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Good Career Moves Begin with a Strong Foundation
Friday, November 7, 2008 by Eileen Mattei
David Leal was awarded the first Tech Prep’s Dr. Lauro T Cavazos Scholarship when he graduated from Nikki Rowe High School in McAllen in 1999. Today Leal is an engineering project manager for Freescale Semiconductor working on electronics for networking systems used by Nokia, Siemens and Cisco.
“The scholarship was a tremendous help, but Tech Prep not only offered financial support” Leal said from Austin. “It also offered a network of business professionals and educators that have a vested interested in developing the next generation.”
Leal used the scholarship at Rice University where he earned an engineering degree. The technical courses---computer networking, computer programming, and others –that he took in high school were well-aligned with his college course work, he said. Because they were practical and hands-on, they gave him a strong foundation and a head-start in the college courses that led him to the position of applications engineer at Motorola.
Two years ago, when Motorola spun off the operations that became Freescale, Leal made the move shifting from applications engineer to management and helping to introduce new products.
Leal informally mentors Freescale Semiconductor employees, some older and some younger than he is. “Because we are a tech company, the mentoring is about technology. We talk about the industry and industry trends. We have conversations about ways to approach their career and career development, and how to find what is best for them. Then it’s up to them to then tackle career paths and get the necessary skills.”
David Leal is proof that a head start and a good foundation of technical skills are keys to building a great future.
Tech Prep Announces Regional Conference
Friday, October 31, 2008 Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley is pleased to their upcoming Regional Conference: Creating a Mission-Driven College-Going Culture on December 2-3, 2008. There will be sessions of interest for Public Schools Teachers, Counselors, and Administrators; College and University Administrators, and Faculty; P-16 Practitioners, P-16 Council members, and P-16 Leaders; Business Leaders, Chamber of Commerce Representatives, Economic Development Professionals, and Community Leaders.
The featured presenter is Andy Masters, a nationally recognized Career Author/Speaker who delivers entertaining career development programs for both staff and students. Andy is author of the books “Life After College: What to Expect and How to Succeed in Your Career “and “37 Keys to College Success: Balancing Student Life and Academics.” He served as SGA President at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and earned “Green Man of the Year” while in undergraduate school. In total Andy earned four degrees in college, including an M.A.-Human Resources Development and M.A.-Marketing from Webster University. His positive and impactful programs on career decisions, unique job marketing strategies, and professional success have been booked by colleges such as the University of California-Santa Barbara, Kansas State University, and the University of South Carolina, as well as numerous colleges and career conferences. Andy is a proud member of National Speakers Association (NSA).
The conference will be held at the Isla Grand Beach Resort (formerly Radisson Resorts), South Padre Island. The registration fee is $40.00 before November 17, 2008 and $50.00 thereafter.
For more information or to register please contact Tech Prep staff by e-mail Belinda.torres@techpreprgv.com or Janie.adames@techpreprgv.com. Or call Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley at 956-364-4509
Andy Masters Featured Speaker and Author will be the featured speaker for Tech Prep's Regional Conference
Kayla Salazar Wins EXPO Essay Contest
Friday, October 31, 2008
Kayla Salazar will graduate in 2009 from San Perlita High School, yet she is already well on her way to achieving her career goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Kayla completed the CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) program at TSTC before her junior year.
“It’s a good stepping stone,” said the energetic teen who has firm career goals. Kayla grew up with her grandmother, an RN, and intends to follow her in that profession and go one step farther. As a Nurse Practitioner, Kayla-–a real people person--feels she would have “time to interact the way I want to with my patients to make them feel safe and secure.”
Kayla’s participation in the 2008 Education & Career EXPO (for which Tech Prep RGV is one of the key sponsoring partners) helped her feel more secure about her immediate future by giving her valuable information on universities with a B.S. in Nursing. “The booths that were at the Career EXPO definitely helped me and gave me an insight on how I am going to go about getting into college,” Kayla wrote in an essay. She noted receiving advice on the courses she would need to have before entering into a nursing program and information from Valley Baptist about the medical field.
Kayla discovered that UTPA, besides offering the B.S. in Nursing, also has a Nurse Practitioner program. “That would be an easier transition for me,” she said, narrowing her college choices. Kayla also learned that her grandmother knows nurses who teach in UTPA’s Nurse Practitioner program. She is looking forward to a UTPA representative's being scheduled to come to San Perlita.
Kayla Salazar’s determination and focus have impressed many others. “She has high aspirations, and she won’t stop,” said San Perlita counselor Cathy Steadman. “I have no doubt that she will reach her goals.” Principal Ramiro Moreno agreed, “Kayla goes the extra mile.”
Kayla’s essay on the impact of the EXPO on her college decision was one of three winning essays chosen by Tech Prep judges. She was presented with a certificate and small award.
San Perlita senior Kayla Salazar, flanked by counselor Cathy Steadman and principal Ramiro Moreno, received a Tech Prep Award for her essay on the Tech Prep Career & Education Expo
New Tech Prep RGV Board Members Named
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 The following individuals were named to the Tech Prep RGV Board as the result of actions taken during the annual meeting of Board and voting members held in Weslaco the morning of October 28, 2008:
NAMED AS DIRECTORS:
Rene Capistran, South Texas Regional Manager, SpawGlas Contractors, Inc., Harlingen
Kimberly Daniel Harrington, Dual Enrollment Workforce Specialist, South Texas College (Harrington serves as appointee of STC President Shirley Reed, Ed.D., MBA)
Pat Hobbs, Vice President for Student Learning, Texas State Technical College Harlingen (Hobbs serves as the appointee of TSTC President Cesar Maldonado, Ph.D., P.E.)
David Merrill, Branch Manager, Wachovia Securities, LLC, Brownsville
Naomi Perales, Community Relations Representative, Texas Gas Service Company, Harlingen
Felipe C. Salinas, Director of College Access and Support Programs
UTPA (Salinas serves as the appointee of UTPA President Blandina Cardenas, Ph.D.)
