Dedication, Creativity, Determination, and Loyalty are all words that can describe students in Music  programs across Tornillo ISD. These qualities not only describe the student that work hard to learn instruments  but also are embodied in each Teacher that encounters and encourages students to participate in the Music Programs. The music programs will have life-long connections to Tornillo ISD and the world they will join as they graduate or enter the workforce.  The music we make and listen to is  intertwined with our daily lives. Through the music program, we will strive to allow every student to participate and become a part of the world of  Music.  

Music has ties to every human endeavor and contributes to our daily well-being throughout our lives. It marks special events and adds a special dimension to the quality of our lives that cannot be obtained from any other source.  

The goal of the high school music program is to provide students with a broad foundation of musical knowledge, coupled with a high level of academic performance skills. The music course offerings are designed to fulfill the needs of all students with an interest in music. The music program in high school builds sequentially on the music program in middle school and provides the foundation for lifelong participation in and enjoyment of music. Instructional activities are directed toward achieving the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and the National Standards for the Arts.  

Every high school music course, including performance courses, provides experience of creating, performing, listening to, and analyzing music, in addition to focusing on its specific subject. Also included are learning experiences designed to develop the ability to read music, use the notation and terminology of music, describe music, make informed evaluations concerning music, and understand music and music practices in relation to history and culture and to other disciplines in the high school curriculum. 

Wellness Department 

Our students are our most valuable resource, and we believe their success is more than just academics.  For students to succeed, education and health must go hand in hand.  For this reason, the nursing staff at Tornillo ISD believe the best learners are healthy children in a healthy and safe school environment.  Without question, this learning environment must also include healthy employees because they provide the foundation for excellence in the classroom and improved student outcomes. 

Mission 

Our nursing staff are essential members of the TISD educational team.  Our mission is to provide professional nursing care and to promote a safe and healthy environment.  We are dedicated to communicating and demonstrating our concerns and commitment to every student, resulting in each student feeling like an appreciated and valued member of our school community.    

The goal of the Wellness Department is to maximize educational opportunities for each student by identifying, preventing, managing or removing barriers to their education.  Our department is grounded in evidence-based practices that allow our TISD learning community to develop its full potential.  We are the leaders who bridge health care and education by advocating for students, their families and our entire school community.  

Tornillo Special Education Department 

The Tornillo Special Education Department provides service and support to campuses and students, so students receive a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. In addition to instructional services, related services are also provided for students who have an identified need. 

The Special Education Department also manages the following programs: 

• Dyslexia 
• Section 504 Accommodation Plans 

• District Homebound Services 

The Tornillo Special Education Department  

Tornillo ISD provides campuses and staff support for the inclusion of special education students in grade level instructional programs. In addition, campuses are encouraged and supported to provide services to students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. TISD provides staff development opportunities so that all personnel in the district will understand issues regarding students with disabilities. Support is provided for the Compensatory Homebound program and the General Education Homebound program. Transitional support is provided to prepare students for adulthood. 

TISD provides children opportunities in the schools and community. Support is provided with the implementation of Response to Intervention to identify students with disabilities, to include Dyslexia.  

Tornillo ISD also provides support to parents of students with disabilities through quarterly meetings for students identified with a disability and students identified with Dyslexia.  

Tornillo ISD supports Special Olympics-District and Regional events. 

Tornillo ISD works to meet the standards of the 504 program to meet the needs of identified students. 

Tornillo ISD Continuum of Special Education Services 

Inclusion: Special Education and related services are provided in a general education classroom on a regularly scheduled basis through services as Co-Teaching and Support Facilitation. 

Pre-School Special Education Services: The Pre-School Special Education Services is offered to children beginning at age 3 - age 5 who need instruction on developing language, socialization skills, motor development, and self-help skills. IEPs should include, but is not limited to, cognitive /academic, self-care, fine motor, gross motor, language, and socialization skills. 

This program is intended to give our preschool children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment an opportunity to attend a developmentally appropriate classroom. 

