College Honors Excellence in Education with Annual Awards
The University of Texas at El Paso’s College of Education hosted a celebration March 27, 2025, honoring the remarkable achievements of two novice educators – recent UTEP graduates showing exceptional promise – and four dedicated mentor teachers who have played a vital role in guiding the college’s teacher candidates. The event was made possible by the generous support of Raiz Federal Credit Union.
“We are honored and excited to celebrate this year’s award recipients, whose dedication and passion for education inspire us all,” said Dean Clifton Tanabe, Ph.D. “Their remarkable contributions not only elevate our college but also make a lasting impact on the future of education and the students they serve."
The awardees were nominated by members of the education community and carefully selected through a thorough review process conducted by a UTEP College of Education committee.
The Outstanding Novice Teacher award, made possible through the Edward and Evelyn Schwartz Endowed Award, celebrates exceptional novice teachers for their outstanding achievements and innovative teaching practices, such as standards-based instruction, integration of technology, interdisciplinary curricula, and engagement with parents and the school community. The purpose of the $1,000 award is to encourage new teachers to continue developing their teaching skills and advocating for the profession.
This year’s novice teacher award went to Erick Esquivel, 6th-8th grade band teacher at Don Haskins PK-8 in El Paso Independent School District, and Maira Rivera, first grade bilingual teacher at Tornillo PK-8 STEM Academy in Tornillo ISD.
Rivera, a high school dropout who became a mother and later returned to finish her education, faced many challenges, and said the award was a validation of all the hard work she put in to achieve something she never thought was possible.
“As a single mom juggling two jobs and school, there were several times I wanted to give up,” said Rivera, who earned her B.S. in Education in 2023. “There were family and friends who didn’t believe in me. Receiving this award made me feel like I had truly made it.
“My goal is to continue pushing myself to learn as much as I can, so I can make a lasting impact on my students' lives and become the kind of teacher I always wished I had.”
The $2,500 Lavis Excellence Award celebrates exceptional mentor teachers for their excellence in teaching and commitment to guiding teacher candidates. This year’s honors went to Yvonne Angel, second grade teacher at Desert Hills Elementary School in Clint ISD; Michelle Lorio, fifth grade language arts and social studies teacher at O'Donnell Intermediate School in Fabens ISD; Carolina Muñoz, seventh grade reading and language arts specialized support resource teacher at Bel Air Middle School in Ysleta ISD; and Vanessa Sias, fourth grade monolingual teacher at Cooley Elementary School in El Paso ISD.
Sias, who received her bachelor’s degree in education from UTEP about 20 years ago, said she was honored to receive the award.
“Teaching is a profession that often goes unrecognized, so to be acknowledged and celebrated for what I do means a great deal to me,” Sias said. “This year was my first experience being a mentor teacher, and it was truly rewarding. Witnessing the eagerness and enthusiasm of my student resident reignited my own passion for teaching. It was incredibly rewarding to watch her grow and thrive in a profession I love.”
The awardees said that UTEP and the College of Education provided a critical foundation in their success as educators.
“I had the opportunity to learn from wonderful professors at UTEP,” Rivera said. “They taught me valuable educational theories and shared many practical tips and tricks that I now use in my classroom. I truly loved my experience at UTEP because every professor I had was supportive and genuinely wanted to help me succeed.”
By Maggie Asfahani
UTEP Marketing and Communications
