(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — April 10, 2026) — In the world of Texas student leadership, all roads now lead to El Paso. At the Texas Association of Student Councils (TASC) annual state conference in San Antonio, Burges High School was officially elected as the President School for the 2026-2027 school year, positioning students at the very forefront of student voice and service across the entire state.
Representing this historic appointment is Burges junior Alexandra “Lexi” Rosales. Lexi will serve as the presiding officer for the TASC State Board, emceeing major conferences and spearheading statewide service projects that impact millions of students across Texas.
For Lexi, this moment is the culmination of a journey that began at MacArthur PK-8. While she now stands confidently on a state stage, she admits that finding her voice took time.
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“I remember when I first joined student council, I was a little more timid than I am now,” Lexi shared. “I was scared to step out of my shell and voice my opinions, but I found the courage to be more involved. My advice to any student is to put yourself out there, because you never know what is waiting for you.”
Lexi’s success is a testament to the "well-rounded" student experience El Paso ISD provides. A talented musician who plays multiple instruments, and a participant in athletic programs, Lexi credits the district's diverse opportunities for helping her build a winning platform.
The success at Burges isn't accidental; it’s by design. Student Council Advisor Ruth Bohlin believes in a "no-recipe" approach to education, pushing students into positions where they have to innovate rather than follow instructions.
“My job is to put them in a spot where they don’t have to follow a recipe and be like, ‘Okay, now what?’” Bohlin said. “If they can figure out that they are capable on their own, they build their capacity as leaders. It’s not about a title; it’s about learning how to be confident.”
This philosophy has clearly paid off. In addition to the presidency, Burges dominated the state awards:
• Maya Herrera & Catalina Gutierrez: Awarded two of only five TASC senior scholarships in Texas.
• Carolina Jacquez-Gonzalez: Earned a "Top Project" award for her leadership in the Take Back the Night initiative.
• Mia Bautista, Herrera, & Gutierrez: Recognized as "Lone Star Seniors," placing them among the top 50 student leaders in the Class of 2026.
For Lexi, who plans to stay in El Paso to attend UTEP and eventually become a pediatrician, the win is a victory for the entire El Paso community.
“Being from El Paso, we are far from the rest of Texas, so to get to this level is really special,” Lexi said. “We get to show the rest of the state who we are and what we can do. I could feel the love in the room; it felt like my community was standing there with me.”