Dear El Paso ISD,

School support staff play a vital role in fostering positive, trusting relationships and ensuring students learn in safe and supportive learning environments.  

This week, El Paso ISD marked National School Counseling Week, a period devoted to the individuals at our campuses who provide students with social and emotional support, address academic concerns, and prepare them for their future careers. Our counselors improve student achievement and satisfaction. They also help students navigate challenging times. We encourage students and parents to seek out the counselors at your campus to help address any of your concerns. Our schools are better places because of these vital members of campus leadership teams. Bravo, counselors! 

One of our alumni attributes her success to the support she received during her high school years. Margie Salazar, a 1993 Irvin High School graduate and the newly named CEO of FirstLight Federal Credit Union, visited her alma mater this week to share her personal story with the school's juniors and seniors. Salazar implored students to continually set new goals, work hard and pursue postsecondary education. She also urged students to harness the skills they learn through extracurricular activities such as band, cheerleading and athletics. Salazar pointed to her time on the Rockets’ track team as a catalyst for her success. 

El Paso ISD athletics teams have been excelling in the pool and on the court. The El Paso High School swimming teams were named this week’s KVIA Community Champions! The Tiger boys and girls teams are being recognized for sweeping the Class 5A, Region I swim meet for the first time in school history. Now, they set their sights on the state meet, which is scheduled Feb. 17-18 in Austin. Also, El Paso ISD schools dominated the region’s girls basketball district championship slots. Franklin won the District 1-6A crown; Chapin and Burges tied for the District 1-5A championship; and Irvin claimed the District 1-4A title. Good luck to all our teams as they proceed in the postseason.  

Our teams reach a high level of success because of our exemplary coaches. One of those leaders is Leah Hernandez, a junior varsity girls basketball coach at Burges High School. Coach Hernandez was recently named to the ROCK Coaches Mentoring program, a prestigious statewide initiative that helps young coaches reach their career aspirations. Congratulations to Coach Hernandez and thank you to all El Paso ISD coaches who help our athletes reach their full potential in and out of the classroom.  

The district’s top-performing dance teams will put their skills on display with other programs from throughout the region beginning Friday at Bowie High School during the 2023 El Paso ISD Border Dance Competition. The two-day event is a showcase for El Paso ISD’s fine arts programs.  

These programs produce individuals with amazing creative skills such as Germaine Franco, another Irvin High School alumni who took home the top prize for score soundtrack for visual media during the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles. 

El Paso’s District provides the foundation to create champions. We look forward to continuing to do just that.  

Enjoy a safe and happy Super Bowl weekend. We’ll get back to work Monday.  

It starts with us. 

Sincerely, 

Diana Sayavedra
Superintendent of Schools

Feb. 10, 2023