News & Announcements

EP shines on national stage with four local Hunt-Aspen Fellows selected to attend the prestigious Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program’s Socrates Seminars this March. The Aspen Institute Socrates Program is renowned for bringing together emerging and established leaders from diverse industries to engage in thoughtful dialogue and tackle the most pressing issues of our time.

A Borderland school has broken into the world robotics spotlight for the first time ever! Franklin High School’s Genesis team of four juniors is now No. 2 globally out of over 10,000 teams. And they’re not stopping there!

This year's Empowering Perceptions Conference created a space for a community of inclusion.

A grant of more than $344,000 has been awarded to Fabens Independent School District (ISD) to support career and technical education (CTE) training programs so students are prepared for high-demand, good-paying jobs after graduation. Awarded by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant will help the school district purchase and install equipment to initially train 126 students as registered nurses in partnership with El Paso Community College.

The Sun City EdTech Conference lit up the Starlight Event Center in El Paso, TX, bringing together top innovators like Google, BenQ, and TCEA to address the biggest challenges in modern education. A powerhouse collaboration between ESC Region 19 and the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA), the event was a hub for groundbreaking ideas, transformative solutions, and inspiring discussions about the future of learning in the digital age. Click for highlights and key takeaways!

Congratulations to EPISD alumnus Ryan Medrano on winning TWO silver medals, 100m T38 and the 400m T38, at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France! Ryan is an alumnus of Coronado High School and the Center for Career and Technology Education (CTE). CLICK to read more about Ryan’s inspirational story.

Twenty-three outstanding teachers from area districts and charter schools have competed in a rigorous selection process for the honor of representing our region at the state level. The winners were revealed during the awards celebration and banquet at the Starlight Event Center on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Click here to read more!

Competitors, from various states such as Wyoming, California, Washington, Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico and Texas, started the national competition at approximately 9:30AM on June 27. After 29 rounds, the competition was narrowed down to the final two contestants at approximately 3:30PM in which Antonietta Perozo won the competition by correctly spelling the word ‘jovialidad’ (which means ‘joviality’ in English). Click here to find out what they won.

In a spellbinding showcase of linguistic skill, Diego Hernández-Salinas from Wiggs Middle School emerged victorious after an unprecedented 21 rounds at the ESC19 Regional Spanish Spelling Bee held May 11, 2024. Not far behind, Emiliano Ferran Martínez Caloca from Mesita Elementary School secured second place, both shining representatives of the El Paso Independent School District. Click to see replay, pictures and info.

ESC19 congratulates San Elizario High School clinch UIL Class 4A soccer championship! Click this story to read more about how San elizario claims their fourth state soccer title with their win over undefeated Boerne Greyhounds!

Our very own Dr. Angelica Haro, ESC19 Technology Director, shared her insights in a community symposium hosted by the Texas Tribune! Her contribution to the panel discussion, highlighting the remarkable strides our region has made in academic excellence and college/career readiness, truly underscored El Paso's leadership in Hispanic education success. CLICK this story to watch the entire symposium hosted by Bob Moore, El Paso Matters.

The 2024 Regional and National Spanish Spelling Bee competitions will be hosted in El Paso by Education Service Center Region 19 (ESC19). Students, grades 4th-8th, in the El Paso and Hudspeth counties can participate by registering on esc19.net. The Regional Spanish Spelling will be held on May 11 at 6611 Boeing Drive. The top two regional winners will automatically qualify for the National Spanish Spelling Bee to be held June 26-27, 2024. Click to learn more!

Career and Technical Education equips students with cutting-edge, rigorous, and relevant skills necessary for a wide range of high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand careers. ESC19 recognizes the pivotal role CTE plays in ensuring that today's youth and adults are prepared for the ever-evolving landscape of technology. Follow us on social media to learn more about the exciting CTE strides in our community. #iHeartCTE #WeR19

We are excited to announce a groundbreaking initiative by ESC19 aimed at combating the pressing teacher shortage in El Paso. The new Teacher Apprenticeship Program (RTAP) presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of education in our community. To introduce this groundbreaking program to the community, ESC 19 will host an informational event from 8 a.m. to Noon on Nov. 4 at the Starlight Event Center, 6650 Continental Drive. This event is open to all interested individuals who aspire to make a positive impact on the lives of students. Click HERE to register and for more information.

Twenty-two teachers of the year from across our region competed in a rigorous process for the honor to represent our region at the state level. First, they were selected as campus teachers of the year, then selected to represent their district and in the ESC19 regional competition they went through panel interviews and submitted multiple essays as part of their applications. The winners will go on to compete for the Texas Teacher of the Year which will be announced in October. ESC Region 19 has had, so far, the honor of having 9 Texas State winners from our region compete nationally. Click to find out who won this year!

