Dear El Paso ISD, 

We are the pioneers of public education in the region and are committed to making a meaningful impact on future generations. On Friday, the district was at the core of a pair of indelible marks made to benefit the city during two events in Northeast El Paso.  

First, the El Paso ISD Education Foundation’s Golf for Excellence fundraiser teed off at Painted Dunes Desert Golf Course. The golf showcase benefited student scholarships for the Class of 2023. We are immensely grateful for the support received from our title sponsor, Raiz Federal Credit Union, as well as other generous businesses and individuals throughout the community. Their support makes an immense difference in helping El Paso ISD students realize their hopes and dreams. While the event has concluded, you can still make contributions to the foundation here. 

Also Friday, Andress High School played host to a momentous occasion — an announcement to designate nearby Castner Range as a national monument. The range served as a U.S. Army live-fire exercise area for 40 years before it ceased operations in 1965 as the city grew around it. Since then, Castner Range has been the subject of debate. In the last decade, El Pasoans engaged in efforts to get the federal government to declare the range a national monument. It was an effort with a lot of merit. After all, Castner Range is a natural treasure. It contains many millennia of history within its 7,000 acres. Its new designation will offer generations of El Pasoans wondrous hiking trails, academic research opportunities and closer views of the beautiful poppy fields we enjoy every year.  

I’m happy to say that some of our own students contributed to these efforts, including 56 fourth graders from Whitaker Elementary School. These students created postcards addressed to President Joe Biden that implored him to award the Castner Range national designation we celebrated today. It’s wonderful to see our students practicing advocacy, particularly when it’s part of such a distinguished honor for our community. Thank you to Whitaker Elementary and everyone involved in preserving a significant piece of history for all of El Paso. 

El Paso’s District will mark another historic milestone during the 2023-24 academic year when it introduces a Montessori education option. The renowned teaching method arrives at Moreno Elementary School next year and will teach students ages 3-6 to look within, think creatively and become capable of rising to new challenges. The public will get to learn about our program during four informational sessions scheduled to begin next week. If you submitted an interest form, please check your inbox for information.   

We are proud of our students who are currently excelling in and out of the classroom.  

At Cielo Vista Elementary School, a team of seven fifth graders earned a spot in the Global Finals of Destination Imagination by virtue of their third-place finish at the state competition. The global competition takes place May 20-23 and features teams from 14 different countries. I’m proud of our Bobcats for showcasing their creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills.  

An all-girls team from Herrera Elementary School claimed the top prize during last weekend’s El Paso ISD Robotics Competition at Chapin High School. Congrats to Mya Centeno, Sophia Callaway, Monika Gonzalez-Hernandez and Raylie Gonzalez-Hernandez for coming out on top in a competition that featured more than 130 teams. It was the first time Herrera Elementary took part in the event. Great work! 

On the track, 226 sixth-grade students from all 16 of our middle school campuses competed in a fun, one-mile run at three different high schools Wednesday as part of the district’s new intramurals initiative. The cross-country competition was the first of five events that will be part of the program, which debuted this year to give sixth graders an exciting, no-cost option to compete in sports including track, volleyball, basketball and flag football. It’s a great way for students to engage in healthy activities that strengthen social, emotional and academic competence. 

Two of our high school soccer teams remain in the hunt for a state championship. The Andress girls face Del Valle at 11 a.m. Saturday at Eastwood High School in the Class 5A regional quarterfinal round. Meanwhile, the Irvin boys are in Midland to play Wichita Falls at 4 p.m. today in a Class 4A regional quarterfinal. Good luck to the Eagles and Rockets! 

One of our educators garnered a high honor this week. Keithley Stanley, a campus teaching coach at Franklin High School, was named a finalist for KTSM’s 2023 Remarkable Woman award. Stanley was recognized for her impactful work in schools and her commitment to giving through the Priceless Heart Project. This initiative pays tribute to her son, who died tragically in 2019. Congrats, Mrs. Stanley! You are a shining example of the devotion we collectively share to inspire and empower our students to thrive.  

It’s a great time to be part of El Paso’s District. Registration for next year opens Monday, April 3. Click here to be part of our bright future! 

It starts with us.  

Sincerely, 

Diana Sayavedra
Superintendent of Schools

March 31, 2023