have opportunities come your way,” Manning told the students crowded on the field house bleachers. “It's up to you to take advantage of those opportunities.” He advised them to find what they enjoy and go do it. “Whatever in the world you want to do, do your best. Your best is good enough”

Over the sounds of shouts, laughter and the slaps of high fives as the students and camp counselors ran through drills, Manning said, “This gets them up and moving. They're going to do things they never thought they would do.” The Camp of Champs blends motivational stories, having fun, and learning new skills--not basketball skills so much as interpersonal skills. Manning challenged the students with stories of ordinary people who have done extraordinary things with their lives.

Edinburg North High school student Cassandra Lomas crowded near a camp counselor who was giving instructions on the next activity. Although she prefers softball and other sports to basketball, the camp allowed her to meet new people and have new experiences. “Even the drills are more fun here. We're just having a great time.”

Tennis is Cesar Silva's usual sport, but the Donna High senior admitted he, too, was having a good time. “I hope they do this again next year,” said Silva, who plans to attend UTPA on his way to becoming an architect.

Martha Sanchez, a McAllen High freshman in the Tech Prep program, was all smiles after she tried passing a basketball back and forth between her legs. Trying something new –something you won't be graded on–can be both amusing and enlightening, she learned. She watched another student handle the ball with ease and had to ask him, “Have you done this before?” Yes, he said, he had practiced.

Advanced Teacher Training Offered
Thursday, July 20, 2006

Carrie Nance, who is completing her first year of teaching Family and Consumer Services classes at Raymondville High School, will be able to offer her students a new way to save time and money when classes resume in August. Her students can receive college credit for her courses in Food Production and Management and in Child Development and Preparation for Parenting by making at least 80.

The difference between the two years is that Nance attended the Advanced Technical Credit Training sponsored by Tech Prep RGV to become certified to teach high school technical courses that are equivalent to the material covered on the college level. The training involves reviewing the course description and curriculum of the 37 high school technical electives with the applicable college instructor. TSTC Culinary Arts master instructor Carl Eads spent several hours with Nance and other Valley teachers discussing course content and what students must accomplish.

The process of matching high school and college level technical courses is called articulation, and it is regulated by the state through the Articulated Credit Crosswalk. Often part of a Tech Prep program, the content-enhanced high school courses are substantially equal to introductory level courses leading to technical certificates and degree programs at two-year public colleges.

With an ATC certification on her wall, Nance expects her students to benefit from gaining college credit in high school. “It's going to useful for them. It gives them a head start on the rest of their education.” Having articulated courses means the students do not have to pay tuition for the course in college and it also allows them to complete a degree or certificate program in less time. The ATC training was crucial enough for her to miss a day of classes, Nance said, even with finals looming for her students.

Mark Meade, Advanced Technical credit training coordinator. The Articulated Course Crosswalk is a voluntary program for schools and teachers. “They want to make sure the high school teacher is doing the same thing as the college instructor.”

The students of San Benito High School teachers Rebecca Ramirez and Dana Norman are well aware of the importance of articulated credits for their college careers. The health science technology instructors, who were re-certified at the ATC training, said they add more content to their articulated courses because the students are very focused and set on a career pathway. “Our students are the cream of the crop,” Norman said. “They are very bright and concerned about getting college credit.” Ramirez agreed that once the students have had a taste of the health sciences, many continue in field beyond high school.

High school technical courses available for articulation include business computer information systems, accounting, computer aided drafting, computer maintenance, medical terminology, culinary art machine shop, welding and technical introduction to criminal justice.

Tech Prep prepares today's students for high demand technical careers by offering a focused, formal sequence of high school and college course which result in a two-year associates degree and can lead to university programs. For more information, call Tech Prep RGV at 956-364-4508.

Tech Prep Students Glimpse the Future
Thursday, July 20, 2006

Mercedes.....A morning spent job shadowing at the civil engineering firm Guzman & Munoz gave one Mercedes High School junior a hands-on exposure to the world of subdivisions infrastructure, from the right locations for storm drains and fire hydrants to curbs and gutters. For Raul Toscano, Jr, that was good thing, because he is considering majoring in architectural engineering at TAMU-Kingsville. Participating in the Tech Prep job shadowing program gave Toscano the opportunity to talk to civil engineer Bobby Closner, who himself attended TAMUK, and to learn about what the work entails.

