$1.7 Million to Improve Math and Science Education in El Paso

The Texas Education Agency announced yesterday that El Paso schools will be getting $1.7 million as part of the Texas High School Project (THSP) Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (T-STEM) initiative.

Burnham Wood Charter School, which is opening a new campus that will serve grades 6-12, received a $700,000 T-STEM implantation grant. The grant will be used to create a T-STEM academy, which is a demonstration school and learning lab to develop innovative ways to improve math and science instruction.

An equally important part of this initiative is the creation of five regional T-STEM Centers, which will develop new science, technology, engineering and math instructional materials. As one of those Centers, UTEP has been awarded a $1 million grant to provide professional development training to teachers and school leaders. UTEP will also evaluate the practices of El Paso-region T-STEM academies to identify successful practices that can be duplicated at other schools.

We worked hard for two years to create this Center at UTEP.

UTEP has a national reputation in K-12 systemic math initiatives. El Paso will take a national lead as a center for education best practices, especially in two-way dual language, math and science initiatives.

Keep the faith!
Tu Senador

Those Who Visited:

Anne Fischel, Ph.D. visited with Senator Shapleigh to interview him for a documentary she is producing on ASARCO. Dr. Fischel is a professor at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, located in the vicinity of communities affected by the Tacoma ASARCO site.

Senator Shapleigh gave the July Adelante Con Ganas award to the El Paso District Landscape and Aesthetics Section of TxDOT. In October 20000, on Police Pride Day, Senator Shapleigh, along with many other El Pasoans formally kicked off El Paso Pride. In partnership with the Landscape Section, El Paso Pride promotes and sponsors creative community involvement programs for the beautification of the El Paso area.

Upcoming Events:

The Community Scholars (www.communityscholars.org) are conducting a series of presentations from July 12 to July 19 on a range of issues affecting the El Paso-Juárez border region. Community Scholars is a non-profit public policy and leadership program for El Paso high school students. The schedule is as follows:

NAFTA Affected Workers: Displaced or disgraced?
and Requiring Remediation: Why aren't El Paso students college-ready?
Thursday, July 13, 2006 12:00 NOON
El Paso Public Library – Main Branch
501 N. Oregon*

Uncovered: An analysis of charity health care in El Paso
Thursday, July 13, 2006 6:00 p.m.
Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, Inc.
La Fe Cultural and Technology Center, 721 S. Ochoa (rear bldg.)

The Sun City Meltdown: Mass transit in the El Paso area
Friday, July 14, 2006 12:00 NOON<
Armijo Library
620 East 7th (at Campbell)*

My Brother's Keeper: The plight of the mentally ill in El Paso
Monday, July 17, 2006 12 NOON
El Paso Independent School District, Board Room
6531 Boeing

Living Wage: A day’s fair pay
Monday, July 17, 2006 6:00 p.m.
Ysleta ISD Headquarters, Mission Room
9600 Sims

Animal Control: Sheltering our community’s shortcomings
Tuesday, July 18 2006 12:00 NOON
Armijo Library
620 East 7th (at Campbell)*

School District Consolidation: Is the savings worth the cost?
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:00 pm
Armijo Library
620 East 7th (at Campbell)*

Making the Grade: An analysis of teachers' salaries and their impact on student achievement
Wednesday, July 19, 2005 12 NOON
Ysleta ISD Headquarters, Ysleta Room
9600 Sims

Encore Summary: A Presentation by Community Scholars
On All Nine 2006 topics
Wednesday, July 19, 2006 6:00 pm
Canutillo High School Auditorium
6675 South Desert Boulevard

All presentations are one hour, including Q & A sessions
For more information or directions to the events, please call Community Scholars at 533-6200.

*Please plan on street parking at downtown locations