(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — April 21, 2025) — Several El Paso ISD students are now one step closer to entering the workforce thanks to a recent career readiness event held in Downtown El Paso.
El Paso ISD staff and students participated in the Coffee Connections Project SEARCH program, designed to empower students with special needs and connect them directly with employers from across the City of El Paso.
The event, held at the El Paso Community Foundation, brought together students from El Paso ISD and neighboring districts to showcase the career skills they’ve developed through programs like Project SEARCH—an initiative that prepares young adults with disabilities for success in competitive, integrated employment.
“This is an opportunity for students to showcase their employability skills,” said Dr. Domingo Jauregui, Director of Special Education for El Paso ISD. “Through Project SEARCH, they’ve been empowered with the tools needed to succeed in the workforce. It’s also great to see students from other districts and watch everyone collaborate.”
Dozens of students had the chance to meet with representatives from local businesses, organizations, and El Paso ISD’s Human Resources team. The students practiced their interview skills, asked questions, and made valuable connections for future employment. For Chapin High School student Max Herrera, the event was both exciting and inspiring.
“I get to talk to people from different companies to see if I could get a job,” Herrera said. “With the experience I’m currently getting from my internship at the hospital, I feel I can keep learning and grow in different fields of work.”
MORE PHOTOS: Project SEARCH event helps students find careers
Herrera, a participant in Project SEARCH, also reflected on the personal development the program has provided. “It has taught me job skills, how to budget and manage money, and the responsibility it takes to be an adult and independent,” he said.
The program equips students with real-world experience through job site rotations and targeted instruction that prepares them for the transition into adult life.
“This is a fabulous event,” said Project SEARCH teacher Tracy Taylor. “Our interns—EPISD students—get to meet employers throughout the city. It’s all about opening doors and building opportunities after they complete their rotations.”
District leaders see the event as not just a student learning experience, but a chance to shift perceptions in the community.
“It’s a great opportunity for our kids to get practice,” said Santiago Morales, Special Education Facilitator. “But even more than that, it’s a powerful moment for employers to witness the talents and abilities of the students we serve. We hope this event leads to lasting employment opportunities.”
El Paso ISD remains committed to supporting the whole child—ensuring that all students, regardless of ability, have the skills, resources, and confidence to thrive after graduation.
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