Get ready for new school year: Important dates, changes in El Paso districts

Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times
Updated ·7 min read

If you've been enjoying your summer, you probably haven't thought much about school.

But it's probably a good idea to start organizing study areas at home, buy back-to-school supplies or clothes and note what's new in school districts in and around El Paso for 2023-24.

San Elizario district will move to a four-day school week when school officially starts July 25. The district will be closed on Mondays.

The move was approved by the San Elizario ISD Board of Trustees in January. The district will be the only one with a four-day schedule in El Paso County.

When is the first day of school?

Here is a glance at the first day of school for the major school districts.

  • Ysleta ISD: July 31.

  • Socorro ISD: July 31.

  • El Paso ISD: Aug. 7.

  • Anthony ISD: Aug. 31.

  • Canutillo ISD: July 31.

  • Clint ISD: July 24.

  • Fabens ISD: Aug. 1.

  • Harmony: Aug. 14.

  • La Fe Preparatory: Aug. 7.

  • San Elizario ISD: July 25.

  • Tornillo ISD: July 31.

  • Gasden ISD: July 31.

School districts supplying basic supplies

Gasden ISD, El Paso ISD and Ysleta ISD are supplying basic supplies such as composition books, pens, pencils for their students.

Back-to-school celebrations; supplies giveaways

The city in partnership with other groups will have a free backpack and school supply giveaway as part of its citywide 3K Walk/Run series, starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 29 at Marty Robbins Park, 11600 Vista Del Sol Dr.

The event will begin with a 3K Walk/Run for families through the park followed by the giveaway, on a first-come, first-served basis to school-age children. Visitors mush walk or run around the park at least one time to receive the free backpack. There also will be free haircut vouchers from Montana Barber Institute, and hot dogs provided by the El Paso Rams Football Club.

Backpacks and school supplies have been donated by Raiz FCU, PBC, Premier Primary Care Clinic, El Paso Public Health Department, and El Paso Rams Football Club.

El Paso ISD will have a districtwide celebration called El Paso ISD Fiesta. The event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at 10 high schools in the district. The El Paso ISD Fiesta aims to foster a stronger connection between district campuses and the communities they serve.

The sites for the fiesta: Andress, Austin, Bowie, Burges, Chapin, Coronado, El Paso, Franklin, Irvin and Jefferson.

New principal, administrator changes in El Paso school districts

Here are the changes that some schools will see when they return to the classroom for the 2023-24 school year.

Ysleta district principal changes

Mission Valley Elementary School will have a new principal, Rubina Flores-Jurado.

Rubina Flores-Jurado is the new principal of Mission Valley Elementary School.
Rubina Flores-Jurado is the new principal of Mission Valley Elementary School.

Flores-Jurado, who was the assistant principal at Bel Air Middle School, began her career in education as a registrar and attendance clerk at Cesar Chavez Academy. During her tenure in education, she has also served as a sixth- and seventh-grade teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. She holds a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master's degree in education administration from the University of Texas at El Paso.

EPISD principal changes

Lilia Aguilera, Dana Boyd and Michelle Romero are new Executive Principals for Elementary. The three executive principals will provide instructional leadership to principals through coaching and support for student achievement and the development of high academic standards. They also will assist the assistant superintendent of elementary schools in ensuring principals maximize their capacity to improve teaching and learning by providing coaching and training.

Aguilera, who has been with El Paso ISD since 2002, was promoted to executive principal from principal at Hughey Elementary School, where she served for nine years. During her tenure in El Paso ISD, she has served as an assistant principal at Lamar Elementary School and has taught at MacArthur PK-8 School and Vilas Elementary School. Aguilera is also currently a Deloitte University Courageous Principal Program educator facilitator. She received a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's in administration and supervision from the University of Phoenix.

Boyd, the 2007 Texas Teacher of the Year, comes to El Paso ISD after serving as principal at Parkland and East Point elementary schools in Ysleta ISD, where she also was an elementary school teacher and assistant principal. Boyd has served two terms on the National Assessment Governing Board, an appointment from the Secretary of Education, and is currently serving as a member of the NAEP Principals Panel Standing Committee with the U.S. Department of Education. She received her bachelor's of education degree and master's in educational leadership and administration from UTEP.

