Welcome To Mrs.Tolman's Class

Building Futures. Growing Leaders. Creating Opportunity.

As we move further into the semester, our students continue to show resilience, focus, and commitment to their goals. From scholarships to book studies to digital portfolios, the work happening in our classroom is laying strong foundations for both college and career readiness.

🎓 Scholarship Season in Full Swing

Our seniors are still actively completing scholarship applications — and we could not be prouder of their dedication. This process requires reflection, writing, organization, and courage. Each application submitted is an investment in their future.

✨ Proud Moment:

We are thrilled to share that Shavanna Silva is a recipient of the prestigious Mr. Amigo Scholarship! This honor reflects her hard work, leadership, and commitment to excellence. Please join us in celebrating her incredible achievement!

📚 AVID Book Study

Across grade levels, students are engaging in our current novel study. Through reading, discussion, and reflection, they are building critical thinking skills while strengthening academic vocabulary and analytical writing.

Novel studies give students space to:

Practice academic discourse
Develop deeper comprehension skills
Connect themes to real-life experiences
Strengthen confidence in sharing ideas

These conversations are helping students sharpen their voice — a skill that will serve them well in college and beyond.

💻 Freshmen Digital Portfolios Launch

Our freshmen are beginning an exciting long-term project: Digital Portfolios.

Students are creating personal websites that will grow with them throughout the semester (and potentially throughout high school!). These portfolios will include:

Academic goals
Reflections
Achievements
Projects and presentations
Resume building components

This project encourages ownership, digital literacy, and intentional goal setting. By the end of the semester, students will not only have stronger technical skills — they’ll have a professional online presence that showcases who they are becoming.

📌 Looking Ahead

As we continue through scholarship season and long-term projects, we encourage students to:

Stay organized
Monitor grades on both Home Access Center and Canvas
Communicate with teachers
Take advantage of scholarship opportunities

Small consistent effort each week leads to big results by the end of the year.

Yelena Avila

Plans After High School: I plan to stay with my family and complete my education while focusing on my career goals.

What are you proud of: I am a member of the color guard team and I am very proud of myself for all of the hard work that I have put into this team. Because of my and the rest of the team members' commitment, we have won many competitions and are one of the best color guard teams in Brownsville.

How is your Senior year going? I’ve been doing good so far.

Who do you want to thank? I want to thank my family for always being there for and supporting me through everything

Ashley Pena

Plans After High School: Go to San Antonio and get my doctoral degree for psychology

What are you proud of: I'm a top ten student

I love Cosmetology and fashion designing

I love to go out and have an obsession with K-Pop

and Hello Kitty

How is your Senior year going? My senior year is going well, ummm struggling with all the college classes, but imma finish strong with my associates.

Who do you want to thank? I want to thank my sister, who has been there for me since my freshman year, and she taught me that you gotta do everything alone, and you can't depend on anyone.

Mia Pacheco

Plans After High School: To get my masters in speech pathology to become a speech therapist.

What are you proud of: I've been dancing since middle school and I'm on the dance team. I've also been in the marching show and in winter guard for 3 years. I also dance out of school in a studio, which is exciting since I get to compete with them this year.

How is your Senior year going? Senior is going good, but it is sad and stressful.

Who do you want to thank? I want to thank God most importantly for everything, and also my parents for always supporting me in everything I do.

🌿 Mindful Moment🌿

Take 60 seconds today to pause.
Inhale deeply for four counts.
Hold for four.
Exhale for four.

Growth is happening — even on the days it feels slow. Keep going.

🌟 Closing Thoughts

As we continue through this busy season of applications, projects, and academic growth, I am constantly reminded of how capable and determined our students are. Whether they are applying for scholarships, engaging in thoughtful book discussions, or building their digital portfolios from scratch, they are developing skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Thank you for your continued partnership and encouragement at home — it truly makes a difference. We are building momentum, and our students are rising to the occasion.

Mrs. Linda Tolman
AVID Teacher

Ms. Salazar's Counseling Site

Ms. Salazar's Site has all the academic information for Class of 2025!

Mrs. Linda Tolman

Hello, my name is Mrs. Tolman, and I am proud to serve as the 9th, 11th and 12th Grade AVID teacher here at Rivera Early College High School.

I am honored to be recognized as a TIA Exemplary Teacher and currently serve as an SLO Lead Teacher on our campus. I also have the privilege of sponsoring Student Council, Interact, and the Class of 2027, where I work closely with students to build leadership, service, and school pride.

This year, I am especially excited to join the athletic family as an assistant coach for Girls’ Basketball and Girls’ Track, continuing to cheer on and support our Raiders both in and out of the classroom.

Academically, I have earned a Master of Science in Education in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, along with completing the University of Arlington Principal Preparation Program. I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, focusing my research on educator wellness and sustainable teaching practices.

At the heart of it all, my passion is helping students grow as learners, leaders, and well-rounded individuals—ready to take on their futures with confidence and resilience.

Email: lmteran@bisd.us
Website: www.TolmansClass.com
Location: Rivera Early College High School, Ruben M Torres Boulevard, Brownsville, TX, USA
Phone: (956) 831-8700
IG: @officialtolmansclass

📵 Reminder: Texas House Bill 1481

Beginning September 18, 2025, Texas House Bill 1481 prohibits the use of personal communication devices—including cell phones—on K–12 school campuses during the school day. This law applies to all public schools across the state.

At Rivera ECHS, we are committed to creating a focused, distraction-free learning environment. We ask for your support in reminding students of this important change and helping them build habits that keep their attention on learning and engagement.

📚 Attendance Matters

At Rivera, we believe every single day makes a difference. When students are in school, they’re not only learning in the classroom but also strengthening relationships and staying connected to the Raider community. Missing just a day means missing important lessons, discussions, and experiences that can’t always be repeated. Let’s commit to showing up every day and making the most of the opportunities ahead—because being present is the first step toward success.