Hon. J. D. Salinas, Hidalgo County Judge (or proxy Sofia Hernandez,
Director of Economic Development, Office of the Hidalgo County Judge
Joe Vasquez, Community Volunteer, Weslaco (Joe Vasquez is currently an at-large member, but has served as the HR administrator for Knapp Medical Center/Mid-Valley Health Systems and also chairs a credit union board)
Richard Vaughan, President/CEO, Burton Companies, Weslaco
Perry A. Vaughn, Executive Director, Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Associated General Contractors of America, Inc., Harlingen
Teri Zamora, Vice President of Financial Services, Texas State Technical College Harlingen (Zamora serves as Tech Prep RGV's corporate Treasurer in accordance with the terms of a contract between Tech Prep RGV and TSTC)
NAMED AS ASSOCIATES:
Sandra Avila, Vice President, South Texas Career and Technical Education Association--Career and Technical Education Director
Weslaco ISD (the Vice President of the Association automatically serves as an Associate member of the board)
Thalia Yvette Garza, Community Volunteer and former Tech Prep RGV staff, Rio Hondo and Austin
Robert Loredo, Superintendent of Schools, Donna ISD
Janice H. Mumford, Community Volunteer, McAllen (former Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, McAllen ISD)
Brad Smith, Project Manager, Peterson Construction, Inc., McAllen
Estella L. Trevino, Executive Director, Edinburg Housing Authority
Ron Tupper, immediate past Chairman, Board of Directors, El Milagro Clinic, McAllen
Terms for all new Directors and Associates are two-year terms that begin on October 28, 2008, and end on the annual meeting date in 2010 (October 26, 2010)
Some Director positions are elected, and others are appointed, as noted in the briefing document and also on the ballot.
Associate member appointments are made by the Board and are reviewed at Nominations Committee meetings for active involvement in Tech Prep activities.
The Board's next meeting will be held at noon on November 25, 2008, in the Board Room of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership in Weslaco. Consult the Tech Prep RGV website for additional information.
EXPO Essay Competition Winners Honored at Tech Prep RGV Annual Meeting
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Three Rio Grande Valley students were honored when Education & Career EXPO Leadership Committee member Jackie Gilles (Director of Institutional Effectiveness, TSTC Harlingen) presented awards to the winners of the 2008 EXPO Essay competition, as follows:
First Place: Alma Delia Hernandez, La Feria High School
Second Place: Priscilla Perez, La Feria High School
Third Place: Kayla Marie Salazar, San Perlita High School
The award winners received congratulatory letters and gift certificates from Best Buy.
The Education & Career EXPO began in 2003 as a project of the Education Committee of the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce and has been conducted annually since that time. The EXPO has expanded to include partners from throughout the region, and those partners are committed to bringing awareness of available educational and employment options right here in the Rio Grande Valley to our residents, ages 16 and older, to improve their quality of life. Members of the EXPO Leadership Committee are as follows:
* Blue Sunday Child Abuse Prevention Initiative: Janet Magee
* Border Tech Schools: Deborah Salazar
* Catholic Diocese of Brownsville: Brenda Nettles Riojas
* Echostar Satellite, L.L.C.: Elizabeth Soto
* Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce: Kathy Wolf
* Harlingen CISD: Gil Tello
* Region One Education Service Center: Christina Salas
* St. Paul Academy: Julie Walther
* Tech Prep RGV: Pat Bubb and Martha Gutierrez
* Texas State Technical College: Jackie Gilles, Keri Gutierrez, and Dora Olivares
*The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College: Norma A. Paredes
* Valley Baptist Health System: Denise Beckett Meyners
* Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA): Priscilla Alvarez
* Valley Morning Star : Richard Guerrero
* Workforce Solutions Cameron/Workforce Solutions Cameron Workforce Centers: Minnie Lucio and Steve Salinas
There were over a thousand Rio Grande Valley residents participating when the Education & Career EXPO 2008 was held on September 18, 2008, at the Cultural Arts Center and Fieldhouse on the TSTC Harlingen campus. As a part of the total EXPO 2008 experience, participants were offered the opportunity to write essays about their experiences and to compete for awards. The students named above were named competition winners for EXPO 2008.
EXPO 2009 will be held on September 17, 2009. Meeting participants were encouraged to "mark your calendars now"!!
Brooke Terry Discusses Texas Public Policy Foundation
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Brooke Terry, Education Policy Specialist, Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), provided an overview of TPPF's work, especially with regard to Texas education policy, when the voting members and Board of Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley met together in Weslaco the morning of October 28, 2008.
During her presentation, Terry described education Policy Perspective papers she has authored that may be of interest to Rio Grande Valley audiences. Those papers, which contain a wealth of information gleaned through research, can be accessed as follows:
Teacher Incentive Pay:
http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2008-09-RR09-IncentivePay-bt.pdf
Math and Science Crisis:
http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2007-10-PP29-mathscience-bt.pdf
Cost of Remedial Education:
http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2007-09-PP25-remediation-bt.pdf
Career and Technology Education Policy:
http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2006-12-PP35-CTE-bt.pdf
Terry's contact information is: bterry@texaspolicy.com (email); 512.472.2700 (phone); 512.472.2728 (fax); or www.TexasPolicy.com.
Annual Meeting Held on October 28, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008 This article was written before the Annual Meeting was held, however the information is still timely and the links are helpful.
When the Tech Prep RGV Board meets with its voting members at the Best Western Palm Aire in Weslaco at 9:30 a.m. on October 28, these items of business will be conducted:
(1) This year's Education & Career EXPO Essay Competition winners will be announced.
2) Brooke Terry from the Texas Public Policy Foundation will share information about that organization's work.
3) The Board will report about activities conducted during the past year
(4) New members of the Board of Directors will be elected
(5) the Executive Director will share plans for coming events.
The agenda for the meeting appears below.
