EL PASO, Texas (Dec. 5, 2024) – The Hopper-Dean Center of Excellence for K-12 Computer Science Education at The University of Texas at El Paso’s College of Education celebrated six outstanding educators as the 2024-2025 Hopper-Dean K-12 Fellows during a recognition ceremony on Dec. 4.
The Hopper-Dean Center of Excellence for K-12 Computer Science Education at The University of Texas at El Paso’s College of Education honored six outstanding educators as the 2024-2025 Hopper-Dean K-12 Fellows during a recognition ceremony on Dec. 4 at the DoubleTree Hotel in El Paso. The 2024-2025 Fellows are (from left to right): Luz Aguirre-Rodriguez, El Paso High School, EPISD; Priscilla Terrazas, Anthony Middle School, Anthony ISD; Jose Luis Silva, Tornillo High School, Tornillo ISD; Berenice Sotelo, Northwest Early College High School, Canutillo ISD; David Esquivel, Northwest Early College High School, Canutillo ISD; and Rebecca Bethany, El Paso High School, EPISD. Credit: The University of Texas at El Paso.
The annual fellowship recognizes exceptional K-12 teachers who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing computer science education, computational thinking and computational science in schools throughout the Paso del Norte region. Each fellow receives a $2,500 stipend and collaborates with the Hopper-Dean Center to shape the future of computer science education for Hispanic and other underrepresented student populations.
The 2024-2025 Hopper-Dean K-12 Fellows are:
- Jose Luis Silva, Tornillo High School, Tornillo ISD
- Rebecca Bethany, El Paso High School, EPISD
- Luz Aguirre-Rodriguez, El Paso High School, EPISD
- Priscilla Terrazas, Anthony Middle School, Anthony ISD
- Berenice Sotelo, Northwest Early College High School, Canutillo ISD
- David Esquivel, Northwest Early College High School, Canutillo ISD
During the ceremony, Elsa Villa, Ph.D., director of the Hopper-Dean Center, emphasized the importance of empowering educators to create inclusive opportunities in STEM fields.
“Our fellows are not just teachers—they are innovators and leaders who inspire students to explore and excel in computer science,” Villa said. “This program highlights the vital role educators play in addressing the challenges of the future by equipping students with critical computational skills. Their work ensures that computer science education is accessible and transformative for students in our region.”
Advancing Computer Science Education in the Border Region
The Hopper-Dean Center was established in 2021 with a $5 million endowment from the Hopper-Dean Foundation to support UTEP’s computer science teacher education initiatives. The Center aims to integrate high-quality computer science education into K-12 classrooms while fostering teacher certification and sharing effective practices for teaching diverse populations.
The fellows program leverages the expertise of exceptional educators to develop and implement strategies that enhance computing literacy and career readiness for students.
Each fellow will serve in an advisory role, collaborating with the Hopper-Dean Center and UTEP’s College of Education to promote innovative teaching methods and advocate for the inclusion of computer science in school curriculums across the region.
“This fellowship is about recognizing excellence and building partnerships,” Villa added. “By working together, we can bridge the gaps in STEM education and open doors to opportunities that change lives.”
About The University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 25,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 170 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.
Last Updated on December 05, 2024 at 12:00 AM | Originally published December 05, 2024
By MC Staff
UTEP Marketing and Communications
