ECISD’s new coordinator of post secondary education Rico Enriquez is working to steer students toward a college-going culture even starting at the elementary level.
Enriquez replaces Elizabeth Gray, who is now the social emotional learning coordinator for the district. He will be helping students with everything from applying to college to financial aid and enrollment.
“… We have to bring those opportunities to those kids and that’s why I’m in this this role now. Liz did a great job of communicating that out to families, to our graduates, our alumni and our current students. But we’re constantly growing, and our needs are growing, so we have to address that,” Enriquez said.
He added that it’s not just current graduates or students that they are working on growing the college-going culture with. It’s helping students even six years out and letting them know that if they need assistance, help is available.
“… It’s a tremendous task. It really is,” Enriquez, who earned his master’s at UTPB, said. “… We’re … showing them the possibilities and trying to inspire them to grab hold of the opportunities that are available …”
One of his goals for the program is doing more outreach with economically disadvantaged students.
“It’s really about informing, engaging and removing barriers for our students, our families and our alumni,” Enriquez said. “… As our, as we grow as our community grows, those needs are constantly changing, so we have to constantly be looking for new ways to engage and to grow.”
He is planning a FAFSA and apply to college night from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in room C9 at George H.W. Bush New Tech Odessa. There will be a series of these nights in the coming months.
There will also be a UTPB Falcon Showcase at Permian High School April 13 and one at Odessa High School April 20. Both will be in front of the schools from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Texas Tech University also will will bring its Centennial mobile tour at 1 p.m. March 28 at Permian High School.
“Those are some things that are immediately happening,” Enriquez said.
He noted that the district has great partnerships with UTPB and Odessa College.
“That is that is invaluable to us because we’re all working together. We want the same things for our community. We know that the more we engage our students in college enrollment and getting educated and getting certified in something, the better opportunities and chances we have for our workforce,” Enriquez said. “If you look at labor market indicators … our workforce in three, four years we don’t have enough people to do the work. We are in this business of having to outsource. We don’t have the housing” once they get the jobs, either.
Enriquez said this is a combined effort of all departments such as post secondary and guidance and counseling and curriculum and instruction.
“Everyone’s part of that effort. … We’re integrated. We meet all the time about it. What can we do to improve our efforts? We’re constantly focused on that mission and it’s a good focus, I think,” he added.
Historically, students have thought they didn’t have to finish high school. They could just go work in the oilfield.
”It’s an attractive option actually with what they’re paying in the oilfield, but so is getting an education and … following your career interests; not just following a job, following a career interest,” Enriquez said.
“One of the things that I think is helping me as I’m discovering this job is is my background in CTE (Career and Technical Education); working with students on developing career interests, because career interest should be the starting point as a young person is going through school. Before we start talking about college, we talk about career interest, which leads into where you’re going to go to college, where you’re going to get your education,. We don’t just go to college. We develop career interests, so we have some things in place that address that through our through our ACCESS careers. program that we have,” he added.
Enriquez has been with ECISD since 2003. He was at Midland ISD before that. He has been a teacher, counselor and assistant principal.
He grew up in Midland and graduated from Lee High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English language arts from Texas Tech University. He also has a principal certification and master’s degree in counseling education.
He is a certified secondary counselor, a certified principal and has a lifetime English teacher certification.
He added that he can speak to students who are interested in joining the military in a “real way” because he served.
“… The opportunities now in the military are huge as far as career. It’s not just a means to get (the) GI Bill. It’s a career option for for anybody, really. I am in close contact with our military recruiters. That’s another part of the CCMR (College, Career, Military Readiness) that we’re trying to grow because our students need to know that. You can get the GI bill that will pay for your tuition and fees. But not only that, as a Texas veteran, you can get Hazlewood Act, which is 150 free college hours. It’s free to students, but it’s 150 college hours that you can use paid for by the university by state law … They absorb the cost. … If the veteran chooses to pass that on to their biological children they can do that. …,” Enqriquez said.
Sometimes that’s very appealing to students, he added.
“They want to experience the world of work and get a career going, but then have the option of go to college. It’s a pretty good thing. We’re trying to grow awareness about the opportunities in the military for our students and even our” alumni, Enriquez said.
He decided to go into education because he loves working with students and helping them improve their lives for the better.
“… I came from a family where not too many of us had college degrees. My father was a very inspiring person to me because he was a high school dropout. Then after Marine Corps when he got educated, he got the diploma. For a lot of our … families … of poverty, it’s a means to a better life and it also leads them to being able to contribute to their community and add value back to their communities,” Enriquez said.