The meeting is open to the public. All voting members should plan to be represented by a voting delegate, and additional participants are welcome.
The list of voting members appears on this website at this link: http://www.techpreprgv.com/members.html
The current Board membership appears at this link: http://www.techpreprgv.com/boardmembers.shtml
For additional information, contact the Tech Prep RGV offices. The agenda is as follows:
Opening Ceremony (Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance)
Call to Order (Announcements; Public Comments; President’s Remarks)
Greetings from State and Regional Partners: (1) Education & Career EXPO Essay Contest Winner Presentations; and (2) Texas Public Policy Foundation Presentation
Consider and Approve Minutes of Annual Meeting of October 30, 2007
Ratify Board’s Actions from October 31, 2007, through October 27, 2008 (Committee Reports by Committee Chairs and Ratification Thereafter)
Elect New Members of the Board of Directors
Executive Director’s Comments
Other Business
Adjourn
Applications Requested for P-16 Council Coordinator
Thursday, October 16, 2008 TSTC and Tech Prep RGV invite interested applicants to apply for a Career Advisor (P-16 Council Coordinator) position that will work on Lower Rio Grande P-16 Council activities in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties. The mission of the Lower Rio Grande P-16 Council is to facilitate collaboration between and among leaders from school districts, colleges, universities, businesses, and community organizations to guide the development of a seamless system of education. The Council seeks to aid the coordinated evaluation and improvement of the regional educational system by sharing gained knowledge and best practices to increase public awareness and expedite success. Funding for the project and the position is provided through a grant of funds from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The hiring process is managed through the Human Resources office of Texas State Technical College Harlingen, which utilizes an online hiring system. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply for the following position that is currently posted on the TSTC website:
Job Posting Number 102842 - Full Time
Bachelor's degree in business, behavioral science, or education; at least two years' experience working with post-secondary students or students transitioning to post-secondary education; and at least two years experience in technical education. Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality in all aspects of job. Must have a valid Texas driver's license, be insurable in accordance with TSTC's requirements, and have own transportation for travel to Rio Grande Valley. Must be computer literate, have good interpersonal skills, have working knowledge of software programs (e.g. Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint). Knowledge of career exploration resources is a plus. The Career Advisor is a staff position that will support and assist the mission of the Lower Rio Grande P-16 Council through coordination with P-16 partners, making P-16 presentations as required. Other duties as assigned. Minimum Salary: $2,852/month
Brownsville ISD Named Broad Prize Recipient
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 NEW YORK - The Brownsville Independent School District (BISD) in Texas won the 2008 Broad Prize for Urban Education, the largest education prize in the country awarded to the most improved urban school district, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation announced on October 14, 2008. Brownsville, located at the southern-most tip of Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border, serves one of the poorest urban populations in America-with 94 percent of its students qualifying for free and reduced-priced school lunch.
Former U.S. Secretaries of Education Rod Paige and Richard Riley opened the envelope today and announced the winner at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. NBC News Special Correspondent Tom Brokaw delivered the keynote address at a celebratory Broad Prize luncheon following the announcement.
The $2 million Broad (rhymes with "road") Prize is an annual award that honors large urban school districts that demonstrate the strongest student achievement and improvement in America while narrowing achievement gaps between income and ethnic groups. The money goes directly to graduating high school seniors for college scholarships. The winner was selected by a jury of 10 prominent American leaders from government, education, business and civic sectors, including two former U.S. secretaries of education from both parties.
"Brownsville is the best kept secret in America," said Eli Broad, founder of The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. "In the face of stark poverty, Brownsville is outpacing other large urban districts nationwide because it is smartly focusing all resources on directly supporting students and teachers. Other school districts can learn a great deal from Brownsville's success."
As the winner of The Broad Prize, the Brownsville Independent School District will receive $1 million in college scholarships for graduating seniors next spring. The four finalists-Aldine Independent School District, Texas; Broward County Public Schools, Fla.; Long Beach Unified School District in California and Miami-Dade County Public Schools-will each receive $250,000 in college scholarships. Long Beach won the 2003 Broad Prize, and this marked the second year that the former winner returned as a finalist. Both Aldine and Miami-Dade are three-time finalists, while this is Brownsville's and Broward's first year in the running.
Among the reasons Brownsville stood out among large urban school districts:
• Outperforming other similar Texas districts. In 2007, Brownsville outperformed other Texas districts serving students with similar income levels in reading and math at all grade levels, according to The Broad Prize methodology. In addition, Brownsville's Hispanic and low-income students outperformed their peers in similar districts in reading and math at all grade levels.
• Greater improvement by ethnic and income subgroups. Between 2004 and 2007, Brownsville's Hispanic students showed greater improvement than their peers in similar Texas districts in reading and math at all grade levels, according to The Broad Prize methodology. Brownsville's low-income students also showed greater improvement than their peers in similar Texas districts in math at all grade levels and in elementary and high school reading. From 2004 to 2007, Brownsville surpassed the state average in raising the percentage of Hispanic and low-income students who achieved math proficiency at all grade levels and in elementary and high school reading proficiency.
• Closing achievement gaps. Brownsville is narrowing income and ethnic achievement gaps in reading and math at all grade levels. For example, between 2004 and 2007, Brownsville reduced the gap between Hispanic students and the state average for white students by 12 percentage points in middle school math and reduced the gap between low-income students and Texas' non-low-income student average by nine percentage points in high school reading.
• Strong district-wide policies and practices. Brownsville's strategic, district-wide approach puts student needs first, offering them a challenging curriculum and a range of enrichment opportunities. The district has effective fiscal practices, directs funds to the classroom, continuously reviews and updates its curriculum and holds all staff accountable for results.
Each year, 100 of the largest urban school districts nationwide are automatically eligible for The Broad Prize. Districts cannot apply for or be nominated for this award.
For a full electronic press kit, including additional student outcomes and key policies and practices that made Brownsville stand out among large urban American districts, as well as details on all the finalists, please visit www.broadprize.org.
