More than 5,000 Socorro Independent School District employees kicked off the 2023-24 school year with high-energy fanfare at the SISD Convocation on July 25. High school cheerleaders, drum lines, pep bands, mascots and fireworks revved up the crowd at the annual back-to-school event, which also featured an exceptional performance by the Socorro ISD Faculty Mariachi group.
Pyrotechnics shot up from behind the stage as Superintendent Nate Carman, Ed.D., welcomed faculty and staff to Convocation, which took place for the first time at the El Paso County Coliseum. He discussed the district’s achievements and challenges and encouraged Team SISD to continue working hard and build on the opportunities unlocked over the past year so students and staff can reach even greater heights this new school year.
“This was a very exciting beginning to the school year,” Dr. Carman said after the event. “We brought everyone together at the Coliseum and expressed the need for engagement and got them excited to be back at work for the year. This was a great positive event, and it sets the bar even higher for the 2024 Convocation.”
The motivational lineup included keynote Weston Kieschnick, an award-winning educator and best-selling author, who inspired SISD teachers to become more engaged with their students using the five-point roadmap in his book, “The Educator’s Atlas.”
Fifth-grade teacher Marissa Pantoja said she was ready to engage her students at Élfida P. Chávez Elementary.
“We’re ready,” Pantoja said. “These kids are excited to be back. We have a lot of new teachers coming in. They’re a little nervous, but that’s okay. The veterans will take care of them. I’m happy to be back. I love what I do. We have our hard days, but the main key is to take it day by day.”
Employees from across the district rocked the convocation, waving glow sticks, and cheering for each other and their favorite school.
Lizbeth Reyes, an Algebra II teacher at El Dorado High School, said the convocation was an excellent way to pump up teachers before the school year started. She was excited to meet her new students on the first day of school and empower them with knowledge throughout the year.
“Convocation is a good way to start us off on a good note and get us excited about the new school year and break down all the things we will be doing for the year,” Reyes said.
Americas High School math teachers Eduardo Jimenez and Alex Gonzalez enjoyed the convocation’s hype before the start of the school year.
“You see the other schools,” Jimenez said. “You see their enthusiasm and a little bit of hype before starting the school year and going into your routine.”
For Maribel Garcia, Socorro High School’s campus secretary, watching the parade of schools at the start of the convocation was one of the event’s major highlights.
“It’s really nice to see the teachers come back and have them get together,” Garcia said. “We get to see all the schools get together, and it’s super exciting when they start announcing all the schools.”
Angelica Zubia, assistant principal at Mission Early College High School and educator for 16 years, has attended several convocations since she was a teacher in SISD. She said the event helps invigorate teachers for the new school year.
“The best part of being here is the camaraderie of all of us being together,” Zubia said. “We’re like a big family. We got this, and we’re in this together. We’re ready for our kids.”
For a look back at SISD’s 2023-24 Convocation, check out check out the highlight video, playlist and photos from the event.
2023 SISD Convocation playlist