Romero comes to El Paso ISD from Ysleta ISD, where she was a principal at Mission Valley Elementary School and Tierra del Sol Elementary School. Romero also served as principal of Hurshel Antwine Elementary School and an assistant principal at Lujan-Chavez Elementary School and Americas High School in Socorro ISD. She graduated from UTEP with a bachelor's of interdisciplinary studies and a master of art degree in teaching.

El Paso ISD has named new principals at three elementary and middle schools.

The new principals are Yeni Ontiveros, Magoffin Middle School; Sarah James, Logan Elementary School; Julie Parra, Bliss Elementary School; and Edwin Barber, Western Hills Elementary School.

Ontiveros was promoted to principal of Magoffin Middle School from principal at Duran Elementary School. She was previously a principal at Dowell and Dowell/Schuster during the Bond 2016 consolidation of the schools, which later became Duran Elementary School. Ontiveros has a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies in bilingual education and a master's in educational administration and leadership from UTEP.

James was promoted from assistant principal at Don Haskins PK-8 School. She was previously an assistant principal at MacArthur PK-8 Schools and the new tech administrator at Brown Middle School. A proud Franklin High School graduate, James has more than 18 years of experience in education, mostly in El Paso ISD, including five years as the student activities manager at her alma mater. James graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. She received her master's in educational leadership from West Texas A&M University.

Parra was promoted to principal of Bliss Elementary School from assistant principal of MacArthur PK-8 School. Parra was previously a high school counselor at Chapin High School and Silva Health Magnet. She also has been an Advanced Placement Ambassador for El Paso ISD. She graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Master of Education degree in counseling.

Barber was promoted to principal of Western Hills Elementary from assistant principal at Don Haskins PK-8. He also served as a testing coordinator and assistant principal at Coronado High School, a testing coordinator at Jefferson/Silva, and a teacher at Burges High School, the Center for Career and Technology Education, and Franklin High School. He has a bachelor's degree in secondary education from the University of Michigan and a master's in educational administration from UTEP.

Fabens ISD principal changes

The Fabens Independent School District has announced the appointment of Veronica Brashear as the new Fabens Elementary School principal for the 2023-24 school year.

Brashear was recently appointed assistant principal at the Alfonso Borrego Sr. Elementary in San Elizario. She holds 25 years of experience in education. She was a teacher for 16 years and has been an administrator for nine years. She is also an ethics trainer.

The Fabens Independent School District Board of Trustees have appointed Diane Flores as the new director of Special Education.
The Fabens Independent School District Board of Trustees have appointed Diane Flores as the new director of Special Education.

The Fabens Independent School District Board of Trustees appointed Diane Flores as the new director of Special Education.

Flores has 28 years of experience in special education. She was the Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialist in her most recent appointment with Socorro ISD.

The Fabens Independent School District Board of Trustees have appointed Diane Flores as the new director of Special Education.
The Fabens Independent School District Board of Trustees have appointed Diane Flores as the new director of Special Education.

"It is an honor to begin serving the Wildcat community as your Special Education Director. I believe that when opportunities are without limits, all learners will achieve greatness. My plan is to build on Fabens' cultivation of a growth mindset and support the wildcat community with positivity, enthusiasm, and innovation. As we embark in this new journey, I look forward in working together in assuring that student success is our priority. Together, we will achieve Wildcat greatness!" stated Flores.

Flores's first day with Fabens ISD will be July 24.

Socorro ISD new principal

Greta Brasgalla is the new principal at SSG. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School.

Brasgalla began her career in education as a teacher at a private school. She has been with Socorro district for 25 years and served as a teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. Before being named principal at Puentes Middle School, she was an assistant principal at Eastlake High School. She holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, both from the University of Texas at El Paso.

María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150, mcortes@elpasotimes.com and @EPTMaria on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: When is the first day of school? Details to know about upcoming year