Toscano was one of 268 Tech Prep students from high schools in Cameron, Willacy and Hidalgo counties who spent a morning at job sites ranging from television stations and hospitals and to banks and a fire department. The Tech Prep students are readying themselves to continue their education beyond high school at two and four year colleges. Job shadowing exposes them to the real world of work. The students went primed with questions for their “boss.” What personal qualities are needed to be successful in this job? What is your normal work day? Then many of them toured the workplaces and.talked to other professionals at work.

Toscano, who is taking a drafting course, watched as Closner described the reasons for placing storm drains at set intervals. “This kind of interests me,” admitted Toscano, who might chose civil engineering as a minor. “How long does it take to do a plan like this?” he asked draftsman Manuel Valdez. “It's all computerized now, but 30 years ago, everything was drawn by hand,” was the reply.

Mercedes Fire Department Chief Jaime Garcia told his Tech Prep students that if they stayed with him for the morning, “You'll see me working on computers doing reports.” He turned Vanessa Vallejo and Galileo Campos over to fireman Octavio Quiroz to learn about the operation of the various equipment and the fire department. The students learned that while the firefighters work a standard business day, the chief and staff are on call 24/7.

At Altas Palmas Animal Clinic in Harlingen, Dr. Romulo Rangel welcomed three Tech Prep students from Mercedes. Senior Robles Gamez watched as a German shepherd was being prepped for surgery. “I want to go into education, but being a veterinarian would be cool.” Did shadowing a veterinarian influence sophomore Carol Ibarra's plans for her future? “I like animals. Maybe I could..” Dr. Rangel said he was happy to have the students observing him and his staff. “Some are checking it out, and some have a real interest,” he said. Either way, shadowing gives students more information to help them make decisions about their futures.

Gulf Aviation at Valley International Airport typically hosts Tech Prep students each year. Chief pilot Mitri Garib set aside a whole morning to take them through the flight schedule, noting what flights are going out since Gulf Aviation fuels and services all Southwest flights at the airport.

“We go out to see a private airplane being tested, check the weather, and look at the maintenance facilities,” he said. In the hangar, students talk one on one with the aviation mechanics. “Most of them are very interested in what we do, mainly because it is so different. Of course, I just show them the good stuff. But it's a learning experience for them and myself. They ask me questions on things I've forgotten about.”

Golden Crescent Tech Prep Seeks New Director
Monday, June 12, 2006

The Tech Prep Director for the Golden Crescent region, based at Victoria College, has resigned his position and accepted a new post. The outgoing Director requested statewide assistance in helping with the search for a replacement. The position vacancy notice appears below:


Position Vacancy Notice
Position Title 06/12/2006



Summary of
Responsibility
Director, Tech Prep Program
Available Immediately

Full-time position responsible for organization, coordination, and monitoring all aspects of the Tech-Prep Grant. The director will act as primary liaison between Victoria College, the Board of Directors of the Golden Crescent Tech-Prep Partnership, and the Partnership stakeholders. Director is responsible for ensuring that all activities and objectives are evaluated in relation to the goals of the project. Typical duties include overseeing day-to-day operations and informing the Board and the state and federal management agencies of the progress of the program, supervising project staff, managing budget and expenditures, soliciting cooperation, involvement, and support for the project, etc.

The position is funded by grant money and the duration of employment is expressly conditioned upon the availability of funding.

Qualifications
Master’s degree preferred, or Bachelor’s degree with work experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions
Excellent organizational, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills required
Must possess a working knowledge of computer systems and software, be a team player, and place a high priority on meeting goals and deadlines
At least two years supervisory experience, ability to delegate responsibility and to provide follow up
Successful experience in managing projects and personnel
Strong commitment to workforce education philosophies
Must be committed to community college mission and philosophy
Must be able to work with diverse student populations
Must be able to travel throughout the Tech Prep service area

Salary Salary depending on qualifications, plus excellent employee benefits.
To Apply
To be considered for this position, your application packet must include:
1) Victoria College application (found at www.victoriacollege.edu/hr)
2) A cover letter that summarizes your suitability for this job
3) Résumé
4) Three current letters of recommendation
5) Unofficial copies of college transcripts if applicable.

