IDEA Academy Mission takes different approach

Brunson Column

Mission Superintendent named as state finalist

Mission hero tobe honored

Commissioners keep 59-cent tax rate

IDEA Academy takes different approach to education

By Mary Nichols

Newly built and not known by many is IDEA Academy Mission, a school built with the goal of delivering academic excellence and providing children the best possible education.

The campus is small, just two red brick buildings, no school sign, and no playground. However, what is happening inside is anything but lacking. The school’s goal and mission are even apparent from the faculty vehicles that carry an IDEA bumper sticker that reads, “100% college bound!”

IDEA Mission, founded in fall 2008, has as its main goal to help prepare students from underserved communities for success in college and a professional career. Newly implemented to help take students’ education to the next level is a two-way language immersion model where teachers teach half the day in Spanish and the other in English.

Bethany Solis, principal at IDEA Mission, believes the model will be very effective in closing the achievement gap between low-income, minority students and their more advantaged peers.

“What makes us really unique, is that while there are other dual language programs in the Valley, we have the express goal of getting our kids 100 percent to college; it’s about two languages in the context of college. Right now we have way too many Hispanics, English language learners and low-income children not going to college,” she said. “They are disproportionately under represented. Our mission is to change that and we believe we can’t change that unless we take into consideration and start valuing student’s language background and what it means to academic success.”

IDEA Mission is part of IDEA Public Schools, a chain of 12 schools across the Rio Grande Valley, with its founding campus in Donna. IDEA Donna has had much success, recently graduating 100 percent of its seniors for the third year in a row, all of whom are now enrolled in a four-year college or university.

When IDEA Mission first launched, they only opened with a few grades and are expanding every year. Right now they serve pre-k through first grade and sixth through ninth grade levels. In four years, they plan to offer every grade pre-k through 12th grade like other IDEA campuses. The school’s enrollment last year was approximately 300 with 83 percent of students considered as low-income. With the addition of several new grade levels for the 2009-10 school year, they will be welcoming over 600 students to campus this August.

Principal Solis became very passionate about teaching and helping those underrepresented in the education system after an 18-month volunteer experience in New York City and after four years of teaching in the Valley.

“We want to show that it does not matter what a child’s language or social background is. Those are not predictors of failures. If you have ambitious goals and high quality teachers, teachers will lead all students to high achievement,” she said. “We really believe that every child that comes through our doors can go to college. We want to start developing that mindset in pre-k and sustain it all the way through 12th grade.”

Solis says the average low-income fourth-grader is already behind three grade levels behind his wealthier peers. The gap she says just keeps widening to middle school when all too many low-income kids and minorities start dropping out and not advancing to high school.

Around eight in 10 children in the Valley come from economically disadvantaged families. According to the U.S. Census in 2005, only a little over half of all adults in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties have high school diplomas compared to about 80 percent nationally. Low-income students who do graduate from high school typically perform at an eighth grade level. The most recent census also found that only about 13 percent of Hidalgo and Cameron county residents have a bachelor’s degree.

“I get more passionate about it every year. There is just an enormous number of children not receiving the world-class education they both deserve and need to succeed in college and beyond,” said Solis. “It wasn’t until I saw those statistics that I realized that I could not walk away. I had to contribute to changing this.”

Dual Language Program

To try and help change that statistic, IDEA Mission is going to use a full two-way immersion bilingual model using both Spanish and English. Basically, no matter what the child’s first language is, each child will spend half of their instructional time in English and the other half in Spanish. Both languages will be taught on grade level. This enables both English and Spanish dominant children to develop their foundational literacy skills in their home language, while simultaneously gaining oral language and literacy proficiency in their new language.

Assistant Principal Luzdivina Lozano says research supports the idea a strong foundation in a child’s first language will transfer successfully to a child’s second language.

“Taking away their first language would be problematic, because the number one indicator for English Language Learners’ academic success in English is their academic proficiency in their first language,” she said. “So unless a Spanish-speaking child is able to be successful at their first language first, that’s typically going to determine how successful they are going to be at the second one.”

