EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT
HIGHLIGHTING SUCCESS IN INCREASING EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
CREEED invests in promising programs and organizations that share our goal of increasing educational attainment through strategic grants. By partnering with local public, private, and charter school systems, as well as organizations aimed to increase student achievement, these bold and innovative initiatives have proven to be successful in preparing students for college and career.
We've highlighted some of our partners below. Learn more about the impact these programs are making across the region
We've highlighted some of our partners below. Learn more about the impact these programs are making across the region
GIRLS WHO CODE AT NORTHWEST EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
In Texas, fewer than 40% of students have the opportunity to take a computer science course. These numbers were even lower when Catherine Tabor, an educator and advisor at Northwest Early College High School, began teaching computer science in 1997. But she was concerned about an even more troubling trend: although pre-teen girls and boys expressed similar levels of interest in computer programming, far fewer girls were signing up for computer science classes in high school, and even fewer were going on to pursue higher education degrees in computer sciences. In fact, the percentage of women obtaining computer science degrees nationwide has plummeted to half of what it was decades ago, and recent studies show that Black and Hispanic students are also underrepresented in that field.
With CREEED’s help, Tabor is working to change this. In 2016, she helped launch a chapter of Girls Who Code in the Borderplex region. Girls Who Code is a national nonprofit that aims to increase the number of women in computer science, by equipping young women with the necessary computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities. Former Girls Who Code members from the Borderplex region have gone on to study computer science at the University of Texas and Texas State University and are making headway in the fields of computing, game design, and cyber security.
CREEED’s support of Girls Who Code has allowed program advisors like Tabor to focus on their mission, shared with CREEED, of increasing student attainment and preparing them for college. Thanks to CREEED, the Northwest Early College High School Girls Who Code team now has access to five 3-D printers, and it can spend its time programming rather than fundraising.
This creates more opportunity for high school students in the region, encouraging them to pursue post-secondary degrees in STEAM.
“Girls Who Code is designed to not only teach coding, but to build community. Our ultimate goal is to help more women enter computing by instilling and amplifying the message that women belong in that world. With CREEED’s support, we have been able to create a space for young girls to learn a new skill and develop the confidence to pursue and thrive in STEAM careers.”
- Catherine Tabor, Computer Science Teacher and Advisor, Northwest Early College High School
With CREEED’s help, Tabor is working to change this. In 2016, she helped launch a chapter of Girls Who Code in the Borderplex region. Girls Who Code is a national nonprofit that aims to increase the number of women in computer science, by equipping young women with the necessary computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities. Former Girls Who Code members from the Borderplex region have gone on to study computer science at the University of Texas and Texas State University and are making headway in the fields of computing, game design, and cyber security.
CREEED’s support of Girls Who Code has allowed program advisors like Tabor to focus on their mission, shared with CREEED, of increasing student attainment and preparing them for college. Thanks to CREEED, the Northwest Early College High School Girls Who Code team now has access to five 3-D printers, and it can spend its time programming rather than fundraising.
This creates more opportunity for high school students in the region, encouraging them to pursue post-secondary degrees in STEAM.
“Girls Who Code is designed to not only teach coding, but to build community. Our ultimate goal is to help more women enter computing by instilling and amplifying the message that women belong in that world. With CREEED’s support, we have been able to create a space for young girls to learn a new skill and develop the confidence to pursue and thrive in STEAM careers.”
- Catherine Tabor, Computer Science Teacher and Advisor, Northwest Early College High School
IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS EL PASO
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Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has built a legacy of having 100 percent of our students being accepted to college and delivering a high-quality education to all students regardless of their race, ethnicity and socio-economic status. When we thought about bringing this commitment to El Paso, we wanted to partner with an organization that shared in our belief that with the right set of high expectations and support, any student could attend and ultimately graduate college. Fortunately, we found that partner in CREEED. |
With CREEED’s support, we were able to raise $10mm from donors and leaders in the El Paso community. That investment has allowed us to open eight schools across El Paso that collectively serve 3,700 students, and in the coming years we plan to open 12 more schools across six campuses in the region.
With our first cohort of seniors set to graduate in 2025, our goal is to send 1,000 IDEA graduates from our El Paso schools to college each year by 2030. We are doing this by investing in El Paso students and teachers. Already, we have hired and trained 150 teachers and developed a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes individualized learning in the lower grades and Advanced Placement coursework for all students in the upper grades. We have a strong college success team that walks students through the entire college application process, from compiling a list of target schools to filling out the FAFSA forms to meeting application deadlines and follows up with students once they have entered the college of their choice.
“IDEA’s college readiness model aligns perfectly with CREEED’s efforts to help the region meet the state’s 60x30 goal. By partnering with all public schools across the region -- ISDs and charter -- CREEED is leading the effort to increase educational opportunities for students in the region. Thanks to CREEED’s early support and partnership, IDEA Public Schools are supporting students in El Paso in a major way”
- Ernesto Cantu, Ed.D., Executive Director, IDEA Public Schools El Paso
With our first cohort of seniors set to graduate in 2025, our goal is to send 1,000 IDEA graduates from our El Paso schools to college each year by 2030. We are doing this by investing in El Paso students and teachers. Already, we have hired and trained 150 teachers and developed a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes individualized learning in the lower grades and Advanced Placement coursework for all students in the upper grades. We have a strong college success team that walks students through the entire college application process, from compiling a list of target schools to filling out the FAFSA forms to meeting application deadlines and follows up with students once they have entered the college of their choice.
