“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
All children have the potential to do extraordinary things! Texas A&M University San Antonio (TAMU-SA) and Community First recognizes the value of higher education to awaken that potential. Some children face more obstacles than others in reaching their educational goals. This is why we work with TAMU-SA to sponsor the ASPIRE Classroom of the Month.
What
is
Aspire?
ASPIRE is a collaboration between TAMU-SA and seven South Bexar County ISDs (East Central, Edgewood, Harlandale, Somerset, South San Antonio, Southside, and Southwest). This program focuses on opening up the school-to-college pipeline to help more students go to college and earn a degree. Part of the ASPIRE Classroom of the Month strategy is to award $1,000 cash to outstanding educators who go above and beyond to create a “college-going” culture to invest back into their classes and students.
The ASPIRE Classroom of the Month program has recognized and celebrated more than 35 ASPIRE elementary and middle school teachers and students. Each month, a winning teacher and their classroom receive a Classroom of the Month certificate, TAMUSA Jaguar swag, a special message from University leadership, and $1,000 from Community First. Recent ASPIRE-winning teachers shared about the program and how the ASPIRE award motivates them to build on college readiness skills and further helps them prepare their students for the future.
What is
Classroom
of the
Month?
Joseph Rodriguez (April 2024 Winner)
Stonewall Flanders Elementary School, 4th grade
“In elementary school, with regard to college readiness, we are in the business of planting seeds. So many of our students would be first-generation college students. It’s important to expose them to the idea of a university education so they can better prepare themselves with as many choices as possible for their young adult lives.”
Anastasia Uribe (October 2023 Winner)
Harlandale Middle School, 8th grade
“Winning the ASPIRE Classroom of the Month Award boosts my motivation to prepare students for their futures, showing them that dedication and hard work are recognized and celebrated. The $1,000 award from Community First provided valuable resources and materials for my classes, enhancing my ability to create engaging and effective learning experiences.”
Why is Aspire Important?
Education creates better opportunities for students and helps them overcome poverty. A 2021 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics shows that higher levels of education lead to higher income and lower unemployment rates.
- Texas is failing to graduate one out of every five students.
- Texas high schools lost 94,767 students in 2017-2018.
- Black and Hispanic students are about twice as likely to leave school without graduating than White students.
Something needs to change. Community First is proud to invest in these dedicated educators and students to encourage them in their educational journeys. To learn more, please visit https://www.tamusa.edu/aspire/