The Escontrias STEAM Academy in the Socorro Independent School District celebrated the 100th anniversary of the school with a celebration event May 18 at the campus.
Escontrias students, parents, employees, alumni, district and campus staff, and community members attended the event to honor the school’s longevity and achievement over the years. The campus was the first to open in the district and has since served countless students establishing a long legacy of success in Socorro ISD.
The festival including a car show, food trucks, vendors, and entertainment by students from Escontrias and Socorro High School, such as cheerleaders and dance groups. Escontrias STEAM Academy principal Jesse Aguirre welcomed the community, read aloud two resolutions from the City of Socorro and State Senator Cesar Blanco that honored the 100th anniversary of the Escontrias campus and introduced and thanked the members of the Escontrias family.
He said there is a long tradition of excellence at the school with hundreds of success stories among the students and staff that have attended and worked at the school. The celebration was a great way to honor all the individuals who have contributed to the school.
“Today, we just want to celebrate and have a good time and honor the legacy that Escontrias has had these past 100 years,” Aguirre said. “We have generations of family members here that have come through this school, gone to Socorro Middle and graduated from Socorro High School. We have teachers who originally were students here. We have people from the district that are leaders, directors that came through these doors and were educated here and are now serving the district.”
Escontrias first-grade teacher and the campus Teacher of the Year Cristina Dominguez said she was proud to help celebrate the milestone anniversary with the community and to be part of the school’s rich history.
“We have come a long way. We have been shaping minds of our students throughout the years and it’s really a privilege and an honor to be working here at Escontrias. We have had the opportunity to witness tremendous growth because of our academic programs, our extracurricular activities, and our facilities,” Dominguez said. “It is a great honor and we have great pride in serving all the students and families that have come through Escontrias. We are glad they are here today joining us and we are grateful for the Escontrias family, as well.”
In 1921, Socorro trustee and Texas Ranger Silverio Escontrias donated land at U.S. Highway 80 and Buford Road to the district for a school site, according to a historical account of Socorro ISD. Escontrias School opened in 1924 on that land and was one of the largest schools in the county at the time. The school evolved and has served hundreds of students over the years.
Irene Escontrias Sanchez is the granddaughter of Silverio and Pilar Escontrias and daughter of Carlos and Mary Escontrias. She said her grandfather’s vision was for the school to include all students in the community during a time when segregated schools still existed.
“He just wanted a school that was for everyone and that was exactly what came to be. The school was built on the land that was theirs and it was an all-inclusive school, which was his dream,” Escontrias Sanchez said. “He did not want any difference between races, male, female. So, 100 years later, we stand here on the land that used to be part of the family and was donated for the school.”
She said that the Escontrias family members also attended the school and throughout the years the family has always been embraced at the school. The have been welcomed to celebrate special events, such as the 25th anniversary of the school and when the school’s name was officially changed to Escontrias.
“We appreciate everyone who has always strived to honor the family, honor my grandparents. I think they are looking down with pride. We no longer have my parents, but I just feel that everything that they have given to the community is going to continue ten-fold,” Escontrias Sanchez said. “It came back to them in return in a wonderful family, many of us are educators, many of us have also gone to serve in law enforcement. I am proud of our family and what they have become in that legacy of education in helping our community.”
In most recent years, Escontrias Elementary School has been serving students in Pre-K through fifth grade. The school was renovated and launched as the Escontrias STEAM Academy for the 2022-2023 school year. It is a first-of-its kind new school of choice that gives students in Pre-K through fifth grade unique, hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
Students at Escontrias receive STEAM instruction with state-of-the-art technologies in specialized labs, as well as core curriculum and traditional elementary school experiences.
“I’ve been here for 10 years. I’ve seen this campus develop and I’m proud to be here as principal of Escontrias STEAM Academy,” Aguirre said. “We offer science, technology, engineering, arts and math integrated into the curriculum on a daily basis. The STEM curriculum is special and it’s very different from other campuses and we are very proud that we have evolved into that.”
In July 2023, Escontrias STEAM Academy was the first school in West Texas, third in the state, and fourth in the nation to earn a National Certificate for STEM Excellence (NCSE) - Campus Certification from the National Institute for STEM Education (NISE). In addition, Escontrias STEAM Academy teachers and administrators also earned the National Certificate for STEM Teaching (NCST), further contributing to the school’s collective STEM expertise.
Students at the event said they are proud to attend Escontrias. They enjoyed the anniversary celebration with friends and family.
Fifth-grader Alvaro Salas said his time at Escontrias since he started in kindergarten has been amazing. He was eager to take part in the dunking booth at the festival.
“It’s pretty fun. I like it. There’s a lot of stuff to do and there are good things to eat,” Salas said.
Emma Ubanda, who began her education as a Pre-Kindergarten student at Escontrias, is now a third-grader. She said her favorite thing about the school is that it has been around for 100 years and she loves her teachers.
“I can’t believe I came here when I was very little and I can’t believe that the school is turning 100 years old,” Ubanda said. “The teachers here are really nice. They don’t give up teaching us new things."