Montwood High School students in the Synergi4 STEM and P-TECH Advanced Academy spent a day during the fall intersession highlighting the opportunities they are seizing in their unique programs to gain college credits and advanced instruction.
The Synergi4 STEM and P-TECH Advanced Academy event also showcased how a $240,000 grant awarded to the Socorro Independent School District from Educate Texas is enhancing the students’ education in those programs.
The grant was awarded to support and expand the district’s Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) programs. SISD’s progress with the P-TECH programs is garnering attention as a model district that is partnering well with El Paso Community College, the Texas Education Agency, and Educate Texas to give more students opportunities to be college and career ready.
“Our goal is for this grant to create service and share practices that support Socorro ISD and the network at large with ECHS and P-TECH implementation and expansion,” said Chris Coxon, managing director for Educate Texas.
The district’s P-TECH programs allow students to attain a college certificate and/or an associate degree. The degree pathways for P-TECHs are dedicated to specific career areas at four SISD high schools. Degree pathways in education, biomedical or engineering are offered at Montwood High School.
At the showcase event, students and leaders presented the hands-on, real-world learning opportunities and engaging training that is available in the Synergi and P-TECH programs, which will be enhanced by the grant. Some 400 students are instructed by 25 teachers in the programs at Montwood.
“This money means that we can provide more for our students,” said Cynthia Hernandez, Synergi coordinator at Montwood High School. “And the more we do for our students and put into our program, the more we can give back to our community.”
Bradley Jacobo, a senior who is taking college level classes at EPCC, said he is in his fourth year in the biomedical program. He plans to pursue biology after high school and apply to medical school.
“This has meant everything to me because not only did it help me transition into high school, but it also helped me discover my passion for science,” Jacobo said.
Jacobo was a presenter at the showcase along with Andrea Rodriguez, a senior who is in the education pathway and wants to become a teacher.
“Honestly, this (program) is one of the greatest opportunities and I will forever be grateful for it,” Rodriguez said. “I thank the district a lot because it has benefited me to realize teaching is my calling and I have such a passion for it.”
Students in the biomedical, engineering and teaching programs talked to visiting middle school students about various aspects of their learning. They gave a demonstration of a dissection, showed how to properly perform CPR, and presented how to speak effectively in a classroom setting.
The middle school students also had the opportunity to work with high school student mentors in preparation for their transition to secondary education.
The showcase concluded with a student panel where program participants answered questions from representatives from the TEA, Educate Texas and EPCC. They discussed their personal experiences in the programs and how they have prepared them for post-secondary education and future careers.
“Today was important for our partners to see what’s happening, the growth in our students, and what partnerships we can continue to strengthen but more importantly for them to see how they can continue to help us to produce quality students -- students that want to be here, want to thrive in their profession, and become overall well rounded in their future professions,” Hernandez said.
Socorro ISD is committed to being a demonstration site for other districts in the area to learn from and to collaborate with different stakeholders involved with the P-TECH and early college programs.
The launch of the P-TECH programs at Montwood, El Dorado, Eastlake and Pebble Hills High Schools has proven to be successful in SISD. Plans are under way to open more P-TECHs at the other SISD comprehensive high schools.
“Thank you to SISD for the work that you are doing to provide these opportunities to Socorro ISD students to earn associate degrees, certificates and industry-based certifications through these programs,” Coxon said.
Synergi4 STEM and P-TECH Advanced Academy showcase event photos