Solis says that when English language learners are taught in all English in the early elementary grades, the effects are not usually seen in the short term, but by the time these students reach the 11th grade they are, on average, scoring in the bottom 20 or 30 percentile on national norm referenced tests. In comparison, when a bilingual program maintains an elementary age child’s first language while also teaching English, students often catch up with and sometimes even outperform the average mono-lingual speaker in English by middle and high school. This means that these Spanish speakers are able to do better in English than those who have spoken only English their whole lives.

“Research shows that when you learn two different languages, there is a part of your brain awakened that otherwise would have never been touched, had you been only learning one language,” said Lozano. “Just the fact that the other part of the brain is working gets children to higher levels.”

On the other end of the spectrum, English dominant children that wouldn’t know the challenges and victories of learning a second language now can. In contrast to a more traditional bilingual model where the English and Spanish speakers are divided into separate classes, both speakers in dual immersion are placed in the same class together and interact with each other throughout the day. Everyone is a second language learner.

“Spanish speakers’ self-esteem is boosted when for half the day they are the experts,” said Solis. “They get to support their English speaking friends, just the way the English speakers did for them during the other half of the day.”

Not only does the dual immersion model help advance students mentally, it helps students embrace their culture and be proud to be bilingual. Both Solis and Lozano agree there is a certain stigma attached to the Spanish language that is often the reason why many children don’t speak Spanish or why many parents refuse to teach Spanish to their children.

Lozano, who grew up in Rio Grande City, remembers being bullied for speaking with an accent because her first language was Spanish. Students would tease her and call her racial slurs. As she grew up, she didn’t speak in Spanish because she didn’t want any one to think she was undocumented. After becoming a bilingual teacher she realized the stigma attached to a Spanish-speaking student. So after speaking Spanish for two years to her daughter, Lozano stopped out of fear that her daughter would be ridiculed as well.

“How ridiculous is that. But, I was conditioned that way. It’s still going on today,” said Lozano. “But after reading the statistics, I started speaking Spanish to my daughter because it is more beneficial to her to speak two languages.”

Lozano taught in La Joya for many years and now her six-year-old daughter goes to IDEA Mission

By educating parents and students on the benefits of learning to speak two languages, IDEA Mission hopes it will give students great success and pride.

Other Success Factors

Other components to help students reach college and higher is the fact that IDEA, as an organization, is continually reflecting and making changes, something that can sometimes be difficult for many traditional public schools. Some key elements of success are that principals at IDEA have a high degree of authority over their campuses that is not typical in other public schools. Principals are in charge of hiring and firing, as well as making key curriculum program choices.

Teachers also have authority to input ideas and make changes as they see fit. The school caters to them so that they may do their job at its best.

Melissa Ramirez, first grade teacher, says she loves working at IDEA and wants to retire there.

“If we have any questions, we are very comfortable in asking as compared to other schools I have worked at. I have more of an input, so I feel like this is my school,” said Ramirez. “In other schools, everything is already planned out, and you can’t put in any feedback. I could vouch for all the teachers and say they feel this is their school, because they get to have a big part in it.”

Another advantage to help the success of IDEA Mission is they have longer school days 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Homework is required every night at every grade level. Solis says it’s important because it helps build studying skills that are required for college. The school is also trying to bridge the gap between home and school by providing teachers with a cell phone so parents may call if their child has questions about homework.

“We do some innovative things to bridge the gap between home and school. We also try to get parents to volunteer at least 20 hours of their time throughout the year if possible,” said Solis. “So it’s about high levels of accountability and high expectations, but also high levels of support to ensure that every child and every family has what they need to meet that expectation.”

IDEA also has their secondary and middle school grades visit colleges and universities locally and throughout the nation. So by the time they get ready to graduate they will have visited 20-25 colleges and will be able to make an educated choice.

Bright Future

Parents of students attending IDEA Mission are excited that their children are being prepared for college.

Esmeralda Gonzalez, whose daughter, Olivia, is in the first grade, didn’t speak very much Spanish. Esmeralda enrolled Olivia in summer school so that she could be immersed in Spanish, and now Olivia is speaking both languages strongly and is very proud to do so.

