The Regional Meeting of the P-16 Council and Regional Counselors’ Network meeting kicked off the final virtual Zoom meeting on May 5th at 9:00 a.m. Dr. Gonzalo Salazar, Los Fresnos CISD Superintendent, welcomed the members and gave the opening address. Luis Rodriguez, Executive Director for RGV LEAD, also addressed the audience and gave RGV LEAD updates.

Participants were privileged to hear a presentation by Julian Alvarez [Pictured], Commissioner Representing Labor for the Texas Workforce Commission on “Texas Workforce Education, Reskilling and Upskilling.” With people returning to work after this past pandemic year, it is important for educators to know how to best help students for the world of work.

Following Alvarez’s presentation, was Bernard Chu, a graduate of The University of Florida with a B.S. degree in Finance. His topic was “Work-based Learning & Career Exploration.” He introduced TRANSFRVR, “a virtual training facility which simulates the type of training that takes place in a physical training facility. With one-to-one training from a digital coach who adapts to trainee performance, TRANSFRVR safely replicates an on-the-job environment anywhere — in rural areas, at home, in the classroom — without the overhead of a multi-million dollar training facility while reducing training time compared to a traditional training environment.”  Chu loves the fact that he is helping close the workforce gap.

Judy Moreno, Student Recruitment Specialist at Texas Southmost College, enriched counselors’ knowledge about TSC and what it has to offer students. Moreno has 17 years of experience in higher education at community colleges and universities. She has worked as an Assistant to the Dean of Student Services at Lone Star College Montgomery, in Financial Aid Departments at Lone Star College Montgomery and Sam Houston State University, and as an Academic Liaison for the Learning Center at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She joined Texas Southmost College in 2016.

There is much to be gained by attending the P-16 Council meetings. Make plans to attend the next meeting in the Fall of 2021.