After years of successful teaching in the classroom, three Socorro Independent School District teachers are heading to the principal’s office.
With support from the Texas Tech Principal Fellows Program, Yessica Irigoyen-Tristan, Hector Perez and Christina Reveco graduated with a master's degree in educational leadership from Texas Tech University’s College of Education in August, ready to pursue new career opportunities as school leaders.
“My professional plans are to become an administrator that can advocate for the needs of the students, teachers, and the community,” said Irigoyen-Tristan, whose next step is to become an assistant principal.
The Principal Fellows Program at Texas Tech partners with school districts to train their currently employed teachers into principals and assistant principals.
Teachers undergo an intensive, 15-month administrator residency, learning from mentor principals and Texas Tech faculty coaches.
During the residency, candidates complete a master’s degree in educational leadership online at no cost through Texas Tech and earn a principal certification.
Since 2021, Socorro ISD has received funding from the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) Principal Preparation grant program to partner with Texas Tech University on the Principal Fellows Program.
SISD welcomed three new fellows, Andrea Carrasco, Miranda DeBretto and John Espinoza, after the grant was renewed earlier this year. Carrasco will complete her residency at Desert Wind School, DeBretto has been assigned to Horizon Heights Elementary, and Espinoza is interning at Hurshel Antwine Middle School.
Vanessa de León, J.D., Ed.D., assistant professor in Texas Tech’s College of Education, said Socorro ISD was the right district for Texas Tech to partner with because of its innovative practices, focus on improving student outcomes, and location in a bicultural community.
“(The Principal Fellows Program) doesn't just build the next generation of principal leader, it also helps strengthen the systems within the school districts because a number of times a lot of the practices, the strategies, the interventions that are brought in from the university are also adopted simultaneously by the campus principal and used to improve student achievement,” de León said. So, it's a very strong partnership between TEA, TTU and Socorro ISD, all focused on improving student outcomes.”
Reveco plans to apply the knowledge she gained during her residency at O'Shea Keleher Whole Child Academy to her new role at the school as the academy coordinator. Reveco said during her residency at O’Shea, she worked on several data-driven projects focused on the professional development of teachers. Under the guidance of her mentor, Principal Laura Garcia, Reveco said the hands-on training helped her develop her leadership skills and make a positive impact on students’ education.
“I'm able to use all the learning I gained during the fellowship to help students, educators, and the community with the transition of the school becoming an academy and in leading all things related to the academy,” said Reveco, an educator for 10 years.
Hector Perez has taught in Socorro ISD for eight years. After working as a WIN Academy teacher at Robert R. Rojas Elementary for seven years, Perez decided it was time for a new challenge. He wanted to continue advocating for his students’ best interests but on a different level. Perez applied to and was accepted into the Principal Fellows program along with Irigoyen-Tristan and Reveco.
“Learning about the issues that we have in education, especially post-pandemic, I did feel that me going for this fellowship and transition into leadership would have a bigger impact not just on my students, but also the adults in education in the community,” said Perez, a 2017-18 Teacher of the Year.
During his residency at Montwood High School, Perez worked with his mentor, former Montwood Principal Carlos Guerra, on an equity audit. Based on 2022 end-of-course (EOC) data, they identified and helped 30 seniors at risk of not graduating achieve their high school diplomas.
Perez, a graduate from Mission Early College High School, hopes to work as an assistant principal at SISD.
“I'm ready to seize a brand-new opportunity with Team SISD,” Perez said. “SISD has provided me with endless opportunities throughout my entire life, and I want to serve my community and Team SISD for as long as they will have me.”
Irigoyen-Tristan attended SISD schools all her life, including Myrtle Cooper Elementary School and Captain Walter E. Clarke Middle School. An Americas High School graduate, Irigoyen-Tristan started her teaching career at El Dorado High School eight years ago. Since then, she has had different positions, including serving as a SCEI coach at Socorro Middle School before transitioning to her residency under former Sun Ridge Middle School Principal David Hererra.
She said the hands-on experience she gained through the program has better prepared her to fill an assistant principal role.
“I’m very thankful to Team SISD and everybody who helped us throughout this process, especially my mentor principal, who assisted me, and I was able to take on this responsibility and learn so much,” Irigoyen-Tristan said.