El Paso ISD opens new Tinajero PK-8 school in Central El Paso

El Paso Independent School District celebrated the completion of its new school Dr. Josefina Villamil Tinajero PK-8 School Friday morning.

The new campus combines the former Clardy Elementary School and Henderson Middle School with 1,200 students in Central El Paso, an EPISD news release stated.

The new $39.1 million facility features modern learning spaces, a new gymnasium, a library, a fine arts section and student drop-off zones, the news release stated.

The namesake of the campus and alumna of Clardy Elementary and Henderson Middle School, Josefina V. Tinajero, Ed.D., believes the new school will improve education and the quality of life around the community.

According to the University of Texas at El Paso's website, she's a professor of bilingual education, dean of UTEP's College of Education from 2004 to 2013, an expert in the field of bilingual education and cultural equity, and much more, Tinajero believes in the power of bilingualism.

An advocate for dual language programming in schools, she hopes to improve educational opportunities for all children, especially English learners.

"I stand ready to help you to continue to expand and enhance the programs that already exist in the El Paso Independent School District," Tinajero said.

Tinajero said she had many dreams as a child, but never in her wildest dreams would she have guessed she would attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony that would join the two schools she once attended.

In 2018 the EPISD board of trustees decided to have the new campus named after Tinajero.

"The impact of passing the El Paso bond program is significant, not only in dollars, but as it relates to the overall benefit to our students. We have made an impact in the areas of safety and security technology, transportation upgrades, modernized athletic facilities, new playgrounds, and 17 modernized construction projects, including this beautiful Tinajero campus," Al Velarde, EPISD board president, said. "Thank you, voters of El Paso ISD, for entrusting us to do the right thing for our students, our educators and our community."

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Diana Sayavedra, EPISD superintendent, said the district is thrilled to have an active education community member to be the campus namesake, the news release stated.

"New schools are more than just beautiful buildings, They give educators the most up-to-date technology. Which in turn, empower students, giving them a better learning experience," Sayavedra said.

Daniel Montoya, Tinajero PK-8 principal , wanted Tinajero to feel at home at the new campus and presented her with a key to the school.

Anthony Marquez, an eighth grade student, said being able to experience the campus before he leaves for high school is bittersweet.

"It feels nice that I'm able to end off my years in a new school; it was great to be in this new building. The bitter part comes because I really enjoyed the school and I really enjoyed my time here."

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: EPISD opens Dr. Josefina Villamil Tinajero PK-8 School