Deans and Registrars Meeting Scheduled
Tuesday, April 6, 2004

The Fourth Annual meeting of Rio Grande Valley Deans and Registrars is scheduled as follows:

Date and Time: 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Location: Best Western Palm Aire, Weslaco

The preliminary agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Welcome and Introductions: Linda Wade, Ph.D., Tech Prep RGV Board—Chair, Curriculum/Work-Based Learning Committee (Superintendent of Schools, Harlingen CISD)

Greetings from Postsecondary Partners: Pat Hobbs, Tech Prep RGV Board—Chair, Universities and Colleges Committee (Vice President for Student Learning, TSTC Harlingen)

Identifying Tech Prep Secondary Students: Patricia G. (Pat) Bubb, Executive Director, Tech Prep RGV

Identifying Tech Prep Postsecondary Students: Linda Fossen, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Planning, The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College

Plans for the Future: Pat Bubb
• Guidelines for Tech Prep, ATC, and the DAP
• Resources Available on Webpage

Discussion: Linda Wade, Ph.D., and Pat Hobbs, Moderators

Adjourn

Participation is open to high school deans of instruction and registrars, college and university registrars, counselors and administrators, and interested members of the public.

Contact Tech Prep RGV for additional information.

Job Opportunities Available Through Tech Prep RGV
Tuesday, April 6, 2004

Tech Prep RGV currently has openings for two employees, one of whom works out of Tech Prep RGV's Harlingen office and the other of whom works out of the satellite office in McAllen. Applications must be made through the Human Resource office of Texas State Technical College Harlingen. For additional information, or to obtain a copy of an application, go to this address:
http://www.harlingen.tstc.edu/human

The job openings are as follows:

First-Generation Assistant: This individual works out of Tech Prep RGV's Harlingen office on a First-Generation College Student Pilot Project project through Cameron Works, Inc., the workforce development board serving Cameron County. The First-Generation project serves high school and college students who are the first in their families to go to college. Duties include, but are not limited to, working with students, parents, educators, and public- and private-sector professionals under supervision of the Tech Prep Director. High school diploma or GED required; advanced education preferred.

Education Development Specialist: Tech Prep RGV’s Education Development Specialist works with educators throughout a four-county region and supports and coordinates activities for the Lower Rio Grande Valley Counselors’ Network and the Tech Prep RGV Support Team (S-Team) network. The Specialist develops curriculum, supervises projects, and makes presentations for students, parents, educators, and the general public. The Specialist also manages an online software system designed to facilitate students’ transition from high school to college and works directly with junior high and high school students in grant-funded after-school programs. Housed at STCC in McAllen, the Specialist travels throughout the region and makes periodic visits to Tech Prep RGV’s home office in Harlingen. The Specialist sends monthly announcements and newsletters about upcoming events to various contacts, handles logistics for workshops and meetings, and performs other duties as assigned. The Education Development Specialist works closely with Tech Prep RGV’s Executive Director in a position that provides opportunities for professional growth.

Semiannual Meeting of Members and Board Scheduled
Tuesday, April 6, 2004

The semiannual meeting of the voting members and Board of Tech Prep RGV is scheduled as follows:

Date and Time: Thursday, April 29, 2004; 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Best Western Palm Aire, Weslaco

At this meeting the Board of Directors will report to the members about activities conducted in the six months preceding the meeting. In addition, the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Texas at Brownsville will present information about four-year degree programs available to Tech Prep students who graduate from the Associate of Applied Science portion of their Tech Prep majors.

Contact the Tech Prep RGV offices for additional information.

Conference Host Site Application Deadline Extended
Tuesday, April 6, 2004

The deadline to apply to cohost Tech Prep RGV's regional conference in the fall semester of the 2004-2005 academic year has been extended.

Cohost responsibilities are as follows:

1. To play an active role in planning for the conference in collaboration with Tech Prep RGV and the other sponsors.
2. To send most, if not all, of its own secondary (or postsecondary) teachers, administrators, and counselors to the event—including both academic and career and technology administrators, teachers and counselors.
3. To provide conference facilities without charge.
4. To set aside an agreed-upon number of Aslots@ for participants from other school districts and postsecondary institutions.
5. To work with Tech Prep RGV on the best plan for delivery of services for the overall conference, including, but not limited to, providing refreshments for breaks and meals incorporated into the conference.
6. To pay registration fees for its own participants.
7. To have its staff work with Tech Prep RGV staff on logisticsB-registration, evaluations.
8. To perform other duties and services agreed upon for success of the conference.

Tech Prep RGV's responsibilities are as follows:

1. To lead planning for the conference in collaboration with the Conference Host Site and other sponsors.
2. To pay a significant portion of the fees for keynote presenters or else to pay registration fees for its contracted S-Team members, or to pay other fees allowable and approved by its board. Payment will be made to the appropriate party, including, but not limited to, the Conference Host Site.
3. To prepare and print the conference program.
4. To have its staff participate as workers during the conference.
5. To perform other duties and services agreed upon for success of the conference.

