Elgin ISD CTE Newsletter
Maggie Howard, M.Ed.
Director of CCMR, CTE & PTECH
Elgin Independent School District
SkillsUSA State Contest Results
Senior Elizabeth Salinas recently represented Elgin ISD at the SkillsUSA Texas State Leadership & Skills Conference held in Corpus Christi on April 10, after advancing from the district level in Automotive Service Technology.
At the state contest, Elizabeth competed in a rigorous four-hour event featuring 12 automotive service and professionalism stations designed to test both technical skill and workplace readiness. She delivered a strong performance, scoring roughly within 27% of a perfect score in a highly competitive field of 26 contestants.
Elizabeth was also one of only two female competitors in her event. Although she narrowly missed qualification for the national competition, her performance reflected a high level of preparation, dedication, and technical ability.
We are incredibly proud of Elizabeth’s commitment to her craft and the way she represented Elgin ISD on the state stage. Her success is a reflection of the hands-on learning and high expectations built into our Career & Technical Education programs.
Automotive instructor and SkillsUSA advisor is Michael Silkett.
TAFE Officer Attends Leadership Camp
At the TAFE Area 3 conference earlier this year, Elgin High School TAFE student Hailey Hill was elected as the 2026–2027 TAFE Area 3 Historian, earning a leadership position within the organization’s regional officer team.
Hailey recently attended the TAFE Officer Training Camp at Highland Lakes Camp from April 23–25. During the camp, she worked alongside fellow Area 3 officers to begin planning for the upcoming 2026–2027 Area 3 Conference.
Through team-building activities, leadership development sessions, and networking opportunities, Hailey is already contributing ideas and helping shape the direction of next year’s events. Her election and early involvement reflect her dedication to leadership and her commitment to supporting future educators.
We are proud of Hailey’s accomplishment and look forward to seeing the impact she will make in her role throughout the year ahead.
Education and Training instructor and TAFE Teacher Leader is Ashton Howell.
FFA Advances to Area SDE Contest
Elgin FFA members delivered strong performances at the Star District Speaking Development Event (SDE) Contest, with multiple students earning top placements and four events advancing to the Area contest on May 14.
The following students placed first in their respective events and qualified for Area: Grace Hagen (Ag Policy), Nico Munoz (Extemporaneous Speaking and Soil Stewardship), and Preston Maass (Plant Science). Additional results include Gabriela De La Cruz, who placed 3rd in Animal Science, and Melody Trabanino, who placed 4th in Natural Resources.
A special recognition goes to Preston Maass, who also completed the Area officer interview and exam process and is now an official Area Officer candidate—the first from Elgin in more than five years!
We are proud of all these students for their hard work, preparation, and leadership as they continue to represent Elgin FFA at a high level.
ECHS Welcomes PTECH 2030 Cohort
Over 150 rising 9th grade students were recently inducted into the Early College High School (ECHS) and Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) programs at Elgin High School for the 2026–2027 school year.
Students were welcomed by Dual Credit Coordinator Dr. Bianca Villarreal-Ertter and encouraged by a message from an ECHS alumnus who shared their own experience in the program. The celebration continued on stage with high-fives from RB Riverbat, marking a fun and memorable moment for students and families.
The event served as a celebration of opportunity and future-focused learning, recognizing the exciting pathways ahead for the newest members of these two programs.
Students inducted into the program will continue into Summer Bridge programming this June. Families with questions regarding scheduling, transportation, or other requests should contact Dr. Villarreal directly.
Harvest Ridge Elementary students recently experienced Career Day in an engaging and interactive way. High school student leaders stepped into teaching roles, guiding younger learners through hands-on stations designed to introduce them to real-world skills and future opportunities available across Elgin ISD's Career and Technical Education programs.
Students from the welding, automotive, education, health science, and agriculture pathways brought their programs to life through interactive demonstrations and activities. Elementary learners had the opportunity to try on welding hoods, observe and participate in a tire rotation demo, make whipped cream during a food science activity, read a student-authored children’s book, and simulate fluid transfer in a health science station, among many other experiences.
The event not only introduced students to potential career pathways, but also highlighted the leadership and expertise of high school mentors who are actively developing their skills through CTE programs.
Pictured: Agriculture student and FFA/BBQ member Grace Hagen explaining how agriculture connects to everyday life (hint: everywhere) while elementary students enjoy whipped cream prepared during a hands-on food science activity.
Wildcat BBQ played a key support role at the Wildcat Showcase on April 9, helping provide food service and contribute to the community atmosphere throughout the evening. The team arrived early to prepare hundreds of complimentary hotdogs using their competition smoker, adding to the welcoming, family-friendly environment planned for the event.
When severe weather shortened the showcase, students quickly adapted. Working alongside district staff, they helped distribute remaining food, secure equipment, break down tents, and assist with event cleanup. Their focus remained on working efficiently and supporting a smooth, safe conclusion for all attendees.
While the weather limited the full showcase of activities, other Career & Technical Education programs were still able to participate in a limited capacity, including Education and Training, Welding, Agriculture, and Law Enforcement. Even with abbreviated demonstrations, students and staff across programs remained present and engaged with the community.
The evening highlighted the collaborative spirit of CTE programs across the district—students stepping into real-world roles, supporting one another, and adapting to changing circumstances while continuing to serve the community.
Pictured are Wildcat BBQ team members who attended the event (back row, left to right): Francisco Gallegos, Melanie Moran, Yareli Arredondo, and Mellany Rodriguez; (front row, left to right): Antonio Zarate, Bethanee Mackenzie, Katherine Rios, and Ana Sustaita, along with advisor Madi Musick. The team advanced to the Texas High School BBQ State Competition last fall and will compete May 1–2 in Burnet, Texas.
Elgin Elementary recently welcomed a special visit focused on building financial literacy and inspiring young learners, thanks to our partners at First Financial Bank. In honor of Teach Children to Save Day, their team brought both energy and expertise into our classrooms, creating a meaningful and engaging experience for students across participating grade levels.
A special thank you goes to Steven Cutbirth and Ericka Greenfield, who spent time reading Ella the Banker to our students. Through storytelling and discussion, they introduced important concepts about saving, spending, and financial responsibility in a way that was both age-appropriate and memorable. Their connection with students truly brought the story to life.
In addition to sharing their time, First Financial Bank generously provided piggy banks to every student in the participating classes—giving them a tangible way to begin practicing what they learned and encouraging positive financial habits early on.
We are grateful to First Financial Bank for investing in our students and helping lay the foundation for lifelong financial literacy.
Dress for Success Every Wednesday!
Students and staff at every campus are encouraged to dress to represent a college, trade school, business or industry weekly on Wednesdays.