“It’s a school that is very advanced. I’m really surprised with my daughter who has learned a lot here. She can now speak Spanish,” said Gonzalez. “I noticed the difference of her being in this school compared to the school she was going to in La Joya. She really advanced here. She is very happy in this school.”

Gabriela Garza and her daughter, Coral, who is in the first grade, primarily spoke Spanish. Coral now speaks easily in both English and Spanish.

“I love Spanish class, and my school,” says Coral in Spanish. “I like it a lot because we work hard and we play a lot too.”

Coral also likes learning English and eloquently speaks it, saying she hopes to go to college and become a veterinarian. Her mother is very thankful for IDEA and recommends it to other parents.

“I think it’s a school that is very good, especially since they are learning both languages and how to read and write them. It’s very important, especially since we live here on the border,” said Garza. “It’s best that she starts young. I knew this would be a good option for her, because this is a well known school for academics. They really care for the students, so they can do their best and motivate them for college.”

IDEA Mission is free like any other public school. The school accepts any child from any background. Solis wants parents to know there are no special tests or requirements for students to benefit from the school. However, their main goal is help those students who are underserved or from low-income families to be able to reach success.

“Getting kids to college is a whole family and community affair. We will do everything we can at school. But we also know that it will be really difficult for a child to get there if the parents don’t think it’s important or if parents don’t get involved. In fact, there are so many incredible things that parents can do by simply supporting their child and her progress toward her goals,” said Solis. “The chance of that child going to college or staying here with us goes up dramatically because they have parents that believe in them and that is important.”

Brunson Column

Cuellar Town Hall

I was unable to personally attend Congressman Henry Cuellar’s Town Hall held this week, but my wife, Mendi, and my assistant editor, Edwina Garza, did attend.

While the Congressman didn’t say much at the meeting that was particularly bad, it’s what he didn’t say that bothers me. I doubt he got the real message: People want responsible government. People want Congress to quit the money-grabbing, wasteful spending tactics and political favors of the past. We want statesmen, not politicians, who will stand up and do what is best for the country.

It’s obvious to anyone paying attention that this country cannot afford to provide “free” healthcare. Sounds nice, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Oh, but Congress plans to require businesses to provide health insurance for their employees. That’s the answer! Let’s have the government tell small business owners and CEOs how to run their businesses.

In recent years, many businesses have had to reduce or abandon employer-paid health insurance, just so they could stay competitive in a global market.

I am fed up with Congress imposing expensive mandates and then forcing businesses to pay the cost. Doesn’t Congress understand that businesses are the engine that drives our economy. Businesses provide the jobs that everyone must have to put food on the table. Everyone is employed by a business – unless you are a government employee, and businesses pay most of the taxes that pay the salaries of government workers.

The more costs the government imposes on businesses, the more businesses will fail and those goods will be produced overseas where the costs are much less. The playing field is already uneven for American businesses compared to their foreign competitors. We cannot keep piling government-mandated costs on the backs of businesses.

The bottom line is, if business fails, this country fails.

The cost estimates put the price tag for the proposed healthcare reform bill at $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion. And we know that the estimates for government programs are always way off base, grossly understated.

Cuellar said he doesn’t want to add to the deficit with new programs. But after he switched his position and voted for Cap and Trade, some people don’t trust what he says.

Congressman Cuellar tends to be fiscally conservative. Let’s hope he sticks to those principles as he examines the impact of healthcare reform.

More than the Money

Congress needs to understand that healthcare reform, as they are approaching it, is not only grossly unaffordable, but the bill is packed with government controls and requirements that are totally unacceptable to the American people.

The Tea Party movement is a groundswell reflecting the frustration of everyday citizens with too many out-of-control government programs. The local McAllen Tea Party organization has taken a very clear position opposing healthcare reform.

Glen Hagenbach, McAllen Tea Party president, has said that Congress does not need to slow down on the healthcare reform bill, it needs to stop working on the bill. He points out that the government’s two largest social programs are already out of control, proving his point that the government cannot be trusted to run healthcare efficiently.

