Education
Education news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
EducationSouth Texas ISD hires Sandra Garza Ochoa as new superintendent
MERCEDES, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The South Texas Independent School District Board of Trustees has voted to hire finalist Sandra Garza Ochoa as its new superintendent. On April 7, Ochoa was voted as the lone finalist for the South Texas ISD superintendent position, as previously reported on ValleyCentral. Ochoa is set to replace the former superintendent, Marco
EducationValley high school seniors surprised with full-ride scholarships
On Friday, a group of Rio Grande Valley high school seniors received unexpected news: they were awarded full-ride scholarships worth over $50,000 each from the Texas National Bank's TNB Foundation. Out of more than 2,000 applicants, 12 students were selected, including Harlingen High School senior Emily Corona. Corona expressed her joy and shared her personal journey, highlighting the challenges of growing up in a split household. She plans to attend UT San Antonio to study law, inspired by her experiences in court. Texas National Bank President Joe Quiroga emphasized the foundation's commitment to supporting families and communities.
EducationEditorial: Texas Must Defend the Integrity of Higher Education
The Texas A&M University System is taking action against an organization calling itself 'TexAM University' for operating without the necessary state authorization. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board confirmed that this entity lacks the required Certificate of Authority to grant degrees and has been misleadingly advertising STEM programs. State officials emphasized that no institution can use the term 'university' without proper approval, and violations could lead to serious penalties. The integrity of higher education in Texas is at stake, and the state is committed to ensuring that all educational institutions meet legal standards to protect students and families.
EducationTexas A&M System Demands Halt to Unauthorized Use of University Name
The Texas A&M University System has sent a cease-and-desist letter to a North Texas Muslim education organization for unauthorized use of its name and trademarks. The organization, operating as 'TexAM University,' is accused of causing confusion about its affiliation with Texas A&M. Chancellor Glenn Hegar emphasized the importance of protecting the university's name, which represents over a century of academic excellence. The Texas American Muslim Institute of Technology in Dallas is not recognized as a university by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Texas A&M is prepared to take legal action if the organization does not comply.
EducationHow STC’s Valley Promise Launched an HVACR Pro
Roel Ramirez is set to graduate from South Texas College (STC) this May with an associate degree in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR), thanks to the Valley Promise Program. This initiative covers tuition and fees after financial aid, allowing students to focus on their studies without financial stress. Ramirez, who secured a job in his field before graduating, emphasized the program's impact on his education and career. With only 19% of adults in the Rio Grande Valley holding an associate degree or higher, STC aims to improve access to higher education and transform lives through Valley Promise.
EducationMcAllen ISD recognizes Teachers of the Year 2026-2027
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The McAllen Independent School District recognized two Teachers of the Year at its 31st annual luncheon, which honors teachers from the district's 31 campuses. Alissa Shirah of Morris Middle School was honored as Secondary District Teacher of the Year. Bernadette De Leon of Escandon Elementary was honored as the Elementary District
EducationSchool nurse's dedication impacting generations of students
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — As we celebrate Nurse Appreciation Week 2026, ValleyCentral is honoring nurses across the Valley for their dedication to our community. School nurses play a big role in helping our community by educating the next generation about their health needs. Elizabeth Cisneros has been a school nurse for the last 17 years,
EducationSouth Texas College waiving student parking fines for food pantry donations
South Texas College has introduced a Parking Citation Forgiveness Program that allows students to eliminate parking fines by donating food and self-care items to the college's food pantry. Launched in February 2026, the initiative has already gathered over 1,000 items. Students can remove a parking ticket by contributing seven items, with 90 students collectively waiving around $9,000 in fines so far. Cindy Zavala, Director of Parking & Security, emphasized the positive impact of the program, noting that it helps support fellow students in need. The donations will assist 360 students enrolled in the food pantry program.
EducationTEA records show Monte Alto ISD falsified grades to inflate graduation rates
Documents obtained by Channel 5 News reveal that Monte Alto ISD falsified student grades over several years to artificially inflate graduation rates. This involved students in credit recovery programs from 2019 to 2023, which allow those with failing grades to retake classes. While the district reported graduation rates exceeding 90%, Texas Education Agency records suggest actual rates were as low as 30% to 63%. The district will change its accountability ratings to 'Not Rated: Data Integrity Issues' and has appointed a conservator to oversee operations for two years at a cost of $250 per hour, potentially impacting state funding if unpaid.
EducationValley group working with schools to fill construction worker shortage caused by ICE arrests
The ongoing ICE arrests at construction sites are significantly impacting the workforce in the Rio Grande Valley, according to RGV LEAD Executive Director Maricela De Leon. She noted that concerns about worker shortages have prompted the organization to collaborate with local school districts. Over the past year, RGV LEAD has been taking high school students to construction sites to expose them to various trades. De Leon emphasized the importance of providing students with hands-on experience. The organization plans to increase these site visits in the upcoming school year to further engage students in the construction field.