Bea-Inspired Award for 2023 Voice of the Mountains Conference: Honoring an inspiring speech-language pathologists who made an impact. The EPSHA Executive Board is pleased to announce the inauguration of the "Bea Inspired Award". ESC19 and EPSHA have partnered and have been working closely with the family of Beatriz "Bea" Monteros in an effort to begin an award to honor her legacy.

The competition, hosted by Education Service Center Region 19, brought together twenty-eight champions from across the United States, spanning from Washington D.C. to California. The spellers showcased their exceptional skills in Spanish, meticulously tackling high-difficulty words such as 'incognoscible' and 'moaxaja.' The event commenced at 9 AM and, after several hours of intense spelling battles, culminated in a stalemate around 2:30 PM on July 1st. CLICK to read more with links to see the action.

Ysleta ISD Superintendent Dr. Xavier De La Torre has been selected the 2023 ESC Region 19 Superintendent of the Year! He will represent the El Paso/Hudspeth county region at the Texas State level. Winners will be announced in September. Click to read more about Dr. De La Torre and his outstanding achievements.

ESC19 was honored to have Montserrat Garibay, from the U.S. Department of Education, as the keynote speaker at the annual West Texas Reading Symposium, Feb. 10 & 11, which this year featured a special focus on dual language. Garibay shared an emotional presentation at the conference and she also visited regional dual language schools in the region. Click here to read more about her visit and what she thought about El Paso’s dual language programs.

The Starlight Event Center, owned and operated by ESC19, has been voted the best conference venue in El Paso! Thank you to the thousands of residents who voted in El Paso Inc.’s Best of El Paso! We are continuously upgrading our venue and booking fantastic educational conferences & private events for the entire city to enjoy! Follow us online and visit our webpage for information on upcoming events: starlighteventcenter.com.

The Texas Workforce Commission partnered up with the Texas Governor’s Committee on People With Disabilities and Texas Workforce Solutions on ‘Texas HireAbility’, a program designed to raise awareness about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and highlight their contributions in the workplace. In light of this, ESC Region 19 has been recognized as the 2022 HireAbility Outstanding Employer Award at the HireAbility Recognition Ceremony on September 8, 2022 at the El Paso Community Foundation.

Students, grades 4th-9th, from various states such as Wyoming, California, Washington, Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico and Texas, competed for hours on July 30th for the title of National Spanish Spelling Bee Champion. An El Paso student won the title of the NSSB hosted by ESC19 at the Starlight Event Center. Click to find out who won the top prizes.

This summer, Education Service Center Region 19 hosted the iBuild Architecture and Construction Camp 2022. Middle and high school students from across the region were invited to attend at the Starlight Event Center over eight days complete hands-on, work-based activities.

Over hundred former Head Start students, from regional high schools and charter schools- from Anthony to Fort Hancock - participated in the program aimed to help students transition to post-secondary education. The program kicked off four years ago and has now awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to students. Click to read who won!

The ESC Region 19 College and Career Readiness team has put together these resources with reputable websites. The content will be updated regularly as school closures throughout our region are being affected by COVID-19. This includes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA), Texas’ Virtual College Adviser (ADVi), and more! Please feel free to share these resources with student support staff.

With 1 in 44 children in the U.S. being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, the spectrum continues to be an everchanging field of study. Research updates become increasingly important in the field of education. The Together for Autism Conference is designed to help parents, educators, and students with these important updates and how to navigate them through education.

This new Mental Health Grant is designed to help Mental Health Professionals participate in Professional Learning Community Meetings at least one time per month. Also to conduct an assessment of behavioral health needs in each district. School climate surveys of staff and students, integration of perception data into the needs assessment process, and analyzing school climate survey data and use it to inform the needs assessment process and build a multi-tiered system of support. The intention of the grant is also to enroll in the SHAPE System and complete the baseline SHAPE System Self-Assessment and become familiar with the TEAs Mental Health Website and Toolkit.

The workplace has evolved into a technology-centric environment across all fields and positions. Educators have realized this over time and have aptly adapted to prepare students for the workforce upon high school graduation. Education Service Center Region 19 has launched an initiative to help support this very effort.

Texas Teacher of the Year, Ramon Benavides is getting national attention through his participation in Google for Education's "How Chrome Powers my Classroom" talk where he was the invited guest speaker. Benavides shares how Chrome helps him drive impactful teaching and learning at Ysleta ISD.

The ESC19, Title IV Part A Newsletter, is designed to provide information, training opportunities, and resources as we work together to provide a safe and healthy school environment for our students. This month's newsletter promotes the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) session happening on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm MST. The training will be an MTSS Tier 1 training on Mental Health presented by two authors of Making MTSS Work, Dr. Donohue and Dr. Goodman-Scott. Click to learn more!