Hagenbach says Social Security is $40 trillion in debt and Medicare is $60 trillion in debt.

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Mission Superintendent named as state finalist

AUSTIN — Mission Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Oscar Rodriguez Jr. has been named as one of five finalists for the annual Superintendent of the Year award, the Texas Association of School Boards announced this week.  

The state selection committee, which interviewed all regional winners earlier this month, focused on such issues as public school advocacy, equity, college and workforce readiness, education finance, community support and student success.

Rodriguez was selected as the regional Superintendent of the Year by the Region One Education Service Center in June.

“It is nice to receive the outside validation of what we have been doing since I came to Mission CISD,” Rodriguez said.  “This is really a reflection of the tremendous team that we have serving the students in Mission CISD. While the superintendent of the year process has been nice on a certain professional level; what really makes it all worthwhile, is knowing that what we are doing is having a positive impact on the lives of our students.”

The other four nominees include Mark Henry of Galena Park Independent School District, Ray Braswell from Denton Independent School District, Rose Cameron of Copperas Cove Independent School District, and Jesús Chávez, Round Rock Independent School District.

TASB said Superintendent of the Year candidates are chosen for their dedication to improving educational quality, board-superintendent relations, student achievement, and commitment to public support and involvement in education. Superintendents from any of the state’s 1,035 school districts are eligible for nomination by their local boards of trustees. District nominees are submitted to a regional selection committee, which submits one nominee per region to the state selection committee.

The 2009 State Superintendent of the Year will be announced Oct. 3 at the TASA/TASB Convention in Houston. The winning superintendent will receive an award from Balfour, program underwriter.

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Mission hero to be honored in Netherlands

By Kathy Olivarez

The village of Cadier en Keer, the Netherlands, is planning special ceremonies next month to celebrate their liberation from Nazi Germany during World War II, some 65 years ago. A central part of this celebration will be the unveiling of a monument honoring Mission native, Albert Strahle Jr., who was killed by sniper fire as his company fought to free the village on Sept. 13, 1944.

The mayor of the municipality of Margraten, of which Cadier en Keer is a parish, has extended an invitation to the City of Mission to attend the ceremony. Mission Deputy City Manager Aida Lerma and Civil Service Director Jesse Lerma will travel to the Netherlands on Sept. 11, to represent the City of Mission at the ceremony.

Pvt. Strahle was the only American soldier killed in the battle to liberate Cadier en Keer when Allied troops pushed through the area to free the city from Nazi control.

An article about the plans to honor Pvt. Strahle that appeared in the Progress Times in May led to finding surviving members of his family. Joe Phillips of Mission is a first cousin, once removed, to the fallen hero. Strahle’s father, Albert Strahle Sr. and Joe Phillip’s grandmother, Birdie Phillips, were brother and sister.  Joe Phillips, his sister, Mary Bradley, and her husband, Michael, are planning to make the trip to the Netherlands for the unveiling of the monument.

According to information provided by Phillips, Albert Strahle Jr. was the only child of a prominent businessman in Mission, Albert Strahle Sr., a Texaco consignee. 

He was also the grandson of Anna Catherine Strahle Henry Gosch, a prominent businesswoman in Blanco County, Texas, who managed a boarding house and sold property throughout Blanco County.           

Albert Strahle Sr. ran a jewelry store in Llano before moving to Mission in the early 1900s. When Pvt. Strahle was only two or three years old, his mother had died of tuberculosis. Because he and his cousin, Fred Phillips, were both only children, they were raised together and were more like brothers than cousins. When his father remarried, Pvt. Strahle had a stepbrother, Jack Field Sr., who was about 13 years younger than he.

Before the war broke out, Pvt. Strahle was working in McAllen for Fred Phillips, who was a Texaco consignee there. When he enlisted, Pvt. Strahle was already 34 years old and had previously suffered with a bout of tuberculosis, but nonetheless was accepted for military service. Albert Strahle Sr. was on the draft board at the time he entered the service.