Submit complete application packet to:
Human Resources Office, The Victoria College
2200 E. Red River, Victoria, TX 77901-4442
Or fax to (361) 582-2561

Selection Processing Screening of applications begins immediately. Position is open until filled.

The Victoria College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Tech Prep Texas Scholars Criteria Adopted
Wednesday, June 7, 2006

At its Board meeting in Brownsville on May 30, 2006, the Tech Prep RGV Board of Directors adopted new Tech Prep Texas Scholars requirements. The new requirements are effective for the Class of 2010 and thereafter. Students in graduating classes up to and through the Class of 2009 will continue to meet the program's existing standards.

The new standards effective for the Class of 2010, adopted in collaboration with the Texas Business and Education Coalition, are as follows:

To be a Tech Prep Texas Scholar, a student must do all five of these things:

1. Complete all courses required by the Recommended High School Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program.

2. Achieve a Texas Ready standard on any one of the assessments identified below (for additional information, see www.texasscholars.org):

• 11th Grade TAKS—a 2200 on the math test and 2200 on the English-language arts test with a subscore of 3 on the writing sample

• ACT—a composite score of 21 and at least 19 on the English section and 22 on the math section

• SAT—a combined score of 1070 and at least a 500 on both the verbal and math sections

• ACCUPLACER—Elementary Algebra, 63; Reading Comprehension, 78; and Written Essay 6 (or Written Essay 5 and Sentence Skills 80)

• ASSET—Elementary Algebra-38, Reading Skills-41, and Written Essay 6 (or Written Essay 5 and Writing Skills [multiple choice] – 40)

• COMPASS—Algebra-39, Reading Skills-81, and Written Essay – 6 or (Written Essay – 5 AND Writing Skills [multiple choice]-59)

• THEA—Mathematics-230*, Reading-230, and Writing-220
*NOTE: 270 is the college algebra readiness standard.

• ASVAB—a score at the 40th percentile

• WorkKeys—at least a score of three (3) on the Reading for Information, Locating Information, and Applied Mathematics assessments

3. Complete the high school portion of a six- or eight-year plan of study–that includes, in high school, two or more career and technology courses for 3 or more credits.

4. Complete at least two college-level Tech-Prep courses as part of the student’s high school graduation plan. Each “college-level Tech Prep course” must meet all of the following requirements:

• must be a career and technology course taken in high school

• must be either an articulated course (local articulation or statewide articulation--ATC) or a dual/concurrent-enrollment course

• must be a course for which the school district and one of our local colleges (South Texas College, Texas State Technical College Harlingen, Texas Southmost College, Coastal Bend College, or Laredo Community College) have agreed that a student can receive college credit as part of a Tech Prep graduation plan.

5. Complete a declaration of intent to be a Tech Prep Texas Scholar.

For additional information, contact the Tech Prep RGV offices.

Second District Named; Manufacturing Project Begins
Wednesday, June 7, 2006

Harlingen CISD has joined Edinburg CISD as the second school district participating in the Continuum of Education in Advanced Manufacturing project with Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley in collaboration with TSTC Harlingen. These partners will collaborate on this statewide project, which results from an award of U.S. Department of Labor funds to Texas' Texas State Technical College System. Tech Prep RGV, Edinburg CISD, Harlingen CISD, TSTC Harlingen, and other partners (such as the Region One Education Service Center, the Harlingen Manufacturers' Association, and individual employers) will collaborate on a project designed to provide 20 Rio Grande Valley youngsters beginning in June 2006 and continuing through October 2007.