The Broad Prize was started in 2002. Previous winners include the New York City Department of Education (2007), Boston Public Schools (2006), Norfolk Public Schools, Va. (2005), Garden Grove Unified School District, Calif. (2004), Long Beach Unified School District, Calif. (2003) and the Houston Independent School District (2002).
The selection jury that chose this year's winner included:
• Henry Cisneros, chairman and CEO, CityView America, former president of Univision and former U.S. secretary of housing and urban development
• John Engler, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers and former governor of Michigan
• Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., retired chairman and CEO, IBM Corporation
• Susan Hockfield, president, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• James B. Hunt, Jr., chairman of the board, Hunt Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy and former governor of North Carolina
• Shirley Ann Jackson, president, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Roderick Paige, chairman and founder, Chartwell Education Group and former U.S. secretary of education
• Richard W. Riley, former U.S. secretary of education and former governor of South Carolina
• Andrew L. Stern, international president of Service Employees International Union
• Lawrence Summers, Charles W. Eliot university professor at Harvard University and former president of Harvard University.
The selection jury evaluated quantitative data on the finalists, consisting of publicly available student performance data compiled and analyzed by MPR Associates, Inc., a leading national education research consulting firm. In addition, the jury evaluated the five finalist districts' policies and practices based on site visits, interviews with administrators, teachers, principals, parents, community leaders, school board members and union representatives and classroom observations. The site visits were conducted by a site visit team led by SchoolWorks, an education consulting company based in Beverly, Mass.
Brownsville was originally selected as a finalist by a "review board" of 19 prominent education researchers, policy leaders, practitioners and executives from leading universities, national education associations, think-tanks and foundations that evaluated publicly available student performance data.
Because Brownsville won the 2008 Broad Prize, Brownsville high school seniors who graduate in 2009 will be eligible for $1 million in college scholarships. Broad Prize scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate significant financial need and show a record of academic improvement during their high school careers. Scholarship recipients who enroll in four-year colleges will receive up to $20,000 paid out over four years ($5,000 per year). Broad Prize scholars who enroll in two-year colleges receive up to $5,000 scholarships paid out over two years ($2,500 per year). The scholarship process is managed by Scholarship and Recognition Programs, a unit of the Educational Testing Service. For more information, please visit www.broadprize.org/scholarship_program.
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation is a national venture philanthropy established by entrepreneur and philanthropist Eli Broad to advance entrepreneurship for the public good in education, science and the arts. The Broad Foundation's education work is focused on dramatically improving urban K-12 public education through better governance, management, labor relations and competition. The Broad Foundation's Internet address is www.broadfoundation.org.
(SOURCE: Website of Brownsville ISD: www.bisd.us.)
Mentoring Uplifts Students and Their Mentor
Friday, September 26, 2008 by Eileen Mattei
Scarlet O’Rourke, 20, had a gift for the students in the Santa Rosa High School Tech Prep First Generation program. The TSTC student and First Generation mentor gave the teens a glimpse of how college is different from high school and told them the experience can change their lives.
Whether the students were considering careers in health care or teaching or were undecided, they learned they will have to earn their success, which will be rewarding both financially and personally.
“Yes, it’s difficult to pick a major. I’ve switched mine three or four times already,” O’Rourke admitted.
“College is all about your mindset: you have to want to succeed. You have to grasp the opportunity to make the best future you can. Even if your plan changes a million times, start with a plan." “You want to be the person who get things done. In college, even the easy classes are hard. Everything is hard work, but it makes you a stronger person.”
The TSTC student and First Generation Mentor, Scarlet O’Rourke, gives the teens a glimpse of how college is different from high school
Given the global economy, O’Rourke suggested the First Generation students consider jobs that cannot be outsourced. “The jobs that require human skills on the spot can’t be moved to China.” Nurses and dental hygienists, mechanical experts and teaching assistants are among the fields where the demand for the skills is high and so is the salary."
O’Rourke highly recommended dual enrollment, which lets high school students get college credit for specific approved classes taken in high school without paying tuition. “Dual enrollment is really easy to get into. I’ve gotten two years of free college credits from dual enrollment.”
Scarlet O’Rourke, First Generation Mentor, and Sharon Farias, First Generation Program Coordinator, work with students from Santa Rosa High School
The volunteer mentor sends a weekly email to the First Generation stidemts, sharing encouraging tips or quotes with the students, who will be in the first generation of their families to attend college.
“Helping you guys get into college would be incredible for me,” she told them at the first mentoring session in Santa Rosa. Future sessions will include filling out college and scholarship applications. “One of the most intimidating parts of college is the application form. I can help you.”
The students also meet weekly with Santa Rosa teacher Brett Oberthaler, who is the on-site Tech Prep liaison, and monthly with the Tech Prep staff. First Generation participants commit to volunteering 25 hours of community service per semester. O’Rourke told them those hours are going to have a positive impact on officials reviewing their college and scholarship applications.
O’Rourke, who told the students she had high expectations for their success, left them some sisterly advice. Work hard, but it’s okay to take a break once in a while.
EXPO Introduces Future Workforce to Their Employers
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 by Eileen Mattei
The smell of fresh popcorn wafted through the Education & Career EXPO for Valley high school students held at Texas State Technical College-Harlingen in mid-September. As students investigated career and education options, Valley employers prospected for motivated employees, both for immediate openings and for future needs.
Over 1,000 students flocked to the annual event sponsored by Tech Prep RGV, which works to guide students to career paths requiring post-secondary education, and by area schools and businesses which included the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce, Valley Baptist Health Systems, Echostar Satellite, and Workforce Solutions Cameron.
Maria Estrada, Rio Hondo ISD, with Edna Gonzalez and Tanya Capetillo, who collected valuable information at the EXPO
“They’re asking the right questions,” said Rebecca Martinez of Wells Fargo, Dixieland branch. “Do they need a degree? Do we train them? They’re interested in tuition reimbursement and flexible part-time hours that allow them to attend college classes.” Martinez informed interested students about the bank’s online job application. She also marketed bank services for students, such as educational loans.