Living Skills: Living Skills classes are designed for students who exhibit cognitive disabilities and need to develop skills to function independently in the community in which they live. IEPs should include, but not limited to, cognitive/basic academic, self-care, fine motor, gross motor, socialization, language/communication, and community-based instruction.  

* As students move into secondary programs, increased emphasis is placed on vocational training. 

Homebound: A special education teacher provides instruction to students who are confined to their home or hospital. Services as determined by the ARD committee, are provided either in the home or at the hospital bedside. 

Tornillo ISDs Athletic Events: 

Fall games: Hoops for Dreams- Life Skills students compete in a developmental skills game with high school basketball students and Central Office staff. 

Spring games: Coyote Games- Life Skills students compete in a developmental skills game partnered with high school baseball/softball players against Central Office/School Administrators.  

Coyote Games: Tornillo ISD's very own Special Olympics for our Life Skills students to participate in the following modified or altered events: 100-yard dash, hurdles, long jump, obstacle course, and relay race.  

TWITTER handle: 

Dept.: @TISDSPED 

Coordinator: @GMiramon_TISD 

Adult Education

Tornillo Independent School District offers classes and programs to all community members to provide opportunities for a path towards a career. All classes are taught in person and information is available at the Tornillo Community Center or by telephone at (915)765-3263. 

Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced English classes are provided to assist adult students in the acquisition and enhancement of the English language. The teachers provide opportunities for students to improve their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in English.  

General Educational Development Test (GED) classes provide students with opportunities to enhance their skills in English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Classes are taught by individual teachers with bachelor’s degrees or higher in their area of expertise in person to give the students a better understanding of the subject. These classes are available in English and Spanish. 

Computer classes are provided at the beginner and advanced levels. Students can learn or enhance their skills in Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint. Instructions are also provided on the design of websites and using search engines on the internet, among other things. 

Citizenship classes are available in English and Spanish. The instructors provide information that allows the students to learn about the government and history of the United States to prepare for the test required to become a citizen. Assistance is also provided that allows the students to begin and complete the application process online, and to set up appointments with the United States Citizenship and Immigration offices. 

Western Technical College Partnership 

The Tornillo Community Education Program has partnered with Western Tech to provide classes for adults interested in obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Classes are offered in the Tornillo Community Center in the evenings as the students prepare for their permit, and driving practice is provided at the Western Tech driver training campus. 

For more information on any of these classes, please contact Marco Tristan at the Tornillo Community Center, or by phone at (915)765-3263 and at tristanm@tisd.us.  

Athletics 

Mission 

Tornillo I.S.D Athletics's mission is to prepare all students to be successful citizens by developing student athletes into leaders by emphasizing good character, sportsmanship, integrity, responsibility, service to the community, and academic achievement while preparing them to play at a high level in individual and team sports. 

Goals

The Tornillo Independent School District believes that the district athletic program should be an integral part of the total education process. 
 
Good contests, properly supervised, give youthful competitors the opportunity to gain self-confidence, improve skills, exhibit good sportsmanship, ethical behavior, and integrity. Sports programs help the participant develop physically, morally, and mentally. 
 
Athletic offerings within the district are competitive and diversified, thereby allowing students the opportunity to realize their full potential relative to growth and development. All programs are designed not only to teach athletic skills, but also to instill good character and teach sound values. 
 
It is felt that the success of the athletic program sets the tone for the entire school year. It builds a positive self-image for the individual athlete, the team, the school, the community, and importantly, for Tornillo ISD. 
 
It is our final goal that sports activities will produce young men and women who will be able to enter the community and become constructive, contributing members of society; citizens that will leave their mark on this world by making it a better place for future generations.

Twitter: @TISDAthletics

The Tornillo ISD’s goal for K-12 G/T students is to ensure that services are comprehensive, structured, sequenced, and appropriately challenging, including options in the four foundation curricular areas, arts, leadership, and creativity as outlined in TEC 29.121 and the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students. 