Once the competitive process was completed and both of the school district partners named, this project began in earnest, under the leadership of Ray Anzaldua, CMfgE, CMfgT, Tech Prep RGV's Manufacturing Specialist. Educators are participating in a four-day inservice on the TSTC Harlingen campus on June 5-8, 2006, and the program for students begins in late July and will intensify during the 2006-2007 academic year.
The program in which these youngsters will be participating is designed to accomplish the following goals:
1. Inform educators, students, parents, families, and the general community about the needs of the manufacturing industry and the opportunities available in manufacturing careers to as to create a K-12 manufacturing awareness and increase the number of students pursuing manufacturing careers.
2. Create pilot high school training/youth apprenticeship programs that will train and certify high school students in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies.
3. Strengthen programs that link high school manufacturing programs with Texas State Technical College’s Advanced Manufacturing programs leading to certifications and Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Machining Technology and the emerging-technology area of Techtronic’s (see Manufacturing Program Overview and Preliminary Schedule for additional information about these programs).
4. Provide training for participating youth in those quality philosophies and operating procedures that industry uses (ISO, Six Sigma and Lean).
5. Utilize the National Institute for Metalworking Skills, Inc. a national accreditation system, to improve the quality of training programs as part of the national endeavor to build and maintain and globally competitive workforce while informing student participants and other interested students about career opportunities in manufacturing and the education options that can help students prepare to enter manufacturing careers.

Tech Prep Board Seeks Input for Tech Prep Texas Scholars Program
Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Tech Prep RGV's Board of Directors discussed new requirements for Tech Prep Texas Scholars at its March 28 Board meeting and sought input from its partners and stakeholders at the semiannual meeting of the voting members and Board on April 18. The Board will take final action at its Board meeting on May 30. The May 30 Board meeting will be held at 12 noon at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Brownsville.

New Tech Prep Texas Scholars requirements will be effective for the graduating class of 2010 and thereafter. The Board has been considering and seeking input regarding two possible options for revisions to the Tech Prep Texas Scholars program. The option that will be presented for adoption on May 30 includes a Texas Ready standard, based on the Texas Ready standard incorporated in the Texas Scholars: High School and Beyond program adopted by the Board of the Texas Business and Education Coalition.

Interested individuals are invited to come to the Board meeting on May 30 to present comments. The option to be presented for adoption includes requirements as follows:

To be a Tech Prep Texas Scholar, a student must do all five of these things:

1. Complete all courses required by the Recommended High School Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program.

2. Achieve a Texas Ready standard on any one of the assessments identified below (for additional information, see www.texasscholars.org):

• 11th Grade TAKS—a 2200 on the math test and 2200 on the English-language arts test with a subscore of 3 on the writing sample

• ACT—a composite score of 21 and at least 19 on the English section and 22 on the math section

• SAT—a combined score of 1070 and at least a 500 on both the verbal and math sections

• ACCUPLACER—Elementary Algebra, 63; Reading Comprehension, 78; and Written Essay 6 (or Written Essay 5 and Sentence Skills 80)

• ASSET—Elementary Algebra-38, Reading Skills-41, and Written Essay 6 (or Written Essay 5 and Writing Skills [multiple choice] – 40)

• COMPASS—Algebra-39, Reading Skills-81, and Written Essay – 6 or (Written Essay – 5 AND Writing Skills [multiple choice]-59)

• THEA—Mathematics-230*, Reading-230, and Writing-220
*NOTE: 270 is the college algebra readiness standard.

• ASVAB—a score at the 40th percentile

• WorkKeys—at least a score of three (3) on the Reading for Information, Locating Information, and Applied Mathematics assessments

3. Complete the high school portion of a six- or eight-year plan of study–that includes, in high school, two or more career and technology courses for 3 or more credits.

4. Complete at least two college-level Tech-Prep courses as part of the student’s high school graduation plan. Each “college-level Tech Prep course” must meet all of the following requirements:

• must be a career and technology course taken in high school

• must be either an articulated course (local articulation or statewide articulation--ATC) or a dual/concurrent-enrollment course

• must be a course for which the school district and one of our local colleges (South Texas College, Texas State Technical College Harlingen, Texas Southmost College, Coastal Bend College, or Laredo Community College) have agreed that a student can receive college credit as part of a Tech Prep graduation plan.

5. Complete a declaration of intent to be a Tech Prep Texas Scholar.

For additional information, contact the Tech Prep RGV offices.