ESC19 joins a region-wide collaborative effort with TxDOT, District Attorney Yvonne Rosales and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to promote driver safety in and around our schools. There will be signage on roads cautioning drivers to SLOW DOWN in school zones. Click here to download safety flyers and a video public service announcement we hope you share to ensure our community stays safety on the road.

Twenty-five area district & charter school teachers of the year competed in a rigorous process for the honor to represent our region at the state level. Click here to see who won top honors and learn more about each teacher by listening to their personal stories on our YouTube Channel, links included in this article.

ESC19 hit another historic milestone! In commemoration of the last steel beam being put into place at the top of the sixth floor of the new special events center, ESC19 celebrated with a beam signing ceremony on April 22, 2021. Click to see the footage of the last beam being installed , V.I.P.’s signing the beam and learn when we will open.

The ESC19, Title IV Part A Newsletter, is designed to provide information, training opportunities, and resources as we work together to provide a safe and healthy school environment for all students. Our resources run the gamut, from Anxiety Management for Educators or Parent & Family Engagement to Legal Issues In Bullying, Cyber-Bullying and Disability Harassment. Click on this link and find training opportunities statewide on how to keep schools safe.

Communication between a student and their parent, a student and their teacher, and a parent and their student’s teacher are more important in today’s society than ever. However, one may ask themselves, “How do these tools work?” or maybe even, “My student has different learning needs that require more communication with his teacher. How do I approach this topic?”. Not to worry, there is a conference approaching this month that is specifically designed to help with these questions and more!

Education Service Center Region 19 has won a federal award for free technical assistance at no cost, a value of approximately $150,000-$225,000, to expand their CTE programs. Covid-19 threatens employment opportunities for young people and budgets for CTE programs. That’s why innovative funding mechanisms are needed now more than ever to boost program sustainability and improve outcomes for under-served youth. This award helps programs improve their services, assess labor market needs, and scale up by accessing innovative outcomes-based financing vehicles. ESC 19 wrote in its application that “The Pay for Success model will act as a catalyst by helping us promote and recruit students for the emerging biomedical field.”

The superintendents of Region 19, as well as the executive leadership at the Education Service Center- Region 19, wish to thank local health authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza and the health leaders of El Paso County and the City of El Paso, as well as the private health partners that have provided services and guidance to our schools and employees during these most-trying of times. With their help, local schools have been able to respond to the immediate needs of students and families in West Texas.

Grades six through eight are a crucial developmental educational stage for children the ages of 10 to 15 years old. There are various reports that solidify that this stage is where children find themselves in a transitional point between childhood and adulthood. Education Service Center Region 19 is virtually hosting its Third Annual Bridges to Success Middle School Conference online! This unique conference’s goal is to focus on the latest topics and issues related to middle school education (grades 5-9) and adolescent learners.

From Library Aides to Teaching Assistants and Office Professionals, Instructional Paraprofessionals are the first faces we see in any given department of the schools in our communities. They are the backbone of the school with the support they give to our teachers and administrative team. In response to this need in our educational community, Education Service Center Region 19 will be hosting its 23rd Annual Paraprofessionals in Education Conference.

January is the month when school systems nationwide celebrate the work our School Boards do to ensure quality in our schools. Education Service Center Region 19 is very fortunate and appreciative of our highly dedicated Board of Directors.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 54 children in the U.S. is recognized to have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 2020. From 2013-2020, in Texas schools alone, there has been a 95% increase in the number of students with Autism. ESC Region 19’s Together for Autism Conference is celebrating its 17th year as it prepares for its Virtual Conference format this December.

Educators all over the country are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic more than ever now with a new school year. These effects include having to design a whole curriculum to be taught entirely in a virtual format. The uncertainty of the pandemic can certainly take its toll moving forward. ESC Region 19’s Mental Health in Schools Conference is tailored around helping teachers and administrators gain and develop tools to better their mental health in these trying times.

In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, janitorial staff are highly encouraged to enroll in Intelligent Cleaning for Health offered by professional development leader Education Service Center Region 19. Schools all over the country have started their 2020-2021 school year in the age of COVID-19.

Paraprofessionals are the pillars of the educational system. Their efforts are what make a school function seamlessly on a day to day basis. Hundreds of paraprofessionals working in education attended the annual Paraprofessionals in Education Conference at our ESC Region 19 Multi-Purpose Center. on Tuesday, February 25, 2020

To continue honoring and celebrating the impact in literature Dr. Seuss had, ESC Region 19 will be hosting a special session next month on April 27, 2020 for Read Across America! Click on the story for more information on how to register!

Research shows that there will be a 55% increase in demand for workers with all types of technical skills in the next decade.

January is the month where school systems nationwide celebrate the work our School Boards do to ensure quality in our schools. Education Service Center Region 19 is no different in appreciating and highlighting the amazing things our Board of Directors do this Board Appreciation Month.