Dear El Paso ISD,

Spring is here! We welcomed this period with many activities that showcase our exemplary students.

Arnav Tonde, a Wiggs Middle School eighth grader closed our week in strong fashion by winning the El Paso Regional Spelling Bee during the competition Friday at Andress High School’s Performing Arts Center. His winning word was diatom and his skills have earned him a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee beginning May 28. Way to go, Arnav!

At Young Women’s STEAM Prep Academy, the Warriors celebrated Hannah Conner. The senior was awarded a coveted Impact Scholarship from the University of Texas at Austin this week. She is one of only four area students to receive this honor and the campus marked the occasion with a special presentation. Congratulations, Hannah! Hook ’em!

As the pioneers of public education in the region, we relish the responsibility to continually strive for new ways to help our students reach their dreams.

For more than a dozen of our high school boys and girls soccer teams, those dreams involve the hunt for a state championship. Fifteen of our schools began that chase this weekend by qualifying for the bi-district round of the state playoffs. We hope our teams get a leg up on the competition as the postseason continues. Good luck to all our student-athletes!

This evening, you will have the chance to see amazing choreography and dancing from all of our talented dance programs during the 2023 El Paso ISD Fine Arts Dance Festival. The event begins at 7 p.m. in the Bowie High School auditorium. May all our performers shake a leg. You can’t stop the beat!

Understanding the context that surrounds our students helps us craft the best strategies to help them succeed. We conveyed that to our Board of Trustees this week during our regular board meeting. Trustees and the community received information about the 2022 Texas Academic Performance Report’s findings. Administration outlined where we are in terms of student achievement outcomes. Information associated with El Paso ISD’s instructional response to the data was also shared. You can find the full report here.

Administration also shared an enrollment analysis. Our greatest opportunity lies in early childhood education. Not only is this a fantastic opportunity for enrollment, it is also key to student success and El Paso ISD’s future. To meet this demand, we are expanding our offerings for the 2023-24 academic year. I invite you to get insight on early childhood learning from me and other El Paso ISD leaders during the Early Matters El Paso Forum and Resource Fair beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Education Service Center Region 19 Head Start building located 11670 Chito Samaniego Dr.

Registration begins next week for our exceptional Pre-K programs and our new Montessori offering. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of El Paso ISD! Go to episd.org to start your child’s journey.

It’s exciting to be back. There is plenty of work left to do. Let’s move forward together.

It's not too late to get involved in our Golf for Excellence fundraising event! The tournament tees off at 9 a.m. March 31 at Painted Dunes Desert Golf Course. Your support can help us get to the finish line! Click here to learn how to participate in the golf showcase and support student scholarships. Thank you for making a difference and supporting students in the realization of their hopes and dreams via your contributions to the El Paso ISD Education Foundation.

It starts with us.

Sincerely,

Diana Sayavedra
Superintendent of Schools

March 24, 2023