Information for Manufacturing Educators and Students
Thursday, April 27, 2006

This Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) website is a place for educators and students to use as a resource for information on the state of manufacturing education and research, current needs and future trends.

Of special interest to Students, there are scholarships worth up to $20,000 per year available.

Click on the Student button on this website to learn more.

http://www.sme.org/cgi-bin/communities.pl?/communities/education/edu_community_hp.htm&&&SME&

Robotics Competition Opportunity Available
Friday, April 21, 2006

Any high schools that might be interested in having students participate in a BEST Robotics competition in Corpus Christi should please contact Leah Martaindale . Martaindale is the contact for a BEST Robotics group that is putting together its fall schedule. They need to know as soon as possible because they are ordering kits. The competition will kick off September 16, Demo Day will be October 21 and the competition will be October 28. The initial plan is that all events will be at TAMUK, and TAMUK will be giving scholarships. They provide the parts. Students need someone to work with them, a place to work and transportation to the event. They have room for 4 to 6 new teams this year, and participation is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact information for Leah Martaindale is: martaindale3@yahoo.com.

Manufacturing Partnership Names One School District Partner; Seeking Second
Thursday, April 20, 2006

Congratulations to Edinburg CISD, which has been named a participant in the Advanced Manufacturing Continuum of Education Project for the period beginning June 1, 2006, and ending October 31, 2007.

Tech Prep RGV is seeking one additional school district to work as a partner in this project. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on May 10, 2006. To obtain an application, visit the Downloads section of this website or contact Lilia Perez at 956.364.4510 or lilia.perez@techpreprgv.com

2006 Advanced Technical Credit (ATC) Training Scheduled
Wednesday, April 12, 2006

TECH PREP OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, INC.
2006 Advanced Technical Credit (ATC) Training
Will be provided on May 16, 17, & 18, 2006.

Location: Texas State Technical College
Service Support Center-Conference Room
1902 N. Loop 499, Harlingen, TX

Registration 8:30 a.m.—9 a.m.

Part I: 9 a.m.—12 p.m.
Part II 1 p.m.—4 p.m.

$13.00 REGISTRATION FEE

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

Download Registration Form Here

Program to Introduce High School Students to Manufacturing Begins
Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Harlingen.... As a high school student, Ray Anzaldua never knew a thing about machine shops or how things were made. And he thinks that too-common lack of exposure to a major industry like manufacturing needs to change.

"Most people don't realize that everything around us--the phone, the frying pan, the toothbrush--was designed and manufactured," says the certified manufacturing engineer, who has worked for Boeing and General Motors.

Tech Prep RGV, in collaboration with TSTC Harlingen, has started a program to remedy the public's unfamiliarity about manufacturing and the well-paying jobs in the field, in and out of the Valley, for individuals with advanced training from a two- or four-year college. To introduce local students to the manufacturing environment at a hands-on level, Tech Prep established the position of Manufacturing Specialist and hired Ray Anzaldua for the post.

Beyond raising awareness about opportunities for satisfying, well-paid careers in manufacturing, Anzaldua will be designing programs to serve youth who are interested in the industry. He will help set up a Tech Prep youth apprenticeship system along with summer internships. A manufacturing career ladder brochure will be published showing different levels of jobs in manufacturing, along with the skills and education needed to move up the ladder.
Students who participate in the summer program will be benefit from dual/concurrent enrollment in courses. Dividing their time between the TSTC-Harlingen campus and the employers' work sites, they will also be eligible for incentives for good performance. The students will test for NIMS (National Institute of Machining Standards) certification in Machining Level I and related skills certifications.

In the early 1990s, Anzaldua developed the Manufacturing Technologies Lab for Tech Prep before moving to the West Coast. With MTL, under Perkins tech prep and school-to work grants, he operated a work-based training model for engineering and manufacturing professions. He interacted with 25 Valley school districts to expose students to manufacturing and industrial technologies, including CNC and CAD/CAM programming.

