Ribbon cutting held for new ECHS & P-TECH building ahead of 2024-2025 school year

DVISD celebrated the grand opening of the new Early College High School and P-TECH building on Saturday, Aug. 3.

Located next to Del Valle High School, the ECHS & P-TECH offers college courses. By the time they graduate from high school, students can graduate with an associate degree from Austin Community College. In the Pathways in Technology Early College High, students can study manufacturing, engineering, computer science, and cybersecurity while receiving hands-on work-based learning experiences with partners including Tesla and Infineon.

“This is the building of our future, and it prepares students for specific careers that are aligned with the needs of our community. It is designed to be a flexible and future-ready space, allowing learning for future career paths that we may not even know about yet,” said DVISD Acting Superintendent Jonathan Harris.

Before the new building was constructed, the ECHS and P-TECH were housed within the DVHS building. Construction started in late March 2023 and was completed in just over a year, ensuring that returning and new students would have a brand new, state-of-the-art building for the 2024-2025 school year.

“By building facilities like this, we don't just tell our community that their children deserve the best; we show them that they deserve the best. This building will support students’ dreams to enter careers now and in the future. This space truly represents the innovative education that DVISD strives to provide all students,” DVISD Board of Trustees President Shaira Ramzanali said.

ECHS and P-TECH Principal Jenise Wright spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, thanking all involved and using the building as a metaphor for the support from various stakeholders necessary to construct the facility.

“To my students behind me and before me, you are my motivation. You all help me to become and want to become, not the best, but the greatest person that I can be. The parents of our students, thank you all for being the building permits that allow us to customize your kids. For the District, they are the wiring and waterworks that provide systems that allow us to function. You may not see them, but they are there,” Ms. Wright said.

“To the school board, thank you for being the roof, the covering, that protects us from all the elements that could destory and cause harm. You are a blessing, and we appreciate you. For my staff, you are the fixtures, the buttons, the switches - if they’re not in place, ain't nothing working. And for my teachers, who actually open doors to new ideas, their minds, their innovations, their ways of thinking, and they also school and teach me. I learn so much from my teachers. My counselor, who is the window, who looks at the hearts of students, and opens their eyes to their options and their opportunities,” Ms. Wright added.

Texas State Senator Judith Zaffirini, who represents Del Valle in the Texas Senate, also spoke at the ceremony. On Saturday, she presented Ms. Wright with a flag flown over the Texas Capitol on the day of the groundbreaking ceremony in April 2023.

“At this beautiful facility with wonderful staff, the students will be able to earn dual credits, and some students will also engage in work-based learning. The fact that they will be able to learn about manufacturing, and engineering, computer science and specialize in cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing, totally ready for jobs. How many graduates worry to death and spend sleepless nights worrying about where they will get a job? These students will be ready,” Sen. Zaffirini said.

Former DVISD students who graduated from the ECHS & P-TECH program spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, highlighting how the program has been foundational in setting them up for success in college and the workforce directly out of high school.

Following official remarks, former and current ECHS & P-TECH C-Suite leaders presented the Board of Trustees, Mr. Harris and Sen. Zaffirni, with pins for supporting the school and students since the program was launched.

Representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Greg Casar and Texas Rep. Lulu Flores attended the ribbon cutting as well. DVISD trustees Elvia Guadian, Ann Heuberger, Damian Pantoja, Chante Wright-Haywood, Susana Ledesma Woody, and Darla Wegner also attended. 

The project was the final building from the $284 million 2019 bond that voters passed. DVISD hired PBK Architects and American Constructors to design and build the facility.

Watch the ribbon-cutting ceremony at this link.