Wynn Rosser has been involved in all levels of colleges and universities for more than 30 years, but one of the more important things on his mind these days is what is going on in middle schools – or perhaps what is not going on in middle schools.
Rosser, the seventh commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, will be the keynote speaker at the second annual Education Matters Summit in El Paso on Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Starlight Event Center, 6650 Continental Drive. About 125 elected officials, business leaders, teachers and education administrators are expected to attend. The THECB oversees public universities and community colleges, including evaluating academic programs, managing financial aid programs and offering data and analysis for policy decisions.
The Council on Regional Economic Expansion and Educational Development, or CREEED, organizes these summits to highlight progress, engagement and innovations in the local public school systems that lead to success in postsecondary education and the workforce. The nonprofit works to increase college readiness and completion rates of El Paso-area students.
Rosser said that he plans to talk about the state’s strong economy – the world’s eighth largest with a 2023 GDP of about $2.7 trillion – and the need for more Texans to earn anything from six-month credentials to graduate research work to build on that level of achievement.
He lamented that only about 25% of eighth graders in Texas earn any degree or credential beyond high school. To him, the mission is to reach out to the other 75% and remind them that many jobs of the future will require a postsecondary education.
“That’s my call to action,” he said.
The THECB leader’s appeal goes for people outside the usual age of college students.
He wants more high school students to take dual credit courses because the successful completion of at least 15 credit hours is a good indicator that the person can succeed in college. Additionally, he wants institutions to be more open to adults who want to return to college to learn more about their fields or to learn about a different career.
“We need to do a better job with all age demographics to reach those (statewide) goals,” he said.
One of the day’s panels, “Career Connected Schools,” will involve employers and educators who will talk about how to create pathways for students to learn what they need to get the job that they want. That fits into the THECB’s “Building a Talent Strong Texas” plan that aligns with the goals of House Bill 8.
That bill, passed by legislators in 2023, introduced a new results-oriented funding formula for community colleges. For example, institutions get additional funds as more high school students complete at least 15 hours of college courses, or if college students graduate with a credential of value, or transfer to a four-year university. Since its introduction, most if not all community colleges have earned more money through the new system.
“It’s a fantastic policy tool, and again, entirely aligned with the direction that we know the state needs to go to ensure that more Texans earn credentials that matter in this economy,” Rosser said.
Eddie Rodriguez, executive director of CREEED, said panelists and presenters will talk about their programs that have had an impact in the educational attainment of high school students whether it be college completion or the pursuit of a credential.
“I think over time, it’s starting to become clear that El Paso has some things to offer in connection with educational innovation and the success associated with those results,” Rodriguez said.
The CREEED leader said the “Career Connected Schools” panel will discuss how K-12 school districts, El Paso Community College and industry have aligned to prepare students for in-demand jobs. He said it was the first time that the event has gone in-depth with a higher education component.
EPCC President William Serrata called the summit an important opportunity to convene state and local leaders and engage the community. Serrata, who is listed among the event’s speakers, played a key role in the planning and execution of HB 8, and its success at the college.
“Together, we are better able to build pathways for our students and strengthen our region’s workforce,” Serrata said in a statement. “By collaborating with our educational as well as business and industry partners, EPCC is advancing student success and innovation.”
The event also will include the presentation of the first Richard Castro Award, which honors the vision and leadership of Castro, an El Paso businessman and philanthropist who was among the prime movers in 2014 to launch CREEED.
Rodriguez said the award will recognize an educator who has made a significant impact with a project or initiative. The hope is that more people will understand the reasons behind it, emulate it and scale it up to benefit more students.
The initial recipient of the Castro Award is the University of Texas at El Paso’s Erika Mein, associate dean of Academic Affairs in the College of Education and professor of teacher education.
CREEED staff and board members selected her because of her efforts to start the Miner Teacher Residency Program six years ago. The goal was to make student-teachers “classroom ready” prior to graduation.
The program initially placed student teachers in classrooms at two elementary school campuses as part of a paid, yearlong internship. The students co-taught alongside experienced mentor teachers. The students also were supported by College of Education faculty members stationed at the campuses. Prior to that, the only option for student teachers was an unpaid semester-long internship.
Today, the program assigns some student-teachers to middle schools and the goal is to involve high schools in the future.
Rodriguez said a testament to the program’s success is the state’s decision to fund similar residencies around the state through House Bill 2, which was passed this summer.
Mein did not respond to a request for a comment.
Among the plan’s initial financial backers were CREEED, the El Paso Community Foundation and Workforce Solutions Borderplex. The program also received technical support from University-School Partnerships for the Renewal of Educator Preparation, or US PREP.
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