Some 7,000 employees in the Socorro Independent School District were revved up with energetic music and positive vibes as they gathered to kick off the 2022-2023 school year at the SISD convocation July 25 at the UTEP Don Haskins Center.
SISD employees returned with enthusiasm ready for the lively program that featured performances from the Socorro High School Mariachi Ensemble, the Montwood High School Emerald Dancers, and the Pebble Hills High School Jazz Ensemble, and appearances by the high school cheerleaders, drum lines, pep bands and mascots.
Superintendent Nate Carman, Ed.D., welcomed back the faculty and staff, highlighting the district’s achievements and challenges, and encouraged Team SISD to move forward with a confident mindset to adjust and proactively work toward achievement.
“It’s our turn to seize our opportunity as individuals, school teams and departments, and as a district to reset, refocus, restart,” Dr. Carman said. “Our students, our community, we ourselves deserve our best today and every day moving forward.”
Keynote speaker Inky Johnson also delivered an inspirational message with his story of perseverance and determination. He encouraged SISD employees to “find your gratitude and capture your peace” as they prepared to welcome back students and get back to teaching and learning.
“I am extremely excited for the new school year,” said Perla Lozoya, a fourth-grade teacher at the new Ben Narbuth Elementary School, which will be the 50th school in the Socorro district. “We will provide our kids with the best education possible, they have a brand-new school, with amazing facilities, so I know it will be a great school year.”
Teachers from all over the district were excited to see each other at the convocation. Elenora Stevens, a fifth-grade teacher at Cactus Trails Elementary School, said she is ready to wake up every morning with a grateful heart and focus on her students’ education.
“Convocation really motivated me to be the best teacher I can be,” Stevens said. “If there’s one thing I can take away from today, it would be the slogan, reset, refocus, restart.”
Maryanne Vasquez, a first-grade bilingual teacher at Benito Martinez Elementary, said the convocation left her looking forward to the school year ahead.
“Today was very exciting to be able to get together like this with all the schools,” Vasquez said. “There is just lots of energy and positive vibes for the next year.”
Marisol Luna, a reading language arts teacher at Sun Ridge Middle School, said it was important to start the year off together with the entire Team SISD community.
“It’s like a fresh start and it left me feeling empowered,” Luna said. “It’s great to see everybody come together and see what we are capable of when we all come together for our students.”
The spirited soundtrack of dance hits, rap, and rock songs spanning the decades motivated and energized the teachers, principals, coaches, support staff and all employees at the convocation.
Catherine Colorado-Ibarra, a career and technical education professional communications teacher at Americas High School, said the entire event from the music to the speech by the event’s keynote speaker was motivational.
“I loved the mariachis!” Colorado-Ibarra said. “It was so much fun and pumped everyone up.”
By popular demand, 2022 SISD Convocation playlist
2022 SISD Convocation photo gallery
Published July 29, 2022
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