Joint responsibilities are as follows:

1. To select the date for the conference, which will also be an inservice date for the Conference Host Site to facilitate the participation of the Host Site’s own staff in the conference.
2. To meet together and jointly plan and publicize the conference. Meetings would be hosted by the Conference Host Site because Tech Prep RGV staff would need to work with the Conference Host Site’s designated staff and become familiar with the premises at which the conference would be held.
3. To jointly develop the budget for the conference, decide who would be responsible for paying which fees, set the registration fee, and otherwise work together on setting up and managing the conference.
4. To jointly develop the conference implementation plan in collaboration with other conference sponsors so that each partner=s responsibilities during the conference would be clearly identified.

Applications must be POSTMARKED by April 12, 2004. All interested school districts, colleges, and universities that are voting members of Tech Prep RGV are encouraged to apply. To obtain an application, visit the "Downloads" section of this website.

Cavazos Tech Prep Scholarships Available
Friday, March 12, 2004

The Dr. Lauro F. Cavazos Scholarship Competition is underway at this time. An application for the 2003-2004 academic year is currently available, and the application deadline has been extended through March 29, 2004.

Applications for the 2004-2005 academic year have also been released and are available for download.

For additional information, visit:

http://www.techpreprgv.com/students/scholarships.html

First-Generation Project Enters Second Year
Friday, March 12, 2004

The First-Generation project developed by Cameron Works, Inc., and Tech Prep RGV in partnership with nine school districts and three postsecondary partners is beginning its second year with over 300 students participated. The program, funded by the Texas Workforce Commission as part of the Governor's initiatives to encourage more students to enroll in college, is designed to support students whose parents do not have college degrees to complete rigorous academic programs in high school, then to continue their education at the college level. The long-term goal of the initiative is to ensure that the Texas economy will remain competitive through having a high-skills, high-wage workforce.

School districts participating include Brownsville ISD, Harlingen CISD, La Feria ISD, Los Fresnos CISD, Rio Hondo ISD, San Benito CISD, Santa Maria ISD, and South Texas ISD. Postsecondary partners include Texas State Technical College Harlingen, the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, and the University of Texas-Pan American.

For additional information, contact the Tech Prep RGV office in Harlingen, or contact Cameron Works in Brownsville.

Tech Prep Board Meeting Scheduled
Friday, March 12, 2004

The Board of Directors of Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting as follows:

Date: Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Time: 12 noon

Location: Board Room, Learning Resource Center, Texas State Technical College Harlingen

All Board meetings are open to the public. To learn more about the Board's activities, to view agendas and minutes of prior meetings, and to view schedules of future meetings, visit:

http://www.techpreprgv.com/board/index.html

Tech Prep Texas Scholars Featured at Conference
Friday, March 12, 2004

The Rio Grande Valley's Tech Prep Texas Scholars program was highlighted at the Seamless Transitions conference in Dallas when Tech Prep Director Pat Bubb joined Drew Scheberle, Outreach Director of the Texas Business and Education Coalition, for a presentation on March 9. The presentation, TBEC's Role in Seamless Transitions, highlighted TBEC's Texas Scholars initiative and the Tech Prep Texas Scholars program developed by the Board of Directors of Tech Prep RGV. The Rio Grande Valley's Tech Prep Texas Scholars program is tied to the Dr. Lauro F. Cavazos Tech Prep Scholarship awards program.

The March 9 presentation also introduced TBEC's Life After High School website and assisted TBEC in gathering information for development of policy positions on weighted funding for Career and Technology Education and on reauthorization of federal Carl D. Perkins legislation.

For additional information about TBEC, visit their website: www.tbec.org. To learn more about Tech Prep Texas Scholars: http://www.techpreprgv.com/students/texasscholars.html

Counselors of the Year Named
Thursday, March 4, 2004

On February 4, 2004, Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc., was pleased to honor the 2004 Tech Prep Counselors of the Year. The awards were presented during the opening general session of the Tenth Annual Counselors' Institute at the South Padre Island Convention Center. To learn more about these outstanding individuals and the accomplishments that earned them "Counselor of the Year" recognition, follow the link below:

http://techpreprgv.com/news/featured-educator/

Cameron County Youth Coalition to Meet on February 13
Wednesday, February 4, 2004

The Cameron County Youth Coalition, which is chaired by Ed Tamayo, will meet on Friday, February 13, at 10 a.m. in the Board Building/Central Media Center, Harlingen CISD. The Coalition members are working together to develop and implement an integrated plan for serving Cameron County youth. Coalition members include Harlingen CISD, Brownsville ISD, San Benito CISD, Los Fresnos CISD, Point Isabel ISD, Rio Hondo ISD, South Texas ISD, La Feria ISD, Santa Maria ISD, South Texas ISD, Texas State Techical College Harlingen, the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, the University of Texas-Pan American, Cameron Works, and Tech Prep RGV. Tamayo, Executive Vice President of First Community Bank in Harlingen, serves on the boards of both Cameron Works and Tech Prep RGV.