Vanessa Campos-Cruz of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service was looking for people interested in learning how to prepare taxes, telling them about the job opportunities for persons with that skill. The company provides free online tax preparation courses. Campos-Cruz said she had success collecting job applications, noting that seasonal work and flexible hours are an inducement for students.
Ryan Butcher of Fastenal, a wholesale distributor of industrial tools and supplies, directed students to online job applications, which in a way test an applicant’s computer literacy. “I talk about how we develop employees from someone starting on up to the management program and the training we do in-house.” He suggested students visit the local Fastenal stores to understand how they operate.
Valley Baptist Medical Center Human Resources staffer Patty Cooper explained that health services occupations spread across a wide range from information technology to surgical technician. “They ask me how many years to get a degree and how much does a particular job pay. Good questions.” She encouraged the students to get additional education, which makes them more valuable to their employers, and told them which schools offered the health care training they sought.
Gulf Aviation’s chief pilot Mitri Garib let students know that the sky’s the limit in flight school. Completion of the 139-hour course prepares a trainee to get a basic pilot’s license.
The sky's the limit for students who aim for a private pilot's license
Not all of the students at the EXPO had decided on a career pathway, and many were still determining the most suitable place for them to further their education.
But there’s no doubt this generation is actively engaged in pursuing career goals. Maria Estrada of Rio Hondo High School’s Tech Prep First Generation program will have completed her CNA requirements by the time she graduates from high school in 2010. “It’s my stepping stone,” said the sophomore who intends to continue her medical education at Michigan State.
From Best Buy’s Geek Squad to Workforce Solutions Cameron, the businesses told students in so many words that they needed skills to be hired and skills to get ahead.
The Geek Squad is recruiting people fluent in computer skills
Lee Holcombe Shares Exciting Statistics
Thursday, September 18, 2008 Dr. Lee Holcombe, current Director of the Texas Higher Education Policy Institute and former Director of Evaluation and Special Projects for the Texas Schools Project at UT-Dallas, shared exciting statistics with several audiences on a two-day visit to the Rio Grande Valley in September.
During his visit, Holcombe shared results of a college-transition study that began in late 2006 and was completed in mid-2008. Holcombe presented his findings to Tech Prep RGV Board members and regional partners on September 17, then to superintendents of schools, and after that to school district career and technical education directors, on September 18. No individual student information was disclosed in the study, which utilized data provided by the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the National Student Clearinghouse, and the Region One Education Service Center.
The reports prepared by the Texas Schools Project contain the postsecondary transition rates of graduates from school districts and individual high schools for 2004 and 2005. The study tracked Rio Grande Valley high school graduates to all Texas public colleges and 94% of the private and out-of-state public colleges nationwide. (The data for high school seniors was disaggregated by career and technology education [CTE] status. "Disaggregated by CTE status" means that the information for seniors was divided into separate categories according to the level of participation in CTE reported by school districts.)
The regional data for Tech Prep students and other coherent-sequence career and technology education students was excellent!
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Superintendents from participating school districts also received copies of their individual districts' student information.
Tech Prep RGV appreciates the tremendous support given by the Region One Education Service Center, the Texas Schools Project at UT-Dallas, the National Student Clearinghouse, and individual school district leaders that allowed this study to be conducted.
High School Students Eye Options at EXPO
Thursday, September 18, 2008 Freshman Robert Cantu of Lasara High School received a big dose of potential college and job options during the Education and Career EXPO at Texas State Technical College Harlingen on Sept. 18.
He listened to presentations involving Surgical Technology, Nurse Assistant, Computer Drafting & Design Technology, and the Academic Core for transfer students. It wasn’t enough for him; he wanted to visit the Welding Technology Department. So, his 23 peers – plus three instructors – added welding to the itinerary before visiting with career experts at 45 exhibit booths in the Cultural Arts Center.
Welding is Cantu’s college and career goal. “I found everything about Welding Technology interesting,” he said after the tour, as he studied a Marine Corps brochure.
About 50 groups with a combined total of more than 1,400 students from Brownsville to Roma came to the sixth annual EXPO. Businesses, industries, universities and agencies filled the exhibit booths.
“The EXPO is very accessible for students. I know that TSTC works with high school students to get them into college so they are prepared to enter a career and TSTC makes them aware of transferring credits to universities for higher degrees,” said Raul Gonzalez, Gear Up coordinator at Lasara.
Patty Cooper, recruitment coordinator, Valley Baptist Health System in Harlingen, said that she informed students about the college education required for medical or health careers. “We need surgical technicians, information technicians, medical assistants, nurse assistants and other professionals at our hospitals and clinics,” she added. “A hospital is more than nurses and doctors.”
TSTC students in several health technology programs gain experience at Valley Baptist Medical Center through clinical rotations or internships. Cooper said that hospital managers closely watch the students and make hiring recommendations based on the students’ performance. Qualified employees at VBMC in some occupations receive higher education paid for by the health system.
Jeff Garrison of Digital Communications staffed a booth next to the TSTC Telecommunications Technology Department. He brought telephone equipment like the systems Digital Communications technicians work on. Most of the company’s clients require service or products that involve low-voltage electronics, digital electronics and basic telephony, he said. The pay range for entry-level telecommunication technicians varies within the industry and across Texas. A first-year technician with a small company in the Rio Grande Valley could annually earn $25,000 to $30,000, while a similar position with a large firm in Dallas, such as AT&T, could earn around $40,000.
Esmeralda Schuetze and Mary Gonzalez, recruiters with Dish Network in Harlingen, came to the EXPO seeking students to work as customer service representatives. Schuetze said that Dish, listed as a Fortune 300 company, offers employees flexible schedules to accommodate classes, it’s located less than five minutes from campus at 2809 Grimes Ave., and career advancement is available. She invited students to visit the Web site at www.dishnetwork.com/careers, phone 956.364.7701 or walk in and fill out an application.
