When you scroll down the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District’s Facebook page, then you’ve probably asked yourself “who is Aida Meeks?” The question arises because day after day Meeks can...
Jesus Alfaro takes each day as a stepping-stone to achieve his ultimate goal of finding the best academic fit for all students so they can maximize achievement, he said. Alfaro...
Harlingen High School girls basketball coach Nora Zamarripa steps on the court every day with the belief that the sport is not only an athletic activity, but a way to help...
Best friends for almost ten years, Rosemary Lugo and Ninfa Munoz have dedicated their days to cheering on the students of the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District both inside and...
Daniel Guzman has seen technology advance in the classrooms at the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District. From witnessing the installation of the first computer labs to now seeing students in...
Diana Hernandez wakes up every day with a mission to help students succeed, and goes to bed knowing that she has been able to do so in some way. Hernandez...
When you see a new building or campus being built at the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District, you can bet that Danny Villarreal is close by with his hard hat...
When Antonio Saldivar walks through the doors at District Operations office at the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District, you can bet that someone will jokingly ask him when he’s going...
With most of his family in education and his passion in law enforcement, it’s no wonder that Jorge Moreno has made it his daily goal to help keep campuses and...
George Rohrer isn’t your average chess player. While most people play one on one, he can play one on 10, 15 or even 20. Rohrer is a chess...
With her scrubs on and her stethoscope ready, Irene Vera approaches every day with the goal to keep more than 18,000 students healthy. Vera serves as the Head School Nurse...
Whether you’re a student sitting at your desk in class or a fan in the stands of Boggus Stadium, you’re probably using something that Guillermo Galvez crafted with a blowtorch...
This year, Sam Houston Elementary teacher Roxanna Shimotsu has not only helped the students in her classroom but students around Texas by sharing enthusiasm for student advancement. Shimotsu, who teaches...
When Kasey Boykin hears her phone ring, she already knows there is a good chance it’s someone asking for help about his or her computer, phone, tablet or software. Boykin...
Vivian Bauer lives by her personal motto of “it is what it is.” She uses it to drive her actions every day, and she’s constantly pursuing her personal best....
For most people, the words textbooks and astronomy relate to a class they once took in college, but for Thomas Hopkins they represent two areas of his work. Hopkins...
When Javier Araiza hears the word “master” it can apply to a couple of things. From his barbequing talents to his career, Araiza continually works to keep at the top...
When Mark Conway looks up to the Harlingen sky and sees a bird fly by, you can bet he’s on the lookout for his next research project or classroom lesson....
For Gill Paredez, the saying “It’s always better to give, than to receive” can be applied to his actions on a daily basis. From his career to volunteer work,...
Barbara Claybourn wasn’t your typical child, and in place of action figures and dolls in her toy closet, she had a chalkboard. “I’ve wanted to become a teacher since the...
For most people, the question “Did I remember to turn off the lights?” refers to one or two rooms, but for Joel Cruz that means hundreds of classrooms, offices and...
If you flip through the channels and see a football game, choir concert or graduation ceremony on Channel 17, then you’ve seen the workings of Joe Medrano. Medrano is the...
Connie Saenz is always looking for ways to earn money. Not for herself, but for the for the benefit of the students in Harlingen. Saenz is the grant writer at...
Jason Hooper spends most of his days surrounded by music. Whether it’s at his day-job, performing with musical groups or just practicing at home, he always has a tune playing...
[caption id="attachment_2445" align="aligncenter" width="980"] Gonzalez, far right, gives out information at Texas Parents Day 2012[/caption] Sylvia Gonzalez has always known she was gifted, not in the culinary arts or...
Tina Garza spends much of her free time outdoors, but it’s not for the fresh air. It’s for the inspiration she gets for creating science related activities. “When I was...
John Corona and his dog, Ciro, get noticed wherever they go, but Ciro always seems to steal the show. Corona and Ciro, the K-9 drug prevention officer and dog at...
If you give David Garza a guitar, he is going to play it. Whether it’s in the classroom or at home, Garza plays to share his passion for music. Garza,...
Schawn Wreden applies the concept of trying something new to everything she does. From opening new business ventures to developing solutions, everything can be traced back to her personal motto....
Since a young age, Diana Alfaro has looked forward to visiting the library to see the stacks of books and the librarians hard at work. “My mom would take me...
Tony Southern’s office has four wheels, and his business hours are a little out of the ordinary. Southern, a guard for the loss prevention night patrol at HCISD, patrols Harlingen...
Judy Baker wakes up every day with food on her mind. But it is not because she is hungry. “I’ve always had an immense interest in cooking and nutrition," said Baker,...
Veronica Kortan, with her pink notebook in hand, conquers motherhood and professional organization without breaking a sweat. “I have about eight or nine completely filled pink notebooks out home,” Kortan...
No one knows Harlingen's streets better than Ismael Cardenas. Cardenas, or more commonly known as “Smiley," is a dispatcher for the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District transportation department, and is in charge...
When you walk in any Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District campus or facility, the work of Ken Lee is displayed. Lee, the maintenance director for HCISD, has been with the...
