LISD Dedicates High School to Board Trustee
Written by admin, Oct 15, 2012, 0 Comments
Courtesy Maribel Valdez,
(Laredo, Tx)- The Laredo Independent School District dedicated its non-traditional high school to long-time board member Jose A. Valdez. A ceremony was held last Friday at the school which is currently at the former Lamar Middle campus. The school serves as a safe haven for secondary school students who are at risk of dropping out due to substance abuse problems. It serves as a credit recovery program for those students wanting to catch up.
The Jose A. Valdez High School provides a supportive learning environment to meet the individual educational needs, as well as the on-going treatment needs of adolescents in recovery. The school gives students a second opportunity to earn high school credits, graduate from high school, and enroll in college after graduation from high school.
Valdez who has served on the board since 1997, was instrumental in the developmental process of the new High School. Valdez along with other board members and administration visited other non-traditional high schools in Texas and found that such a school was needed for students in Laredo that did not necessarily meet the traditional role of a student. Since the school was established it has since had a steady enrollment of over 60 students each semester.
The school has formed strong partnerships with community organizations such as SCAN (Serving Children and Adolescents in Need) and STACADA (South Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse) to assist in the recovery assistance and post treatment support of the students who attend Valdez High School. Representatives from the organizations were at the dedication ceremony to support the close ties with the school, district and the Valdez family.
In his response, Valdez said that it was important to give others a second opportunity. Valdez said, “We all know of someone who has not necessarily followed what society deems as correct and who has gone off the road and all they need is another opportunity to try it again.” Valdez said it’s never too late to finish one’s education. Mr. Valdez obtained a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies with a concentration in Community Service from the University of North Texas at the age 71 and is currently working on a Master’s Degree.
The Jose A. Valdez High School is currently located at 2502 Galveston St. and is under the direction of School Principal Hugo De La Vina.