The EXPO might have altered the college and career decision-making priorities for Roma High School senior Juliet Arredondo.
Before attending the event, she planned to study law at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. “There was a lot of information at the EXPO and there are a lot of options open to me,” she said after lunch at the Field House. “I am considering the possibility of enrolling in the Academic Core so I could transfer credits to A&M. I also found the Mechatronics Technology Department with computerized programming for robots at TSTC very interesting.”
Martha Gutierrez, one of the event’s organizers from Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, said that she received many positive responses about the EXPO from school districts and exhibitors.
Kathy Wolf of the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce agreed. “Several exhibitors remarked during and after the event how pleased they were with the turnout and the interest shown by the students. Belinda Dominquez, director of Community Outreach for the University of Texas at San Antonio, was a first-time exhibitor and she thought the exposure was excellent. Another satisfied exhibitor told me he thought it went so well that he would sponsor the post-event lunch for exhibitors next year,” she said.
Tech Prep RGV Board Activities Underway
Thursday, August 21, 2008 The next meeting of the Tech Prep RGV Board of Directors will be the annual meeting of the voting members with the board. This annual meeting will be held as follows:
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: Best Western Palm Aire Motor Inn and Suites in Weslaco, Texas ( http://www.bestwesterntexas.com/hotels/best-western-palm-aire-motor-inn-and-suite/).
During the annual meeting new members of the Board of Directors will be elected, a proposed updated strategic plan will be presented for comment, and the Board will report to the members regarding activities conducted during the preceding year. An agenda will be published closer to the date of the meeting.
The last regularly scheduled board meeting of 2007-2008 was held on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, at 12 noon, in Weslaco. The agenda for that meeting was as follows:
Call to Order
Board Bytes
Action Items:
1. Consider and Approve Board Minutes of May 27, 2008
2. Consider and Approve Finance & Bylaws Committee Reports and Recommendations
Briefing Items:
3. Committee Reports
4. Staff Reports
Other Business
Adjourn
All Tech Prep RGV meetings are open to the public.
Visit the "Board Bytes" section of this website, or contact the Tech Prep RGV office for additional information.
First Generation Interns Gain Information Along with a Salary
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 by Eileen Mattei
Tech Prep’s First Generation program is shaping the lives of 14 interns who worked with area employers this summer. The high school students and 2008 graduates selected for the Tech Prep summer program simultaneously earned and learned about a career they are considering pursuing. Tech Prep matched the teens, who will be the first in their families to attend college, with local businesses which support skill developments and the need for higher education.
JJ Cuellar, a 2008 graduate of San Benito High School, worked at San Benito Animal Hospital with Dr. Howard Tewell III. as a Tech Prep summer intern.
“JJ’s been a real lifesaver this summer,” said the veterinarian. “He’s a great worker. We get extra busy in the summer when people go on vacation and send their pets here (to the kennel.)”
JJ worked weighing animals and preparing cats and dogs to see the vet. He watered and fed the pets and kept their cages clean. “I love animals,” he said. “I have a little farm with goats, pigs, cats. I want to help out when animals get sick.”
John Peralas supervises J.J. Cuellar as they prepare a feline for a procedure
JJ is starting at TSTC in the fall taking his academic basics. “I’m still undecided,” he admitted about his course of study. His high school career pathway was in auto collision, but he said that was primarily to add to his body of personal knowledge. JJ enjoyed working with the animals, learning much and getting a good exposure to the field while working at the animal hospital.
Dr. Tewell encouraged JJ in his pursuit of an education. “He’s definitely a hire prospect for me. He could pick up hours working here part-time while attending TSTC,” Dr. Tewell said.
Without the Tech Prep intern program, JJ would have missed the experience and the exposure that will help determine his future one way or another.
J.J. Cuellar has a love for animals
In contrast, Sonia Esquivel, a senior at Keys Academy who interned at a day care at Dr. Raul Garza Elementary in San Benito said the experience was responsible for her decision to become teacher. “It was really about making sure that I want to do this. Before being a Tech Prep intern working here, I was considering several career choices including being a secretary or teacher.”
While Sonia handled the office chores she was assigned without a problem, she was thrilled working directly with the day care children. The kids got her attention by calling “Teacher, teacher.”
Sonia Esquivel, a senior at Keys Academy in Harlingen
Sonia was able to observe how the day care teachers interacted with the children She will use that information and other techniques when she returns to her co-op class at Keys Academy, working in the day care there. She is laying the foundation for college courses already. She intends to be the first person in her family to attend and complete college.
The internship helped Sonia decide that her future should be spent working with children.
Sonia plans to attend TSTC for her basics on her way to earning a BA in Education. “I’ll be a teacher, I’m positive,” she said. “I’ll be teaching either in a school or a day care, but I’ll definitely be dealing with little kids.”
Sonia is part of the Tech Prep First Generation program which during the school year introduces students to different colleges, financial aid options, and career choices.
Brownsville Teachers Learn While Interning at City Businesses
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 By Eileen Mattei
Ten Brownsville high school teachers spent two weeks in June as interns with city businesses to understand first hand the skills their students need for employment. With the support of the Brownsville Business and Education Coalition, the first Brownsville participants in Academic Leadership Alliance worked with 10 employers including the Port of Brownsville, Cardenas Development, and the Brownsville Community Improvement Corp.
Participants in the first BBEC-ALA Educator internships and the business supervisors who employed them take a break to review the mutually beneficial experience.
“Education is a key factor leading to economic growth. Business and education are interconnected ,” said Angela Burton, CEO of the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, which with Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley helped launch the Brownsville program. The BBEC and participating businesses made the pilot program possible. “Tech Prep has been a godsend to me on this project,” she continued. The non-profit guides students to continue their education by following career paths to in-demand, well-paid jobs.