EducationBrownsville and McAllen school districts under investigation over display of Ten Commandments
The Brownsville and McAllen Independent School Districts are currently under investigation by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to verify their compliance with a state law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. This investigation follows a recent appeals court ruling that allows Texas to enforce Senate Bill 10. Nearly 30 school districts across the state are being examined, with Brownsville and McAllen being the only ones in the Rio Grande Valley mentioned. The investigation also seeks to confirm that these districts have voted on implementing prayer in schools, as required by Senate Bill 11.
EducationFree career training program opens for farmworkers
Farmworkers in the McAllen area can access free career training through a new initiative by Workforce Solutions and the MET Program. This program focuses on cattle ranching and agriculture, providing seasonal and migrant workers with the opportunity to earn a Class A or Class B commercial driver's license. Training includes both online coursework and practical driving experience, which typically costs between $4,000 and $7,000. Angela Torres from Hammer Down CDL School emphasized the importance of equipping students with in-demand skills. Funded by the National Farmworker Jobs Program, the program offers morning and evening classes, and applications are currently open with certain requirements.
EducationDue to the World Cup, Mexico Moves Up the End of the School Year to June 5
MEXICO CITY – Mexico will move the end of the 2025-2026 school year to June 5 due to the upcoming 2026 World Cup and a heatwave affecting the country, the Mexican Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) announced on Thursday. "The conclusion of the school year will be moved up to June 5," the SEP stated in a press release, following a unanimous agreement with state educational authorities. This measure will apply to public and private schools at the basic and upper secondary education levels across the country.
EducationCyberattack Affects Canvas Learning Management System
A widely used educational software appeared to be inaccessible to schools across the country on Thursday night amid an apparent cyberattack. Last week, its parent company, Instructure, reported a cyberattack on the Canvas learning management system, and although its status page indicated that the incident was resolved by Wednesday, Canvas was put into maintenance mode that afternoon. Meanwhile, Canvas became unavailable at schools nationwide, including several in Massachusetts: Harvard and MIT's sites were down, and Boston College issued a tech alert noting a 'widespread outage' of Canvas that Instructure was working to resolve. Student newspapers from each of those universities reported that on Thursday, their Canvas sites began redirecting users to a ransom message from a group of cybercriminals, giving institutions several days to pay to avoid data disclosure. The list includes thousands of schools, among them Harvard, MIT, and Boston College. Our sister station NBC10 Boston has reached out to Harvard, MIT, Boston College, and other local schools listed for comment.
EducationWhat the New College Affordability Plan Means for You
The U.S. Department of Education has announced new loan limits under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, aimed at making higher education more affordable. Starting July 1, 2026, the Grad PLUS loan program will be eliminated, reinstating borrowing limits for graduate students at $20,500 annually and $100,000 in total. The Parent PLUS program will also see new caps, limiting borrowing to $20,000 per dependent student. These changes aim to curb excessive borrowing and reduce college costs, addressing the growing student loan debt, which has reached nearly $1.7 trillion, with 25% of borrowers in default.
EducationValley father who lost battle to cancer to be honored with posthumous degree
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Rio Grande Valley man who lost his battle to cancer will be honored with a posthumous degree from South Texas College. Francisco Javier Mejia, 51, was studying to get an associate degree in Kinesiology when he was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer. Mejia's family initially thought he was sore
EducationSTC Transforms Citations into Student Support
South Texas College (STC) has launched a Parking Citation Forgiveness Program that allows students to donate food and self-care items in exchange for waiving parking fines. Since its February inception, over 1,000 items have been collected, equating to more than $9,000 in waived citations. Students can have a citation waived by donating seven qualifying items, which are often less expensive than the fines. The initiative supports the STC Food Pantry and Jaguar Self-Care Den, providing essential resources to students in need. The program has adapted to include more ready-to-eat items and personal care products, enhancing its impact on the student community.
EducationBrownsville ISD officer honored after saving 7-year-old choking student
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — During a regular board meeting on Monday, the Brownsville Independent School District honored an officer credited with saving a 7-year-old student from choking in a cafeteria. On April 24, Officer Salinas performed the Heimlich maneuver on a 7-year-old girl who was choking. Officer Salinas then cleared the obstruction and restored the
EducationSTC’s Annual Commencement Ceremonies, May 8 & 9 in Edinburg
South Texas College will hold its annual Commencement Ceremonies on May 8 and 9 in Edinburg, celebrating nearly 4,000 graduates. On Friday, three ceremonies will honor around 2,000 Dual Credit students from 21 partner school districts in Starr and Hidalgo Counties, who will graduate with college credits before receiving their high school diplomas. A special moment on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. will include a posthumous degree awarded to the family of Francisco Javier Mejia, who passed away in December. The ceremonies will take place at Bert Ogden Arena, with opportunities for photography and interviews.