STC Alumnus Angel Treviño brings tech classes to Donna ISD
Donna Independent School District has a growing computer and information technology department for its students, but it wasn't always that way.
It took a go-getter to bring those programs to the Mid-Valley school district. That man is Angel Treviño, who graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Applied Technology - Computer Information Technology (BAT -CIT) degree.
“Even though I graduated a while ago I’ve always been able to go back to them and ask them questions,” Treviño said about the faculty at South Texas College. “They’re there to help me. Via cell phone, coming directly to their office or email I’ve always gotten a response. That’s the best part, even after I graduated.”
Treviño worked hard to propose, plan and implement programs at Donna ISD, but just a few years ago he was learning the material he would end up teaching for himself at STC’s campuses.
He didn't map out his path as an educator but it felt natural after he enjoyed his first degree and went on to earn two more.
“The decisions started with the associates. In the beginning, I wasn’t really trying to get a bachelor's, but I ended up liking it that I went straight for the bachelor's,” Trevino said. “I wanted to continue my education so I ended up getting a master’s after that.”
His BAT-CIT degree opened the door for him to start teaching in Donna and his master’s degree from UTRGV paved the path to add more courses at the high school and expand the options for students.
The Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree (BAT) in Computer and Information Technologies (CIT) prepares students for successful careers in the field of CIT. The department can be contacted by calling 956-872-7272 or emailing nstrawns@southtexascollege.edu
“I ended up getting an offer in Donna within half a year," He said.
“Even though I graduated a while ago I’ve always been able to go back to them and ask them questions,” Treviño said about the faculty at South Texas College. “They’re there to help me. Via cell phone, coming directly to their office or email I’ve always gotten a response. That’s the best part, even after I graduated.”
The rest is history. He continued to learn through workshops and mentorship from STC.
“In Donna, we started with our computer applications class and I ended up pushing for networking and computer information technology,” Treviño said. “Gradually after me kind of begging they ended up opening the networking course.”
The task of starting these new courses at the high school was a welcomed challenge that was made a little less daunting thanks to assistance from where Trevino’s higher education started.
“The majority of my help to launch these programs was either through professors at STC or a training that I would be sent to,” Treviño said.
Less than half (45 percent) of America’s high schools teach computer science and low-income and rural students are less likely to attend schools that offer those courses according to a 2019 report from Code.org. That statistic is something STC is trying to combat with the Dual Enrollment Computer Science Academy (DECSA). The Academy gives students an opportunity to learn college-level courses on STC’s campuses while still in high school.
Treviño aims to bring that program to Donna as well as teach as an adjunct professor with STC.
Thanks to the educator’s efforts the Mid-Valley is building a strong technology pipeline with career-ready students in one of the most in-demand job markets.