Exceptional AI, Computer Science Educators Honored by UTEP College of Education
EL PASO, Texas (Dec. 10, 2025) – Six outstanding educators were recognized Tuesday evening by the Hopper-Dean Center of Excellence for K-12 Computer Science Education. The educators were named the 2025-26 Hopper-Dean K-12 Fellows and Scholars by The University of Texas at El Paso’s College of Education.
The annual fellowship, now in its fourth year, recognizes exceptional K-12 teachers in the region who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing computer science education and computational thinking and science in schools throughout the Paso del Norte region.
This year, the center added a new scholars award for students currently enrolled in the Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) program. The fully online degree gives educators the tools they need to leverage AI in classrooms and other educational settings.
“The K-12 education landscape is changing drastically, but the UTEP College of Education is staying ahead of the game,” said Dean Clifton Tanabe, Ph.D. “Higher education has an important role to play in training up the next generation, and with programs like these, we are making sure to reward and encourage the best computer science educators around so that they can positively impact on our children.”
The 2025-26 Hopper-Dean K-12 Fellows are:
- Michelle Buraczyk, Franklin High School, El Paso ISD
- Melanie Dozal-Enriquez, Eastlake High School, Socorro ISD
- Kirsten M. Wieseman, Northwest Early College High School, Canutillo ISD
The 2025-26 Scholars are:
- Valeria Lopez, Ysleta Elementary School, Ysleta ISD
- Jillian Ozuna-McCain, St. Mary’s University Upward Bound Program
- Vanessa Rivera, Mountain View High School, Clint ISD
The Hopper-Dean Center was established in 2021 with a $5 million endowment from the Hopper-Dean Foundation to support UTEP’s computer science teacher education initiatives. The Center aims to integrate high-quality computer science education into K-12 classrooms while fostering teacher certification and sharing effective practices for teaching diverse populations.
The fellows program leverages the expertise of exceptional educators to develop and implement strategies that enhance computing literacy and career readiness for students.
Each fellow will serve in an advisory role, collaborating with the Hopper-Dean Center and UTEP’s College of Education to promote innovative teaching methods and advocate for the inclusion of computer science in school curriculums across the region. Each fellow also receives a $2,500 stipend and collaborates with the Hopper-Dean Center to shape the future of computer science education for Hispanic and other underrepresented student populations.
Last Updated on December 10, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Originally published December 10, 2025
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
