Principal Sally McHalffey shares smiles and a stroll with students at Nixon Elementary. Strong campus leadership creates a nurturing environment where our young scholars can grow, blossom, and reach their full potential every day.
Dear El Paso ISD Community,
When you walk through the hallways of our campuses, the impact of great leadership is immediately clear. Our principals do far more than manage day-to-day operations. They set the tone for learning, build joyful school cultures, and walk side-by-side with our students on their educational journeys. As we continue celebrating National Principals Month, I want to thank our campus leaders for their unwavering dedication to inspiring excellence.
That dedication creates an environment where our students truly thrive, as demonstrated by Wiggs Middle School student Aarav Niraula! Aarav recently earned 1st Place in Congresswoman Veronica Escobar’s 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest out of nearly 150 middle school participants across Texas’s 16th Congressional District. His essay beautifully reflected on how growing up in El Paso has shaped his understanding and appreciation of Hispanic culture. We also want to congratulate Hornedo Middle School student Josefina Villegas for earning an Honorable Mention in the competition! Stories like Aarav’s and Josefina’s remind us of the talent, insight, and voice our young scholars bring to the Borderland.
Thank you to our principals, teachers, and families for continually supporting our students as they reach new heights.
Sincerely,
Dr. Brian Lusk
Superintendent of Schools
Staff Spotlight
During classroom visits last week, I had the pleasure of dropping by Bliss Elementary to witness phenomenal teaching and learning in action! We want to give a special shout-out to 5th-grade teachers Rebecca Herrera (above) and Leslie Beavers (below).
The classroom engagement we observed in Ms. Herrera's class exemplifies her commitment to ensuring students are owners of their learning with Ms. Herrera as the facilitator.
Thank you to Ms. Beavers for providing high-quality reading instruction to her fifth-grade students and for recognizing that writing and reading are reciprocal skills necessary for student success.
Things to Know
Join Us for EPISD Police’s Spooktacular National Night Out
Mark your calendars! The El Paso ISD Police Department invites all district families, students, and community members to a Spooktacular National Night Out on Wednesday, October 28, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bowie High School. This free, family-friendly event is a great opportunity to connect with our school police officers, learn about campus safety, and enjoy interactive demonstrations and resource tables. Families and students are encouraged to attend in costume for an evening of safe fall fun!
Celebrating Red Ribbon Week
El Paso ISD is proud to join schools nationwide in celebrating Red Ribbon Week from October 26 through October 30 under this year’s theme, "Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free." Throughout the week, campuses across the district will host special dress-up days, pledge campaigns, and engaging activities to encourage positive choices and healthy lifestyles. Be sure to check your campus for your school’s specific daily schedule and dress-up themes!
Thank You for Supporting El Paso Giving Day!
A huge thank you to our incredible El Paso ISD community and community partners! Thanks to your generous support during El Paso Giving Day, over $50,000 was raised for the El Paso ISD Education Foundation. These funds directly benefit our students and educators through student scholarships and Classroom Impact Grants that power innovative learning projects and essential classroom resources. While Giving Day has passed, you can support our students and teachers at any time throughout the year. Click here to learn more about the Education Foundation and how to donate.