Hanna High School geography teacher Rafael Zamora said that teachers’ comfort zone is their classroom. The interns’ new jobs forced them to stretch themselves and work without very detailed guidelines. Yet, the teachers’ immersions in the workplace taught them that employers are looking for people with communication skills who are problem solvers and have strong work ethics. “We have a new outlook. We feel revitalized and anxious to implement our ideas,” Zamora reported.
The teachers have now developed lesson plans that include their real world experiences: Abdiel Gutierrez will use 70 years of cargo data from the Port of Brownsville for exercises in his Porter High School math classes. Veronica Hernandez will have her Rivera Family and Consumer Science students developing menus for diabetics after her experience in patient care at Valley Baptist Medical Center. Local context for class work makes it more interesting.
“The skills for the 21st century are based on communication. It won’t matter what you know if you can’t communicate,” said Dr. Gloria Crum, ALA Coordinator at the closing session of the internship. Most of the teachers now can give concrete examples of the importance of verbal and written reports in the workplace.
“It was exciting and a total eye opener. I’ve learned to appreciate Brownsville,” Pace teacher Pat Odabashian said. She and Angelita Garcia researched and created a ‘Staycation’ brochure to encourage local residents to enjoy the area’s recreational resources. “It made us think and explore Brownsville. Now I feel like an ambassador for the city.”
Brownsville teachers Pat Odabashian and Angelita Garcia developed a "Staycation" brochure about the city's recreational resources during their internships with Brownsville businesses.
While the teachers expressed their gratitude for meaningful experiences and opening communications with business people, the businesses benefited from the opportunity to explain their needs and to access the teachers’ skills.
At Cardenas Development, Reba McNair praised Lopez technology teacher Mary Ann Flores who helped upgrade the Excel skills of the staff there and at Cardenas Motors. “I was really happy to do that,” Flores said. She can now tell her students that McNair expects all new employees to have at least basic computer skills.
Reba McNair and technology teacher/intern Mary Ann Flores learned from each other.
The business mentors were willing to keep lines of communication open with the teachers. Zamora said the teachers would like to return the opportunity shown them by the mentoring businesses and invited them to spend time in the shoes of a teacher. “Call me,” he told the laughing audience.
Porter High School math teacher Abdiel Gutierrez and Port of Brownsville director Eddie Campiraho talked at the ALA-BBEC closing session.
Leadership Valley Opportunity Announced
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 Weslaco --
Leadership Valley, an eight-month curriculum developed to educate
and energize leaders from across the region, now is accepting applications. Designed in collaboration with Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, this program by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership examines the realities, opportunities, and problems of all sections of the Valley in order to move it forward in a globally competitive environment.
"Unfortunately, the Leadership Valley program lay dormant for too long," said Bill Summers, President/CEO of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, referring to the decade that lapsed since the last Leadership Valley class. "But with the help of Tech Prep, the Partnership has brought it back with an aggressive schedule that should make up for any lost time!"
Beginning in September, classes will meet monthly to examine issues such as transportation, trade, security, economic development, health care, policy, and tourism. Cost of tuition is $450 for Partnership members or $500 for non-members to offset program materials, speaker accommodations, and session meals.
In keeping with its purpose, Leadership Valley recruits a diversified
membership across all segments of the region. The Leadership Valley Class of 2009 is limited to just 30 participants and applicants for this year have been selected.
For any inquiries about the next session, please contact Veronica Villegas at 956-968-3141 or veronica@valleychamber.com.
Youth Leadership Conference Lays Foundation for Success
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
In June, Tech Prep students faced the challenge of rope puzzle called The Trap. “Think before you move,” cautioned facilitator Anthony Atrevete. “You do not have to face your problems alone. It’s okay to ask for help.”
The Trap at the Summer Youth Conference has a solution, but students had to think their way out.
The exercise was part of the 2008 Youth Leadership Conference, a summer camp presented jointly by Tech Prep of the RGV and Cameron Works for 74 selected high school students and recent graduates. The teens were learning that there is always a solution, even when a situation looks hopeless. Atrevete suggested that mentors and role models are willing to help them find a solution to problems they face, because they have been through similar situations. They want to help you succeed.
Daisy Gonzalez and Elizabeth Trevino of Rivera High School try to find their way out of The Trap.
Daniel Diaz will soon start courses at the University of Texas Brownsville where he intends to earn a B.S. in Nursing and become a pediatric RN. While in Tech Prep’s First Generation program at Los Fresnos, he enrolled in TSTC’s Certified Nursing Aid program and completed CPR training.When Daniel graduated from Los Fresnos High School in May, he had already earned CNA certification
.
Daniel is looking forward to science courses at UTB and will be helped during his first year by a a scholarship from Cameron Works. That will pay for all his books and some expenses. The second year, he will be eligible for a full scholarship.
Merging physical activities with short presentations, the summer camp reinforced lessons learned about communications, leadership, goal setting and community service.
Running an obstacle course blindfolded demonstrated the importance of giving clear, precise instructions. Brisa Hinojosa, who will be a senior at Santa Maria High School, said being in the dark with a blindfold on was confusing and stressful. She heard different advice being offered,. Her success in navigating the maze was the result of concentrating on one voice, the friend she selected to coach her through.
This past spring, the Tech Prep program enabled Brisa to job shadow at Arroyo Animal Hospital, an opportunity she greatly enjoyed. Intent on becoming a veterinarian, she plans to attend Texas A& M and go on to Vet School. She said the First Generation program is introducing her to financial aid options, different colleges and job interviewing techniques.
Tech Prep student Daniel Diaz who will attend UTB in the fall, coaches a blindfolded Brisa Hinojosa of Santa Maria through a maze. The exercise shows the importance of precise communication under pressure.
Santa Maria HS graduate Mark Garcia is heading to TAMU Kingsville to study accounting soon. He is the youngest in his family, but is the first of his siblings to attend college, aided by the Tech Prep’s First Generation program. ”I see the way they are living. I want to get a better education for myself,” he said during a leadership exercise where he coached others to the goal. For Mark, his future is looking brighter already.