Valley manufacturers, whose diverse products include molded plastics and die-stamped components for automotive, telecommunications and appliance makers, continue to search for proficient technicians and engineers and support programs that develop a skilled labor force.
Tech Prep’s manufacturing program is funded through TSTC Harlingen with a grant from the United States Department of Labor.

For information on the Tech Prep programs, call Pat Bubb or Ray Anzaldua at 956.364.4509.

Tech Prep RGV Is Proud Partner in 21st Century Program
Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley is proud to be a member of a 21st Century Learning Community project led by Hidalgo ISD in collaboration with Lyford CISD, Monte Alto ISD, and other partners. A description of the consortium's activities is as follows:

The RGV Consortium Project’s mission is to prepare all children to be successful citizens in the 21st century, to help young people of Texas stay in school, successfully learn, as well as prepare for life by coordinating the connection of needed community resources in the school setting in underserved, economically disadvantaged rural school districts. The districts’ strategic plans already address the need to provide afterschool academics, career exploration, enrichment and recreational safe havens for students. Thus increasing opportunities for schools to become the extended learning centers of their communities. In the new century the skill level for all jobs, even the lowest will be much higher. Today modern technological changes have increased the demand for a more highly skilled workforce. If we do not hold all students to high academic standards, the result will be low achievement, and children will leave school undereducated and/or unprepared. Rural districts struggle to provide the 21st Century Strategies necessary for student success. For these reasons, districts have joined forces and asked specialized community partners to join them to offer all students in their districts the quality programming.

The RGV Rural Consortium has identified three core components as the framework of services, which will be provided through sustainable after school, weekend and summer learning opportunities in a safe, accessible, and culturally relevant environment and the components are as follows: 1) educational enrichment; 2) additional enhancement activities to include but not limited to pre-employment exploration, skills development, culture and arts exposure and health and human services; 3) parental and family involvement. The Consortium’s Centers will address the barriers students experience in achieving success, especially in reading and math, while facilitating students to achieve at grade level, ensuring timely progression and promotion. These core subjects affect academic success in other content areas. If students cannot read, they experience difficulty in social studies, and science. The program design addresses campus and community needs by offering a variety of academic, cultural, recreational, fine arts, career exploration, health and family services. Each center will offer consistent components the same throughout all Consortium Centers, while having diverse enrichment packages based on their internal needs assessment. The strength of the Consortium’s approach is that the evaluation and lessons learned can be shared throughout the Consortium to develop a Best Practices Model for afterschool programs in rural districts throughout the Valley.

1. Strategies for Academic Enrichment include but not limited to:
 Sylvan Learning System transplanted to a rural public school district setting using RGV Rural Consortium Teachers and a skilled team of volunteer Instructors thereby enhancing TAKS Academies
 Sylvan Foundation Book Adventure, linked to Accelerated Reading Programs and After Hours Library Programs
 Book Clubs, Math Clubs, Read Arounds

2. Strategies for Additional Enhancement Programs include but not limited to:
 Recreational Activities that emphasize lifetime sports
 Chess Clubs
 Drama Clubs and Programs (Con Ganas and Weekend Arts Miracles)
 Music and Dance Clubs
 Career Exploration, Work –based Learning Applications
 Technology-based opportunities with Synergistic Systems by Pitsco

3. Strategies for Parent and Family Involvement but are not limited to:
 Family Literacy Center offering ESL, GED and THEA Academies
 Higher Order Parenting Classes – Sylvan Parent Success Presentations
 Family Wellness Program to include cooking demonstrations and walking clubs

Global Rationale for Project: Providing a healthy start for adolescents will improve classroom participation and academic achievement throughout the school day. Each center will house an after school program focusing on academic tutoring, with health, social service, technological, cultural and recreational activities. Other special programs and activities will be offered for adult community members. All programs are designed to extend learning opportunities beyond the traditional school day while addressing community needs: lack of safe environments and enrichment activities to reduce juvenile crime rates; lower than state average on standardized testing in core academic subjects among sub-populations; and lack of integrated education, technology, health, social service, adult education, recreational, and cultural programs for children and adults. As mentioned earlier, activities were chosen from input received through surveys of teachers, students, parents, and community members.


