An Educational LEAD to Follow

Regional Collaborative Links Students and Opportunities

There is an ambitious Rio Grande Valley collaborative organization that targets the scholastic needs of upward-motivated Valley students. What this regional collaborative does is bring together concerned, motivated leaders from the diverse private and public worlds of business, industry and education. Its purpose is to design and implement specific strategies to equip Valley students in achieving a higher level of preparedness and readiness to enter the work force and know success in their chosen career.

That corporation’s name is Rio Grande Valley Linking Economic and Academic Development (RGV LEAD).
The organization’s vision, mission, values and objectives are under the direct supervision of its newly named director, Dr. Norma L Salaiz, a Valley educator with three decades experience. She is actively partnering with Valley business leader and educators to reach out to tens of thousands of Valley students to encourage academic success and college-and-career readiness.

Salaiz replaces outgoing Director Pat Bubb. Bubb said, “We are excited to have Salaiz taking the lead of this great organization. She brings passion, enthusiasm, integrity, intelligence, creativity and many other wonderful qualities to her new role. We are confident we’ve found the right person to grow RGV LEAD.”

To learn more about the new director, LA FERIA NEWS met with Dr. Salaiz in her office on the TSTC Campus in Harlingen. As part of her work, Dr. Salaiz heads up one program that will be of special interest to La Feria area high school students. But, first; a bit about the director.

Salaiz is from Edinburg, where she received her Master’s degree in Educational Administration at the University of Texas-Pan American. She later returned to the Pan-American Campus as Student Teacher Field Supervisor. Salaiz also has a Bachelor’s of Science from Texas Women’s University and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Administration from UT Austin. She has run the gamut in public education from teacher to superintendent. During her 30 years as an educator she has seen the importance of motivating students and their parents in the need for a good education.

Under her responsibility falls the RGV MENTORS Program. And, this is of special interest to our readers. because La Feria I.S.D., Santa Maria I.S.D, Edcouch I.S.D., Mercedes I.S.D, Santa Rosa I.S.D ( along with a total of 28 school districts) are partnering in this ambitious program. The successful project is gaining momentum with federal funding and a new partnership with the FORD Next Generation Learning Program.

“There are just a lot of exciting things happening in the Rio Grande Valley LEAD partnership,” she said, “and students and volunteers from the La Fera area are invited to get involved and regularly share a few hours with upward-motivated students in the area.

The volunteers will be sharing their professional training and valuable life experience with young people needing to know what you have learned. It’s an exceptional way to leave your mark on a new generation.

To learn more about RGV LEAD’s initiatives, visit www.rgvlead.com. To make a donation or to become involved, contact RGV LEAD at 956.364.4509 or email [email protected].