Phillip’s mother remembers Pvt. Strahle as a mind-mannered man who was quiet by nature. He was married to Lillian Pierson, who was about nine years younger than him. They had no children. Lillian is still living but is in a nursing home and is unable to make the trip. She later remarried and raised a son.

After his death, Pvt. Strahle’s remains were returned to Mission and are buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Cadier en Keer is a parish of the municipality of Margraten, which is located in the Mergelland National Park in the southern part of the Netherlands. Margraten is well known due to the presence of the American military cemetery.

Lando Mulleneers, who has been the contact from the Netherlands to the City of Mission, said the idea for the celebration that will last the entire weekend is to remind citizens of the tremendous sacrifices that were made to obtain the freedom the country has enjoyed for the last 65 years.

“Lest they forget,” states Mulleneers.

The monument is to be placed at the site where Pvt. Strahle died. It will be a large rock with a bronze plate. The text inscribed on the bronze plate will describe Pvt. Strahle’s sacrifice, and will also be a plea not to forget the sacrifices made for freedom.

While the ceremony unveiling the monument honoring Pvt. Strahle will be held on Sept. 11, other ceremonies are planned for the rest of the weekend. Events include a requiem for villagers who were killed in the resistance movement, and the laying of wreaths at the monument. Germans executed 11 members of the local resistance the day before the liberation. The commemoration will conclude Sept. 13 with a ceremony for veterans at the American Cemetery in Margraten.

“The host committee has specifically stated they want to remind the community of the ultimate sacrifice made by others so that they can enjoy freedom,” Joe Phillips said. “I was very touched by the whole program, and the fact that we take freedom for granted here.”

In addition to representatives from Mission, other American veterans who fought in the battle have been contacted and invited to come. At least one group called Old Hickory Veterans will be attending the ceremonies.

Mulleneers are currently seeking other Missionites who may have died at other times and who are buried in the cemetery in Margraten so that they might also be honored for their sacrifices. Anyone knowing of other soldiers buried there should contact Aida Lerma at Mission City Hall or Kathy Olivarez at the Progress Times so the information can be relayed to Mulleneers.

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County keeps 59-cent tax rate

By Edwina P. Garza

EDINBURG — Hidalgo County Commissioners voted to keep the county’s tax rate at 59 cents, despite Tax Assessor Armando Barrera’s recommendation it be raised.

 At Tuesday’s Commissioners’ Court, Barrera proposed a one-cent increase, to 60 cents per every $100 valuation.

Barrera attributed the need for the increase to smaller increases on property valuations. The new effective rate, he added, would have an increased value of $2,292,701 compared to 2008.

Before the court addressed the tax rate, Fern McClaugherty, an Edinburg resident and member of the Objective Watchers of the Legal System, or OWLS, pleaded with commissioners to not raise the rate.

“The people right now are hurting,” McClaugherty said. “I’m hoping one of these days you all hear me.”

Throughout the summer, the court had said it wanted to achieve a balanced budget without increasing taxes.

Budget Officer Raul Silguero Jr., when asked if it was possible for the county to have a zero increase on property taxes, said he created the 2010 budget with a 59-cent property tax rate.

“We can still have a balanced budget at 59-cents,” Silguero said.

Commissioner Place 4 Oscar Garza said he’d prefer the county stay at the same rate, if it would allow the county to continue paying its bills and doing payroll.

“We’re serious about not raising taxes, which means we will not be able to approve some requests,” said Commissioner Place 2 Hector “Tito” Palacios.

In other matters, U.S. Commissioner Bill Ruth of the International Boundary and Water Commission met with the court for an update on construction of levee projects in the county.

Ruth said approximately $220 million in recovery act funds will help with levee repairs in Texas and New Mexico.

“We are picking up where y’all left off,” Ruth said.

The Recovery Act funding will allow rehabilitation of approximately 170 miles of levees, including Rio Grande levees and levees in the interior floodways in the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project.

Projects include work south of Granjeno to 23rd Street in McAllen and another from 23rd Street to FM 1015, Ruth said.

“As we go downstream, we have more projects coming,” he explained.

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