Mesquite ISD Teacher Awarded One-Year Scholarship Toward Doctorate

Left to right: Dr. David Vroonland, Rocio Almanza and Dr. Susan Williams

Rocio Almanza, a teacher at Mesquite Independent School District, recently received a one-year scholarship from the district toward her doctorate at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Almanza is pursuing a doctorate in curriculum and instruction through the Excellence in Teaching Incentive Program (ETIP), a partnership between A&M-Commerce and Mesquite ISD. ETIP encourages the district's teachers to pursue master's and doctorate degrees by offering significant earnings increases for teachers who complete the program and maintain certain quality standards in the classroom.

Dr. David Vroonland, superintendent for Mesquite ISD, created the scholarship to inspire participation in the ETIP initiative. The scholarship is awarded annually to a teacher pursuing a doctorate through the program.