Category: Natalia ISD

By Anton Riecher
With the new school year rapidly closing in area school districts are pushing hard to fill remaining open teaching and staff positions before student fill the hallways.
At Devine ISD 13 teaching or combination teaching and athletic positions are posted on the district website. At the elementary level, positions are open for two special education aides and one school instructional aide.
To qualify for these positions, the applicant must meet Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) “High Qualified” requirements equaling 48 college hours or two years, or attend the Teacher Orientation and Preparation Program (TOPP), a State Board of Educator Certification approved alternative route to teacher certification by means of the ESC-20 Educator Preparation Certifications Program.
Applicants must have knowledge of basic computer operations and skills, ability to operate personal computer and educational software and ability to work with students and teachers using effective organizational skills, the website states.
At the intermediate level, openings exist for school teacher and school special education teacher for grade three through five.
The school teacher posting requires an early childhood-grade 4 (EC-4) generalist or a grade 6 (EC-6) graduate initial teaching certification specialization. The master’s degree in early childhood education is a 36-hour program, designed to provide students with as background and advanced study in early childhood education.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a valid Texas teaching certificate. The applicant must also have knowledge of curriculum and instruction, ability to instruct students and maintain highly structured and orderly teaching environment and strong skills in organization, communication and interpersonal skills.
Like the school teacher position, the special education teacher position requires an early childhood-grade 4 (EC-4) generalist or a grade 6 (EC-6) graduate initial teaching certification specialization. It also requires a special education EC-12 certification.
Aside from the standard abilities required for other positions, the job requires knowledge of special needs students, ability to develop an individualized education program (IEP) through the admission, review and dismissal (ARD) committee, the team that determines eligibility based on a full and individual evaluation.
Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training is preferred. CPI training specializes in the safe management of disruptive and assaultive behavior.
At the high school level, Devine ISD is searching for a secondary science teacher for grades 6-12 and a high school career and technology teachers/boy’s athletic coach for grades 9-12. The district is also looking for an athletic trainer with a valid license from the Texas Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers and a current adult cardiopulmonary automated external defibrillator (AED) certification.
Also posted on the district website are openings for a part-time athletic department secretary, special education aide, a speech language pathologist or a speech language pathologist/speech language pathology assistant.
The website also lists openings for substitute nurses, bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria workers.
At Natalia ISD the only remaining academic openings are for a speech language pathologist and a speech dyslexia intervention teacher. At the staff level, the district has openings for two bus drivers, multiple custodians and a cafeteria worker.
In Lytle, academic openings remain for a junior high art teacher, a district wide substitute teacher, a high school plumbing teacher and a special education teacher at the elementary and junior high levels. The district is also for a certified professional teacher on the district wide level.
“This application is not designated for a particular job opening,” the district website states. “This application is put into a pool of applicants that are certified teachers. When job openings are posted, applicants will be notified automatically by email and will have to apply for the job they qualify for.”
The district also has staff openings for the child nutrition staff and custodians and custodian substitutes.

By Autumn Copeland
As we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day, we’d like to honor these local Medina County graduates who have made the decision to serve our country.
As most of the local 2023 graduates enjoy their summer breaks before college or entering the workforce, these young men and women are getting ready to leave for basic training.
In Devine, a total of 10 graduates are planning to enter the military. Jordan Erxleben and Juan Hernandez will be joining the Navy. Theodore Hinkle and Zachery Martinez will be going into the Army. Entering the Air Force are Owen Fowler, Joselyn Guajardo, Noah Macias, and Kristina Moralez. Ryan Mclain Connor, Carlo Rivera, and Aaron Salazar will be joining the Marines.
In Lytle, graduates Nivea Sanchez, George Hernandez, and Mackenzie Sessom have committed to serving in the military.
Natalia’s graduating class consisted of two military commitments. Joshua San Miguel will be joining the Air Force and Austin Sutton will be joining the Navy.
Hondo had seven graduates going into the military. Marco Aguilar Rios and Paul Ramirez will be going into the Army. Benjamin Cardenas, Eric Camjo, Avery Ortiz, and Devin Velasquez are entering the Air Force. Going into the Marines is Hayven Villareal.
In Sabinal, there are three graduates entering the service. Jacob Flores and Ryan Wells will be going into the Navy while Jesus Gonzales will be going into the Marine Corps Reserves.
Medina Valley’s graduating class consisted of a total of 20 students enlisting in the military. Angel Mariscal, Miranda Salas Perez, and Cristobal Gil will be joining the Army. Garrett Edwards, Sharlotte Sarro, Zachary Guinn, Gavin Guerrero, Alan Segura, and Emiano Rodriguez will be joining the Marine Corps. Rene Contreras, Madaly Gaultier-Soliz, and Clayton “CJ” McCulloch will be joining the Navy. Anberlin MacCauley, Kason Saulter, Natalie Perez, Elisa Simmons, Jaiden Gonzalez, Eric Barrentes, Jacob Lascano, and Cristian Zarazua will be joining the Air Force.
The young people of Medina County entering the military have expressed their joy about entering the service and sorrow about leaving the community. Jordan Erxleben will be attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
“I’m very excited for the next chapter of my life,” said Erxleben. “I’m sad about leaving my friends, family, and home in Texas, but my time in Annapolis and the assignments beyond inspire great excitement for what is to come.”
Erxleben’s mother Lacey Erxleben also had some sentiments to share about the bittersweet feeling of her daughter leaving.
“It’s the best of both worlds- getting an education and serving our country,” said Erxleben. “I’m sad but happy for the opportunity for her and I know that, like all of my children before her, I need to let her go in order for her to accomplish great things.”
Juan Hernandez expressed how he is happy to be joining the military because he believes it is a great option right out of high school.
“I wanted to enlist because I want to travel the world and work out as much as possible, so what better way to do it than to join the Navy,” said Hernandez.
Kristina Moralez shared her nervousness and hopefulness in regards to joining the military.
“I have always loved challenges, being pushed past my limits, and staying active which is why I think I will love serving my country,” said Moralez. “I’ve always thought of myself as a leader so I would like to show those qualities of myself in the service as well.”
We thank the brave young men and women who have made the decision to serve their country, dedicating themselves to the nation’s independence.
Please note, unfortunately not all pictures were made available to us as of press time, but we are happy to feature any student who was left out in future weeks.