DILLEY PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WWW.DILLEYISD.NET
PREPARING STUD LIFE BEYOND THE DILLEY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AT A GLANCE DILLEY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WHAT: A n innovative district serving 800 students. WHERE: Dilley, Texas WEBSITE: www.dilleyisd.net PROVIDING PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS AND TH 1 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
DENTS FOR E CLASSROOM Dilley Independent School District may be small in size, but it is raising the bar when it comes to preparing students for the future. From vibrant career pathways and innovative partnerships to state-leading accountability scores and a deep commitment to student success, Dilley ISD is positioning itself as a hub for workforce ready graduates and regional collaboration. The district’s mission states, “Where the best in education, HE HOLISTIC SUPPORT TO GET THERE 2 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
skills, and preparedness for the future is achieved,” and when students enter high school they have a direction, either a college, technical or work pathway, ensuring they graduate with meaningful options.“It doesn’t matter what pathway you’re on, you can be successful,” Superintendent Kelli DuBose affirms. CAREER READINESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY The district’s focus on career readiness begins early. “When our students come into eighth grade, we need to make sure that we have those pathways already set, that we’re talking to them, we’re involving their families and seeing what their interest is,” details DuBose. “That way we know that by the time they leave us as a senior, we can check the box that says yes they would be college, career, military ready.” A longstanding partnership with Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde forms the foundation of the district’s P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) initiatives. Students begin as early as ninth grade, working toward certificates in trades aligned with regional workforce needs. Dilley High School Principal Mark Tribett recounts, “In our construction and welding programs, they can end up with an applied associate in engineering or in applied sciences.” The education and training pathway offers a similarly robust track. “They can graduate with not just the Level 1 certificate, but an Level 2,” Tribett adds. “So by streamlining some of our programs, we’re getting tier two certificates now.” Two of the most recent additions is the Patient Care Technician (PCT) program, where students receive college credit while earning industry certifications including EKG Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, Medical Assistant, and Patient Care Technician. The second is a drone certification. Both of these programs are being implemented this upcoming year. Our current programs in Agriculture, Welding, Construction, Education, and Audio Visual/Media all have industry based certifications attached to these programs. In addition students have the potential to earn college credit in these pathways, With the agricultural pathway there is an opportunity to earn the certificate in plant or animal sciences. Julian Cruz walking the stage with his CDL certificate . Dilley ISD is thankful for their partnership with Lonestar Trucking Co 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 DILLEY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Dilley ISD also collaborates with McMurry University to support students who may face challenges with the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) testing. This test is required to demonstrate college readiness in core academic subjects, and for some students, it can become a barrier to continuing their college coursework. “Because it’s a private institution, they have a little bit more leverage and leeway when it comes to the actual TSI testing for college entrance,” expands Tribett. This additional option not only helps more students earn postsecondary credentials, but it also helps to bring financial support to the district.Tribett relays,“With early college high school and P-TECH, if you get your associate degree, you qualify for what are called outcome bonuses.” He notes that these funds can be reinvested in CTE programs to expand equipment, staffing, and new course offerings. Interested students will also be eligible for advanced standing in the military. “If we can get them their associate degree, they qualify to go straight in as a Warrant Officer, a technical officer in the military, a higher pay grade,” he explains. “So, they could be flying helicopters right out of high school.” This strategy also plays a part in maintaining Dilley ISD’s high performance on state accountability ratings. The results speak for themselves. For the past three to four years, Dilley ISD has consistently scored 94% or higher on College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR), a number well above regional and state averages. “That’s our bread and butter here at Dilley High School,” Tribet notes. CDL TRAINING AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS Among Dilley’s unique offerings is its commercial driver’s license (CDL) program. With an ideal location along major transportation routes and a strong blue-collar work culture, the district has tapped into a real workforce need. This popular program offers a pathway to immediate, high-paying job opportunities for students graduating high school. “It does serve a need for us here, more so than in big cities,” acknowledges AJ Cantu, CTE CDL Instructor. Through partnerships with Workforce Solutions and awareness of local employer needs, students 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
