By Diana Sayavedra
The eyes that gazed back at me were full of the unique mix of hope and excitement that can only be found in students. The year was 1990 and even then, as a seventh-grade writing teacher, I was keenly aware of the enormous responsibility and honor bestowed on teachers.
The passion that drove me then drives me now in my role as superintendent of the El Paso Independent School District – to put every student on a path and in an environment to succeed, reinforcing our commitment to becoming a true destination district.
Our district, the largest and oldest in the region, has a rich history that spans a century and a half. The best way to honor that history is to invest in the future the children of El Paso represent.
When I first became superintendent, the community made their expectations clear: they wanted modern learning environments, their children to be prepared for college and careers, and above all else, trust in the district.
Trust is a sacred thing, and there are no shortcuts to achieving it. That is why I have led a transparent administration that invites dialogue along with scrutiny, and why my administration has taken on the biggest challenges our district faces, even if it involves difficult conversations.
The “Hopes and Dreams Strategic Blueprint” outlines our comprehensive plan focusing on whole child development, academic excellence, and a targeted approach to equity. These systems are designed to ensure that all students, regardless of background, receive a high-quality education, reinforcing our commitment to becoming a true destination district.
Now, we stand at the threshold of a new era. Today, we are working hand in hand with students, families, businesses, and community leaders to build a district system that reflects the aspirations of our city. Achieving the vision of becoming an A-rated destination district will require hard decisions, sacrifices, and rethinking how we allocate resources to support our students and educators. Every child deserves the opportunity to be empowered and inspired to thrive, and we are committed to making that a reality.
I am very proud of what we’ve already achieved together:
A curriculum implementation supported by high quality instructional materials;
Increase in early childhood offerings through full day Pre-K3 and first public Montessori;
Increase in whole child development opportunities through intramural sports, Kickstart, extended day and after school programming;
A 7% increase in college, career and military readiness rate;
An investment in human capital and the ability to attract top leadership talent;
An increase in positive perceptions of El Paso’s district by over 50%;
A 3% Increase in the out-of-district transfer-in rate;
A “AAA” bonds rating from both Fitch Ratings and Moody’s, backed by the Texas Permanent School Fund’s guarantee.
While we’ve achieved much together, many challenges remain. Specifically, declining student enrollment, aging facilities, underutilized schools, and less-than-optimal learning environments force us to consider right-sizing our district, a decision that I do not take lightly.
Schools are an important thread in the tapestry of our communities. They are so much more than buildings. They are vessels of our history, our legacies, our EPISD family’s stories.
I have experienced first-hand from our community what their neighborhood schools mean to them and as I look into the landscape that defines the horizon of our city, I see an El Paso ISD where it is possible for our students to write their own legacies and shape their futures. To reach what is possible we must allocate resources effectively in service to our children.
As an educator with decades of experience, I understand the importance of quality teachers, strong schools, and engaged communities. I was that teacher myself, wanting the proper support to serve my students. None of this is possible without the greatest investment we can make: in education itself.
Education is the cornerstone of our society and the foundation for tomorrow’s leaders and innovators. The return on this investment is immeasurable and benefits the entire community.
I strongly believe that education is the great equalizer. Vested interests, nationally and locally, are already attacking and working to dismantle access to public K-12 education. We must stand together to preserve and strengthen our public education system for not just our children now, but for future generations. That is the responsibility El Pasoans have entrusted to me and to the Board of Trustees.
At this defining moment in our district’s history, I ask you to join me on this journey as we build on El Paso ISD’s 140-year legacy and transform El Paso’s district from good to great!
Many of you remember the difficult days when public trust in our schools was severely shaken. From the corruption scandal that led to a state intervention in 2012 to the efforts to rebuild under new leadership, El Paso ISD has been tested time and time again.
Through it all, our schools remained the heart of this community — educating leaders, innovators, and everyday heroes who go on to shape our city, our state, and our nation’s future. Today, let us turn the page and start this new chapter for El Paso ISD, where our district not only honors the best of our past but also shines as a beacon of excellence for generations to come.
Diana Sayavedra is superintendent of El Paso Independent School District.
The post Opinion: A new chapter for El Paso ISD’s students and community appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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