Cabrera finalist for urban superintendent of the year award
(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — Oct. 11, 2018) -- EPISD Superintendent Juan E. Cabrera is a finalist for the Council of the Great City School’s urban superintendent of the year title that recognizes excellence among educational leaders in school districts that serve large cities in the United States.
The Council named Cabrera among one of nine finalists for the Green-Garner Award, which is the organization’s highest recognitions for urban school superintendents. A winner will be announced during the Council’s annual fall conference on Oct. 25 in Baltimore, Md.
“Mr. Cabrera has helped transform EPISD into a District of Innovation that is recognized nation-wide as a place where forward-thinking teaching and learning are a priority,” said EPISD Board President Trent Hatch. “Under his leadership, we have seen unprecedented growth in student performance and we are on a clear path to modernize not just instruction but also our facilities.”
Cabrera is vying for the award along with superintendents from Denver; Miami-Dade, Fla.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Pittsburg, Pa.; Dallas; Memphis, Tenn.; Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C.; and New York City.
The Council acknowledged Cabrera’s role in improving student performance over his tenure in EPISD. This year, the Texas Education Agency’s state accountability standards showed the District is top in Region 19 and third in Texas for the number of high-performing schools. EPISD’s Active Learning Framework helped all District campuses meet state accountability standards.
Cabrera was a driving force in introducing the popular New Tech Network of project-based instruction into the District and helped expand the rigorous International Baccalaureate program from one high school to three other campuses – including the first middle school IB programs in the county.
EPISD is seen as a national leader in dual-language education, and under Cabrera’s leadership the District expanded the innovative program to all elementary schools and most middle schools. He also spearheaded vast improvements in classroom technology, including the distribution of more than 30,000 laptops to every secondary student in the District.
“We are building the best EPISD in the history of El Paso, and I am honored to be part of the team that is making this happen,” Cabrera said. “All this success would not be possible without exemplary teachers and an outstanding staff who care deeply about the children of our city.”
Graphic by Martín A. López