Brownsville Chamber and Tech Prep RGV Participate in Community Advocacy for Education Conference
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 Currently, one in three high school students in the U.S. does not graduate. Even those that receive a diploma are not guaranteed a place in the workforce that ensures financial self-sufficiency. We must insist that all students graduate from high school ready for college, work and citizenship.
On Thursday and Friday, June 19 and 20, the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce and Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley attended a “Community Advocacy for Education” conference organized by United Ways of Texas (UWT).
The conference hosted a variety of guest speakers who discussed academic requirements and opportunities outlined in Texas House Bill 1 and encouraged conference participants to become familiar with the local high school excellence programs such as the Texas High School Project.
The passage of Texas HB1 by the Texas Legislature in 2006 opened new and important doors to advocates for education excellence. Significant changes for the education system resulting from this piece of legislation included:
• $275 per high school student allotment to be used to improve graduation rates
• ‘4x4’ Requirement: Students must earn 4 years of both math and science to graduate high school
• Class of 2010 must have the opportunity to earn 12 hours of college credit before graduating high school
Guest speaker, John Fitzpatrick, Director of the Texas High School Project stated, “We at the Texas High School Project have tremendous appreciation for the community connections, diversity of outreach and quality of the work of our partners at United Ways of Texas.”
United Ways of Texas (UWT) began the Community Advocacy for Education Initiative in 2006 with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to create awareness and urgency around the state’s graduation and college readiness rates. Since then, UWT has been working not only to further educate local business communities, nonprofits, civic leaders, faith-based groups, parents, students, and the general public about the issue, but also to engage them in the solutions.
UWT is currently working with local partners in Brownsville, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo and McAllen. Each United Way partner has selected a local community-based organization as a partner and developed a plan to address one or more goals of the statewide initiative, with an approach tailored to meet the needs of that particular community.
Tech Prep RGV is the Brownsville Chamber's partner, and the two organizations, working in close collaboration with Brownsville ISD, UTB/TSC, and Brownsville community leaders, have created the Brownsville Business and Education Coalition to address Community Advocacy for Education issues. During the networking opportunities provided in the UWT forum, Angela Burton, Brownsville Chamber CEO, provided an update about work being done in Brownsville, including but not limited to the Brownsville version of the Academic Leadership Alliance Summer Educator Internship; and Patricia Bubb, Tech Prep RGV Director, told the participants about the opportunities that College Tech Prep programs offer students.
Four Valley Students Win Tech Prep Scholarships
Monday, June 16, 2008
Of the Valley’s 6,000 Tech Prep Texas Scholars who graduated from Valley high schools this year, four outstanding students were chosen to receive one of the Dr. Lauro F. Cavazos Tech Prep Scholarships—including scholarships for UTPA, UTB/TSC, TSTC, and the United Launch Alliance Engineering Scholarship. Mia Aguilar, Rene Cardona, April Juarez and Thomas Sanchez exemplify the high caliber teens who are on course to excel in their career pathways, thanks in part to the foundation laid by the Tech Prep program.
San Benito High School graduate Rene Cardona was awarded the 2008 United Launch Alliance Scholarship. He plans to attend Texas A&M Kingsville to earn a degree in Civil Engineering. He categorizes himself as an engineer who will “help mankind one caliche road at a time. I want to drive past what I helped create...(and) help people live and get by easier.”
Tech Prep courses such as computer-aided drafting and participation in SkillsUSA competitions helped Rene master skills that will benefit him during his college career. He advanced to the state level in the SkillsUSA’s Civil Engineering segment, winning first place in the District Multimedia project with a scientific book cover and third in Community Service Project. Rene was president of the National Honor Society and was active in CAD Club and Leo Club.
Rene Cardona's goal is to become a Civil Engineer
April Juarez, who graduated from Harlingen High School South under the Distinguished Achievement Program in May 2008, received the $3,000 scholarship to the University of Texas-Brownsville. Earlier in May, she was awarded an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Texas Southmost College, where she had been taking college courses since her sophomore year. At the same time, April participated in her high school Speech Drama Debate Team, PTSA, the Upward Bound Program and the National Technical Honor Society, which awarded her its 2008 scholarship,
April will pursue a double major in government and political science at UTB before heading to St. Mary’s University for a law degree. She expects to one day open her own law firm and later run for State Representative. The Tech Prep career pathway she chose, an eight year Computer Information Systems plan, has enabled her to apply technical skills to course work and helped her solve problems more efficiently.
April Michelle Juarez will attend UT Brownsville, getting a double major in Government and Political Science before going to law school
Mia Aguilar, who attended Harlingen High School South, won the $3,000 scholarship to University of Texas-Pan Am. She expects to apply the knowledge gained in the College Tech Prep Health Science program during her journey to becoming a pediatrician or orthopedic surgeon practicing in the Rio Grande Valley. At UTPA Mia intends to pursue a double major in biology and mathematics and minor in chemistry under Baylor College of Medicine’s pre-medical program.
Mia has been motivated to become a physician after observing compassionate, involved doctors during her father’s successful battle with colon cancer, her sister’s illness, and her young cousin’s struggle with cerebral palsy. A dedicated student, Mia participated in the National Honor Society and Academic Decathlon.
Mia Aguilar's goal is to become a physician.
Thomas C. Sanchez, who graduated from Harlingen High School South, received the Dr. Lauro F. Cavazos Tech Prep Scholarship to Texas State Technical College. The $4,000 scholarship will enable him to build the academic foundation necessary to pursue his career goal of joining the Border Patrol.
Thomas participated in the Tech Prep Program to earn college credits while in high school. He remains an automotive enthusiast, thanks to Auto Body courses at Harlingen High School and at TSTC and auto restoration projects on which he and his father have worked.
Thomas Sanchez will use scholarship money to reach his goal in the field of law enforcement.
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