Maria Carmen Salinas, Featured Educator Johnny G. Economedes High School

April, 2009
Salinas guides Econmedes students to set college and career goals

Maria Carmen Salinas knows how to get through to her students who just might be the first in their families to attend college. The Johnny G. Economedes High School teacher was a first generation student herself She still recalls what inspired her and motivated her, particularly a visit to what is now the University of Texas-Pan Am at age 14.

Today Salinas offers her Career Connections and BCIS students the same possibilities of attending college and setting off on a better life. “I tell my freshmen that you have to start thinking and dreaming. You have to set your goal. If you don’t have goals yet, start researching and exploring the different careers out there to see what you want,” says Salinas. “If you want something, set your goals. You can do it.” She did.

The young Tech Prep students she teaches are not aware of the opportunities they can pursue nor the resources they can tap into. Salinas says most of her students would be in their family’s first generation of college goers, so few have adult family members to coach them through college preparation.

That’s why Salinas’ career connections classes provides crucial guidance in researching careers and colleges and creating high school and college degree plans. Salinas, who was a university administrator for 15 years, explains career and technology certification clusters, credit hours and college majors, the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP), and the benefits of dual enrollment. Her students also get to practice job applications and job interviews.

She has seen the positive effect of career speakers and videos on students who never before considered becoming a paramedic or a security officer or a banker. “Exposed to opportunities of what they could become, students begin investigating a career instead of drifting along.”

For Salinas, getting students into college is not enough. She wants them to enter college focused on a goal with career aspirations. Already, one of her students has announced he will go Harvard and become a NASA engineer.

“The more educated kids we have in our community, the better it will be in the Valley,” bringing in more businesses and even more opportunities, Salinas says. “These kids are going to lead the next generation.” And Salinas is helping them acquire the skills that will make them successful leaders.