At Papaya Tutor, our mission is to provide equitable, high-quality tutoring that empowers students to reach their full potential. Our ongoing collaboration with Dilley ISD is a clear reflection of this mission in action. Since the beginning of our partnership, we’ve supported students across grade levels in both math and reading, offering 1:1 virtual tutoring sessions throughout the school year and summer programs. Working alongside educators like Ms. América Rodríguez has been a privilege. She has often described Papaya Tutor as the “extra hand” the school needs—an essential support to extend instruction and ensure no student is left behind. During the summer term, when staffing is limited, our tutors step in to maintain learning continuity, allowing Dilley students to stay engaged and supported. Thanks to this partnership, we’ve seen measurable progress and numerous success stories, including improvements in engagement, participation, and STAAR performance. We’re proud to work with a district so committed to educational excellence. Together, we are bridging instructional gaps, helping students thrive, and demonstrating what’s possible when schools and trusted partners work in sync. DILLEY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
are trained on manual trucks and prepared for immediate employment.“These kids actually do have job opportunities right away,” he adds.“We want our students to be able to find a job, where they can be able to support themselves right out of high school. And I think this is a crucial field for them.” The program is also helping students prepare for long-term advancement. “A lot of the students that I have had in the past have someone already in the industry and they understand the importance of how crucial it is to get this at such a young age,” Cantu says. While the training is completely free for students, the long-term vision involves offering it to local adults and businesses. “They pay for the CDL, the district gets a portion of that, and that way, that helps pay for our students,” DuBose suggests. Plans are also underway to integrate forklift certification, solar panel installation, and even simulation driving labs into expanded CTE facilities. “It’s like layer upon layer to make sure that we maintain our accountability,” remarks Tribett. “But we also have a mantra in place here at Dilley High School, and that is, we want to afford our students the same opportunities as we would our own child. We are grateful to the Dilley ISD School Board for their continued support in approving funding for these programs at no cost to our students. 6 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
That’s kind of the rule of thumb that we have here.” A VISION OF GROWTH Dilley ISD is currently entering the design phase for a new CTE facility. “Dilley might not be growing, as far as our student population is concerned, but our industries and our pathways are changing. What’s happening is that we’re running out of space,” stresses DuBose. The vision includes dedicated and dual spaces for culinary, media, floral design, HVAC, healthcare, and transportation programs.“Right now, the goal of that CTE building is that with this bond, we can add the equipment, and the things that they would need,” she describes. Grant funding has become a critical component of the district’s ability to enhance its CTE offerings. One recent success came in the form of a Jobs and Education for Texans grant, specifically aimed at enhancing the welding program. “We just got a $179,000 grant to have better supplies, equipment and machines,” highlights DuBose. That grant included a virtual reality welding simulator, a cutting-edge tool that brings hands-on training to a whole new level of precision and safety. “We are applying for a medical one as well,” she continues. “Anytime we get extra grants, we try to put it into technology, into the equipment that the students would need. Even with the bond, we’re going to have to make sure that we put money aside within that, 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 DILLEY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
to be able to put in the supplies, the furniture, the equipment. It can’t just be a building.” INTEGRATING AI When it comes to artificial intelligence, the district takes a balanced approach. “You know that they’re going to try to use AI. They will probably use it in the workforce when they’re getting out of here,” reflects Cantu. “So how can we implement that so that it works to their advantage?” From locked-down browsers to collaborative research activities, the district focuses on ethical, responsible usage. “You have to work around the fact that AI is now with us,” he says. Rather than banning AI tools Dilley ISD is focused on teaching students that there are limitations. “AI is only as smart as the people that are plugging in the information,” portrays Tribett. “If something happened yesterday, you may not find a whole lot of information on it. It’s about teaching them what resources are actually current on AI and have a lot of depth.” Students are taught to evaluate the credibility of the sources, using them as a jumpingoff point rather than a final product.“We teach them that it’s a good starting point. It’ll help you build a summary, or at least an idea, if you don’t have one, that you can eventually make your own,” he says. The district is also preparing students for college-level expectations around academic integrity. “We don’t want them to be accused of plagiarism, or get caught 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
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PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Papaya Tutor www.papayatutor.com Papaya Tutor provides high-quality, equitable online tutoring that empowers students to succeed. Through innovative, personalized instruction in STEM and language subjects, we support school districts in creating fair learning opportunities. Our mission is to close achievement gaps and help students thrive academically and personally, no matter their background. in that web of mess because they decided to use AI for their answers,” he emphasizes. LOOKING AHEAD Superintendent DuBose envisions Dilley ISD becoming a regional hub of opportunity, known for the success of its students and strong partnerships with neighboring districts. Her goal is to expand access to specialized programs like CDL training by collaborating with nearby rural communities that may lack such resources. “It’s not, ‘this city versus this city,’” she imparts. “It’s, ‘What’s best for students and how do we grow them?’” Over the next two years, she wants every incoming student to see clear pathways ahead, regardless of whether they have their future fully mapped out. “When our students leave us, they should know they are able to do anything that they want to do,” she concludes. 10 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
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