Partner School Districts are:
Hidalgo ISD – Fiscal Agent
Lyford ISD
Monte Alto ISD

Other Partners include:
Sylvan Learning Center
University of Texas Brownsville – Texas Southmost College
South Texas College
Creative Alignment/ Sin Fronteras
Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc.

T-STEM Initiative Seeks Leaders
Friday, April 7, 2006

The Texas High School Project is currently recruiting applicants for five current Texas High School Project job openings. These positions are for staffing for a new $71 million Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (T-STEM)initiative. A search is underway for five talented and experienced professionals who will work with transforming math and science education across Texas.

The T-STEM initiative is part of the Texas High School Project (THSP), a $260 million public-private initiative committed to increasing graduation rates and college enrollment rates in every Texas community. The THSP's partners include the Texas Education Agency, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Wallace Foundation, educators, and others. The philanthropic investments are managed by Communities Foundation of Texas and the public resources by the Texas Education Agency. The resources dedicated to the THSP support new and re-designed high schools, educator training and development, and specific programs designed to help students get ready for college. The approach used by the THSP creates learning environments where students build relationships with educators, are challenged with rigorous lessons, and are excited by subjects made relevant to their lives.

Governor Rick Perry has made economic development, especially growth in high-tech fields and the innovation economy, one of the key focuses of his administration. While economic development efforts have become more dependent on workers with greater scientific and technological expertise, a number of reports have revealed that our education system is not producing enough graduates with strong backgrounds in math, science, technology, and engineering to sustain job growth in these key businesses of the future. To ensure that Texas will continue to grow its economy, land more job expansions than any other state, and remain at the forefront in the battle for 21st century jobs, Texas is launching a bold and forward-thinking education program-the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (T-STEM) Initiative.

Building upon state and local efforts to improve math and science
achievement among Texas students, the T-STEM Initiative will pilot
innovative ways of delivering science, engineering, and math education, with a focus on increasing the number of students who study and enter science, technology, engineering and math careers.

The Texas High School Project is looking for hard working problem-solvers, who are serious about education, but still have a sense of humor about themselves. They promise a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and a talented and motivated group of co-workers. The THSP is based at the Communities Foundation of Texas in Dallas and is a great place to work with a terrific benefits package, exemplary staff and board leadership and a history of philanthropic excellence. The Texas High School Project and the Communities Foundation of Texas value diversity and recognize the importance of having a team that reflects the population of students served. Positions for which leaders are being recruited are as follow:


1) Program Officer STEM Curriculum: Program Officer STEM Curriculum is a senior position that will manage the $15M in STEM Center grants and who will bring expertise in the STEM curriculum and in the instruction components to the program.

2) Associate Program Officer, STEM Curriculum: The person who will
support the Program Officer, STEM Curriculum. This person needs a
strong STEM background and will spend lots of time coaching the centers, building the STEM network and vetting potential STEM programs and resources for use by Academies, Centers and the Network.

3) Associate Program Officer STEM Academies: This is the person who will report to the current Program Officer for STEM Academies, and will help create the academies, build the coaches network, and who will spend a lot of time him or herself coaching schools.

4) Associate Program Officer STEM Network: This person will drive the design of the STEM Network and will implement the support components that are part of the network.

5) Research Associate: This person will provide research and quantitative support across the entire STEM team.

Prospective candidates are encouraged to apply via e-mail with a
resume, cover letter and references to: cfurrh@cftexas.org
.

To obtain copies of the position descriptions, contact Pat Bubb at 956.364.4512 or pat.bubb@techpreprgv.com.

Recipients of the Tech Prep Support Team (S-Team) Minigrants Announced
Monday, April 3, 2006

Tech Prep RGV is pleased to announce the recipients of the Tech Prep Support Team (S-Team) Minigrant that provides funding to support participation in, and presentations at, the Southwest Regional P-16 Conference on April 24-26, 2006, in Austin, Texas. Three individuals were selected to receive grants. These individuals are: Janie Lopez, Edinburg High School, Edinburg CISD; Rosie Stockwell, Edinburg North High School, Edinburg CISD; Lucy Uvalle, Edinburg North High School, Edinburg CISD. They will be presenting a session titled “Ready for the Real World: RGV Tech Prep Model” at the aforementioned conference.

