TEA accountability ratings still unresolved
The 2023-2024 school year has come and gone, and Texas school districts still do not have a way to evaluate academic performance based on Texas Education Agency standards. For the 2022-2023 school year, TEA revamped its grading system measuring state test performance, graduation rates and college, career and military readiness. However, school officials across the…
Read MoreSISD battles staffing shortages with bonuses, stipends
The Sharyland Board of Trustees approved retention stipends for special education employees and sign-on bonuses for the transportation department. At the May board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Elaine Howard said administration identified critical staffing shortages in the transportation and special education departments. To help combat the shortages, all 134 SISD special education teachers and paraprofessionals will…
Read More‘An unbreakable bond’ — SA3 graduates 114
Before moving on to life after high school, the Sharyland Advanced Academic Academy class of 2024 spent one final day together. The 114 students celebrated the culmination of their four years at SA3 at the May 31 commencement ceremony. Graduation day was a day of reminiscence. The students spoke of the tight deadlines, the…
Read MoreSHS grad to go pre-med
Senior Estefania Rico Arambula is a young woman who does it all, but she makes it look easy. The 18-year-old is the Business Professionals of America state president, ranked 11th in her class and on the Texas Citrus Fiesta Royal Court. She was a U.S. Presidential Scholar semifinalist, a medical assistant at Rio Grande…
Read MoreVMHS senior celebrates the theater
Veterans Memorial High School senior Alexis Reyes dedicated the last three years of her life to the performing arts — practicing at all hours of the day and taking multiple courses to hone her craft. It was a labor of love, but not without its challenges. Reyes is not what those in the industry would…
Read MoreMHS class president follows father’s footsteps
Beto Garza spoke tenderly of his son Daniel Garza. Over and over, he repeated the same phrase — “I’m very proud of my son.” Daniel, who goes by Danny, is a soon-to-be graduate of Mission High School. The 17-year-old has an educational career stamped with leadership roles — senior class president, president of the Mission…
Read MoreA Knights legacy – Class of 2024 graduates
And just like that, senior year was over for the Mission Collegiate High School class of 2024. About 100 students received their diplomas at the May 25 commencement ceremony, 37 of which also graduated with an associate degree in interdisciplinary studies. Throughout the ceremony, the students reminisced on their educational careers and the efforts…
Read MoreGarcia leaves SISD, board inducts new trustee
After nine years on the Sharyland ISD Board of Trustees, Jose “Pepe” Garcia vacated Place 4, and Andrew Riddle replaced him. During the May 4 election, voters chose Riddle and Maritza Venecia to represent the community on the SISD school board. At the May 14 special meeting, the trustees canvassed the votes and declared the…
Read MoreOutgoing MCISD trustees say goodbye, new members inducted
The Mission CISD Board of Trustees canvassed and approved the May 4 school board election results, making Iris Iglesias, Jerry Zamora, Natividad “Nati” Sosa and Dolores “Loli” Reyna the official winners. In Place 2, incumbent Iglesias took home 1,854 of the 3,178 votes. In Place 3, incumbent Zamora received 1,937 of the 3,187 votes. In…
Read MoreIncumbent, newcomer elected to Sharyland school board
The constituents have spoken — Maritza Venecia and Andrew Riddle will sit on the Sharyland ISD Board of Trustees for the next three years. PLACE 3 Venecia, the incumbent, secured her seat against opponent Anthony Limon by winning 54% of the 2,877 votes in the May 4 election. Although this is Venecia’s second time elected…
Read More