Education and Career EXPO Scheduled
Tuesday, February 3, 2004

Mark your calendars now!!! A group of Cameron County partners is working to host a 2004 Education and Career EXPO in Harlingen, Texas, on September 30, 2004. The Education and Career EXPO is a community-wide effort by a consortium of private and public businesses whose goal is to inform our workforce of the skills and education needed for the jobs of the future. The partners believe it is everybody’s civic duty to help the future workforce chart a career course by providing relevant and accurate information on how to achieve that goal. Started in August 2000 as a project of the Education Committee of the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce, the EXPO Committee has grown to embrace an audience far larger than Harlingen alone. Check this website periodically for additional information!

Space Science Activities Continue
Tuesday, February 3, 2004

A group of postsecondary partners met in Harlingen on January 30, 2004, to discuss plans to promote space-science initiatives in this region. Representatives of the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, the University of Texas-Pan American, Texas State Technical College Harlingen, South Texas Community College, Texas A&M University Kingsville met and dialogued. Community partners participating included representatives of Lockheed Martin, Shiner Moseley & Associates, GEM Technologies, and U.S. Congressman Solomon Ortiz's office. The group discussed a possible future rocket launch and related activities. The partners are planning to continue working together, with the goal being development of a regional plan for a K-16 system emphasizing mathematics and science essential to "rocket science." Ultimately the group hopes to develop a plan (and related grant proposal) defining all partners' roles in a regional initiative. Tech Prep RGV is faciliting the group in accordance with its memorandums of understanding with the Willacy County Development Corporation for Spaceport Facilities and the South Texas Spaceport Consortium.

ALA Plans for Summer 2004
Tuesday, February 3, 2004

Plans for the 2004 Educator Internship project of the Academic Leadership Alliance (ALA) are well underway. The plan is that educator teams from Hidalgo ISD and La Joya ISD will participate in summer experiences similar to those conducted in Summer 2003. ALA is led by a team comprised of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, the Region One Education Service Center, and Tech Prep RGV in collaboration with leaders of participating school districts and numerous private-sector business leaders.

UTB/TSC Wins Tech Prep Minigrant
Tuesday, February 3, 2004

Congratulations to the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College for being named recipient of the 2004 Staff Development Minigrant!! UTB/TSC has been awarded $2,000 for activities to be conducted by a Professional Development Team comprised of Irma S. Jones, Business Technology Faculty, the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College (UTB/TSC), and Flor Leticia Trevino, Business Teacher, Porter High School, Brownsville Independent School District. The team will participate in a conference and develop a handbook showcasing eight-year Tech Prep plans at UTB/TSC. The resulting handbook will be shared during Tech Prep RGV's 2004 Conference.

Host Site Application Deadline Extended
Tuesday, February 3, 2004

Tech Prep RGV has extended the deadline for filing applications to serve as 2004 Conference Host Site until mid-April. Applications are going out now to all partners. For additional information, contact Paula Garcia, Education Development Specialist, at 688.2370 or 873.0337.

Grant Funding Opportunity Available
Thursday, January 8, 2004

There is currently a grant opportunity on TEA’s website for a 2004-2005 Investment Capital Fund Grant. Funding is designed to go directly to individual campuses, and the purpose of the project is to "improve student achievement through deregulation and restructuring that includes staff development, parent and community training, and may also include strategies designed to enrich or extend student learning experiences outside of the regular school day.” Proposals are due February 19, 2004.

Tech Prep RGV offers staff development, parent outreach, work-based learning, and community training and has experience in setting up high-quality services that enrich or extend student learning experiences both inside and outside the regular school day. Tech Prep’s services are high-quality and offered at a reasonable price. (See PDF File for details.)

School districts that would like to partner with Tech Prep RGV on an Investment Capital Fund grant proposal should contact Pat Bubb at 956.364.4512 or pat.bubb@harlingen.tstc.edu.

Request for Application for Host Site Due January 14, 2004
Monday, December 15, 2003

Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley is happy to announce that the applications for Host Site for the 2004 Annual Tech Prep Conference have been mailed out to partner school districts and post secondary institutions. If you are interested in having your district, or institution, host this conferece follow the link to download the appplication and learn more about Tech Prep and the annual conference.

download here

Minigrant Application Due January 22
Friday, December 5, 2003

Tech Prep of the Rio Grande is pleased to announced an incredible professional development activity available to high school and post secondary partners involved in the teaching of Tech Prep courses. To find out more about this opportunity please contact:

Paula Garcia
956-364-4547 or you can access the application online.

Tech Prep 2003 Teachers of the Year Announced
Friday, December 5, 2003

Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley is pleased to announced its 2003 Teachers of the Year at the elementary, middle school, high school and post secondary level. To learn about how these educators earned this recognition, visit us at the following web address:

http://techpreprgv.com/news/featured-educator/

New CATEMA Online Registration System
Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley is pleased to announce the addition of an improved credit-tracking system for the benefit of Rio Grande Valley students! Tech Prep RGV's Education Development Specialist is currently delivering training for teachers and administrators on this system. If you would like more information about an upcoming training, contact:

Paula Garcia at 873-0337 or email her:
santapaula.garcia@harlingen.tstc.edu

You can see an overview and presentation of the CATEMA System online in PDF Format