Dr. Erika Mein of UTEP was presented with the Richard Castro Excellence in Education Award
Texas Higher Education Commissioner provided a keynote address on preparing students for the careers of the future
El Paso, TX– CREEED convened more than 120 education, business and community leaders today for the second annual Education Matters Summit. The event, held at the Starlight Event Center, brought together key voices to explore bold strategies to strengthen El Paso’s public education system, build sustainable pathways to college and career success, and ensure students across the region are prepared for the future workforce.
This year’s summit featured a keynote address from Dr. Wynn Rosser, Commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, who highlighted how state policy and investment are shaping more responsive higher education and workforce systems across Texas.
“At CREEED, we believe education is the foundation of opportunity,” said Eddie Rodriguez, Executive Director of CREEED. “Today’s summit reflects our community’s commitment to ensuring every student in El Paso has the support, resources, and pathways to succeed in college, career, and life.”
CREEED also presented the Richard Castro Excellence in Education Award, honoring its founding board chair for his vision and commitment to educational attainment. The inaugural award was presented to Dr. Erika Mein, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Texas at El Paso, in recognition of her leadership of bilingual education and her role in launching the Teacher Residency Program that is now being implemented statewide.
“This recognition reflects a collective effort in our community to ensure that all children have access to excellent teachers. I am honored to have CREEED’s support as we work together to prepare the next generation of teachers who will shape El Paso’s future,” said Dr. Erika Mein, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at UTEP.
“The establishment of this award is deeply meaningful to me,” said Dr. Richard Castro, Founding Board Chair of CREEED. “It reflects our shared belief that educators are the heart of transformation in our community. I am proud to see Dr. Mein recognized for her leadership, innovation, and dedication to preparing the next generation of teachers for El Paso and beyond.”
The agenda included two dynamic panel discussions. The first, titled Career Connected Schools, explored the implementation of House Bill 8, which ties community college funding to student success and workforce alignment. Panelists represented local school districts, El Paso Community College, and major regional employers who are designing pathways to connect classroom learning to career opportunities. The second panel, titled Strong, Sustainable, and Innovative Schools, highlighted school leaders who are innovating within their campuses to create high-performing, sustainable schools that serve as models across the region.
The Education Matters Summit is designed to foster collaboration among educators, policymakers, business leaders, and families. By identifying programs that are working and scaling them across the region, the summit continues to strengthen El Paso’s education ecosystem and its connection to long-term economic prosperity.
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