The Tech Prep Board and Staff congratulate the recipients and their respective school district.

Students Learn the Skills Needed for Job Interviews
Wednesday, March 29, 2006

“No matter what job you are looking for, part-time or full-time, you are going to go through the interview process. It's a fact of life,” said Norwood Fedie. The manager of Gibbs Texas Die Casting and president of the Harlingen Manufacturers Association, volunteered to be a mentor and talk about Employability with 20 Rio Hondo High School students in Tech Prep’s First Generation program. Designed to prepare and support students who will be the first in their families to attend a two- or four- year college, the program provides monthly sessions on topics from study skills, time management, and financing your education to stress management, conflict resolution, and virtual job shadowing.

What makes you employable? Fedie asked the students before going over the questions every applicant should be prepared to answer in a job interview. He recommended students go online briefly to a company's website before any interview, even for a part-time job in fast food. That will prepare them for what the interviewer may ask.

While each job interview is different, Fedie told the students several questions they should expect to answer: Tell me about yourself; What are your strengths?; What are your weaknesses?; and Why should I hire you? Those individuals who plan appropriate responses ahead of time to such direct questions can make a better impression than those who are surprised and flustered by the interview questions. Persons with limited employment history can discuss their transferable skills and organizational ability from participation with clubs or teams.

Surveys repeatedly show that individuals with training and education beyond high school are more employable and earn more money than those who have only a diploma. Generally, advanced degrees equate with higher salaries. Trained employees who are capable of filling numerous technical jobs, including those with Valley manufacturers, are in forecast to be in demand. If you have basic computer skills and at least the minimum requirements for a job, Fedie said, most employers expect to provide on-the-job training to acquaint new hires with their specific software and their preferred models of machinery or equipment.

“I want to help kids get a feel for life after high school, after college,” Fedie said. “College is expensive, but if I could do it, any one can do it,” noting the many financial aid programs that are available now. Knowing his parents couldn't afford to send him to college, Fedie enlisted in the army and then attended Evansville University on the GI Bill, working full time at a day job and earning a degree in business at night after six years. “You just commit to it.”

While Fedie wasn't in Tech Prep's program to recruit students for his company, he answered students' questions about the minimum requirements for employees at Gibbs Texas, which makes the aluminum steering wheels for many vehicles.

The mentor's insight into the real world came into play when a student answered a cell phone call during the First Generation session.

“That's the one thing that will turn off an interviewer immediately,” he warned. “It is professional behavior, common business etiquette, to turn off a cell phone before you go into a meeting.” Behavior that is not professional indicates that the applicant won't perform well on the job, possibly neglecting customers and assigned tasks.

These students are the business and civic leaders of tomorrow, Fedie said. They benefit from these experiences.

Tech Prep’s First Generation program is a governor's pilot project conducted through Cameron Works, Inc. To learn more about becoming a mentor, call Juan Leal at 956-364-4579.

Tech Prep Manufacturing Specialist Named
Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Tech Prep RGV is pleased to announce that Ray Anzaldua has been named to the position of Tech Prep Manufacturing Specialist effective April 3, 2006. Anzaldua, a Certified Manufacturing Engineer and Certified Manufacturing Technologist with more than 20 years' industry experience, has worked with Rio Grande Valley students and educators in the past. Anzaldua started Tech Prep RGV's Manufacturing Technologies Laboratory program in 1992 and worked with the program until 1995. He comes to Tech Prep RGV from California, where he has been working in industry.

Scholarship Applications Online
Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc.
ANNOUNCES THE EIGHTH ANNUAL COMPETITION FOR THE
DR. LAURO F. CAVAZOS TECH PREP SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship Competition for 2005-2006 High School Seniors
For Studies Beginning in the 2006-2007 Academic Year

Scholarships Available
• $5,000 Scholarship for Any College or University
• $4,000 Scholarship for Texas State Technical College Harlingen
• $3,000 Scholarship for The University of Texas-Pan American
• $3,000 Scholarship for The University of Texas at Brownsville

Download Rules & Deadlines

Download Application