“IDEA’s college readiness model aligns perfectly with CREEED’s efforts to help the region meet the state’s 60x30 goal. By partnering with all public schools across the region -- ISDs and charter -- CREEED is leading the effort to increase educational opportunities for students in the region. Thanks to CREEED’s early support and partnership, IDEA Public Schools are supporting students in El Paso in a major way”
- Ernesto Cantu, Ed.D., Executive Director, IDEA Public Schools El Paso
CANUTILLO ISD EARLY ALGEBRA PROGRAM
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Algebra 1 has long been an indicator of college-readiness. But it can also serve as a roadblock that halts students from pursuing higher education. In 2010, a national U.S. Department of Education study found that 80 percent of high school dropouts cited their inability to pass Algebra 1 as the primary reason for leaving school. The Canutillo Independent School District is taking this challenge head on and is on track to be the first district in Texas to enroll all eighth grade students in Algebra 1. As a “gateway course” that prepares students to take advanced math courses, we believe that if we expose students to a rigorous curriculum early in their academic careers, not only will they rise to the challenge, but they will be better prepared for the rigors of college. |
Video courtesy of Canutillo ISD
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This initiative would not have been possible without the partnership, and financial support, of CREEED. Given CREEED’s commitment to increasing educational attainment for all students in the El Paso region, we approached them with the idea to provide seed funding in our Early Algebra Program. With CREEED’s initial $75,000 investment in 2019, we were able to enroll 40 students in Algebra 1. The funding specifically paid for the one-on-one support and wraparound services that the teachers provided. By the end of the first year, all 40 students had successfully completed and passed their Algebra 1 course.
In 2020, CREEED doubled down on its initial investment and provided us with an additional $150,000 to expand our program to even more students and hire four additional math teachers that are working with students to complete the course. To date, we have seen an increase in math scores and more students enrolling in our advanced math courses beyond Algebra 1.
"CREEED’s dedication to student attainment and college readiness in the Borderplex region enabled us to implement a unique program that utilizes advanced tools and resources to drive success. Thanks to our partnership and funding from CREEED, more of our students will have the tools and preparation needed to go on to college and successfully graduate from college."
- Dr. Pedro Galaviz, Superintendent, Canutillo Independent School District
In 2020, CREEED doubled down on its initial investment and provided us with an additional $150,000 to expand our program to even more students and hire four additional math teachers that are working with students to complete the course. To date, we have seen an increase in math scores and more students enrolling in our advanced math courses beyond Algebra 1.
"CREEED’s dedication to student attainment and college readiness in the Borderplex region enabled us to implement a unique program that utilizes advanced tools and resources to drive success. Thanks to our partnership and funding from CREEED, more of our students will have the tools and preparation needed to go on to college and successfully graduate from college."
- Dr. Pedro Galaviz, Superintendent, Canutillo Independent School District
SYLVIA HOPP SAN ELIZARIO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
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Former Superintendent Sylvia Hopp left a legacy of improving student attainment throughout her educational career which includes the San Elizario Independent School District (SEISD). To continue Sylvia Hopp’s legacy of increasing educational attainment, CREEED launched the Sylvia Hopp San Elizario College Scholarship in 2017.
This scholarship provides one promising San Elizario graduating senior with a $2,500 scholarship to support them on their college journey. Many of the scholarship recipients have excelled in their studies, both academically and socially, taking on rigorous advanced placement and early college courses, maintaining high GPAs, and being involved in school and community groups. However, even for high-performing students, the |
cost of attending college can be a barrier and this scholarship program helps address that barrier for one promising student each year from San Elizario High School in honor of Sylvia Hopp’s commitment to assure equal access to success for all students within San Elizario High School.
CREEED has awarded three students so far with this scholarship. Jocelyn Torres, the scholarship’s 2020 recipient, planned to attend St. Mary’s University, major in biology, and attend medical school in the future. In 2019, Maria Cano received the scholarship with plans of attending the University of Texas at El Paso and pursuing a nursing degree. Angelica Jasso, 2018’s award recipient, planned to study at the University of Texas at El Paso and attend nursing school. By 2025, another five San Elizario students will join this group of incredible scholars who will definitely make an impact in our community, and beyond.
“We appreciate our partnership with CREEED and its commitment to offer this critical tuition assistance to our students. CREEED’s mission of increasing educational attainment in our region reflects our mission at SEISD. We both know that opening pathways to higher education for our students will give them opportunities to identify and enter rewarding and upwardly-mobile careers and make a difference in this world.”
- Dr. Jeannie Meza-Chavez, Superintendent, San Elizario Independent School District
CREEED has awarded three students so far with this scholarship. Jocelyn Torres, the scholarship’s 2020 recipient, planned to attend St. Mary’s University, major in biology, and attend medical school in the future. In 2019, Maria Cano received the scholarship with plans of attending the University of Texas at El Paso and pursuing a nursing degree. Angelica Jasso, 2018’s award recipient, planned to study at the University of Texas at El Paso and attend nursing school. By 2025, another five San Elizario students will join this group of incredible scholars who will definitely make an impact in our community, and beyond.
“We appreciate our partnership with CREEED and its commitment to offer this critical tuition assistance to our students. CREEED’s mission of increasing educational attainment in our region reflects our mission at SEISD. We both know that opening pathways to higher education for our students will give them opportunities to identify and enter rewarding and upwardly-mobile careers and make a difference in this world.”
- Dr. Jeannie Meza-Chavez, Superintendent, San Elizario Independent School District