Dear El Paso ISD,

We navigated this week with heavy hearts. Our district banded together in the wake of the tragic loss of Bowie High School student Daniel Esparza who passed away Sunday, Sept. 10. Remembrances for Daniel will be part of this weekend’s high school football games. All El Paso ISD marching bands will wear white and blue during their performances this week in dedication to Daniel’s memory.

Bowie plays Jefferson at 11 a.m. Saturday in Sun Bowl Stadium. All those in attendance are encouraged to wear white. Members from at least four bands throughout the city will join the Bowie band in the stands throughout the game. Later this month, drum majors from bands participating in the El Paso ISD Marching Band Invitational on Sept. 30 will wear a T-shirt in remembrance of Daniel. The award given to the event’s outstanding band leader will be renamed the Daniel Esparza Outstanding Drum Major Award.

We recognize this can be a difficult time for students and staff. We have crisis counselors available for anyone in need. Reach out to the counseling team at your campus or email counseling@episd.org for assistance. We will continue to carry Daniel’s spirit of duty and leadership with us.

I want to congratulate three of our students who have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Once again, El Paso ISD is the only district in the region with recipients of this prestigious honor. Congratulations to Judson McGinnes of Coronado, Angelina Marranzini of Franklin, and Jennifer Bromley of Maxine Silva Health Magnet. This is an exceptional accomplishment and serves as evidence of the academic excellence prevalent in El Paso’s District.

I’m excited to share that the Buenas Noches, El Paso, literacy series begins its 2023-2024 run this evening. Buenas Noches, which launched last year, features an El Paso ISD leader or notable El Pasoan reading a children’s book. The series aims to foster a love for literacy, to inspire children with hometown heroes and ensure children in El Paso always have a bedtime story a click away. We are honored to have Grammy Award-winning musician Zuill Bailey kick off our series at 7 p.m. Watch the video and learn more about Buenas Noches at episd.org/buenasnoches

The love of reading continues tomorrow as more than 35,000 books will be given away during the Family Literacy Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Magoffin Middle School. El Paso ISD is partnering with the El Paso American Federation of Teachers to give El Paso students free books along with entertainment and community resources. Join us!

Today marks the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. This annual observance, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, provides us with a meaningful opportunity to honor the rich cultural contributions and the profound impact of Hispanic throughout our history. Our district is proud to serve a diverse student body that includes many individuals from Hispanic backgrounds. Their heritage enriches our community, and we value the traditions, stories, and accomplishments that they bring to our schools. During this month, we encourage all our students, educators and families to engage in activities and discussions that promote cultural awareness, inclusivity and unity.

We have two weeks left before our fall intersession. Let’s keep working together.

It starts with us.

Sincerely,

Diana Sayavedra
Superintendent of Schools

Sept. 15, 2023