Tornillo ISD Gifted & Talented Program 

The Tornillo Independent School District program serves students in grades 1-12 who have been identified as gifted learners in one or more areas. All students referred to the gifted and talented program are screened. Those who meet the criteria are identified, placed, and serviced by a teacher who has received initial GT training (30 hours) to include the following: nature and needs of GT students. 

Tornillo ISD will ensure that all students in the program are receiving an engaging array of learning opportunities that enable them to work together as a group, work with peers, and work independently while emphasizing content in the four core academic areas. Services will be provided during the regular school day throughout the school year. Students will be provided out-of-school options such as GT Camps, field trips, GT Showcase, and various competitions. Parents will be informed of these options. 

Identification of the Gifted and Talented 

The GT education program provides screening and selection of students who perform or show potential at remarkably high levels of accomplishment. Nomination windows are open during the Fall and Spring semesters. The identification process is planned and conducted by a group of professional educators involved in the GT education program. 

A selection committee reviews individual student screening data before making identification 

decisions. Parents must grant permission for testing. Assessment measures are calculated from multiple 

sources to ensure that students from all populations in the district have access to assessment.  

The identification procedures are divided into four steps: 

1. Nomination
2. Screening
3. Selection
4. Placement

Professional Development

The foundation of a valued GT education program rests on the exceptional qualities of 

professional educators. All teachers who provide instruction and services to GT students will receive initial training (30 hours) which includes the nature and needs of GT students, assessing student needs and curriculum, and instruction for GT students. Teachers continue as providers of instruction and services should receive six (6) renewal hours annually. 

Twitter @GTSquad_TISD 

Mission

It is the mission of the Tornillo ISD Public Safety Services to provide services with honesty, integrity, and commitment along with the community of Tornillo, the County of El Paso, and other law enforcement agencies. This will enable us to provide a safe and secure learning environment for students, faculty and staff, and improve the quality of education and life in our community. 

Goals

•  Ensure the safety and well-being of TISD students, staff, and property. 
• Maintain knowledgeable, dedicated, and well-trained Public Safety officers. 
• Provide the schools and community we serve with professional and competent delivery of services and safety resources. 
• Be compassionate in supplying services to our community in areas beyond safety by exercising integrity and a strong work ethic in performing our duties. 
• Assist and educate the community with safety protocols in emergency situations. 
• Execute emergency drills for the safety of our community. 
• Perform surveillance camera installation and maintenance with the assistance of Information Technology. 
• Provide traffic control for El Paso Hunger Food Pantry.
• Ensure the Emergency Operations Plan is in compliance with the assistance of Information Technology. 
• Ensure the district is in compliance with Senate Bill 11, Senate Bill 30 and House Bills. 
• Ensure district/mobile radio communications systems are operational.  

Educator and Student Academic Mental Wellness​

Tornillo Independent School District School Counseling department is designed to meet the support and intervention needs of all students. Each school has one full-time counselor who provides services to students in need. All school counselors in TISD are guided by the Ethical Standards of the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) model. 

We provide school counseling, instruction, and mentoring for those struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral problems. ​We collect and analyze data related to school improvement, student outcomes, and accountability requirements.​We implement school-wide prevention programs that help maintain a positive climate conductive to learning.​

We promote school policies and practices that ensure the safety of all students by reducing violence, bullying, and harassment.​We respond to crises by providing leadership, direct services, and coordination with needed community services.​We design, implement, and provide support for a comprehensive school counseling program.

Tornillo Independent School District School Counseling department focuses on our educator and student academic mental wellness by providing Social Emotional Learning skills needed to succeed in school, work, and life. Through SEL we focus on building and maintaining strong relationships, supporting positive school culture and promoting student engagement. Through a Pk-12th grade comprehensive curriculum on SEL, TISD is committed to the social, emotional, and academic development of students by connecting using CASEL framework to inform its SEL programming in alignment with the district strategic plan.  ​                                                

Tornillo Independent School District School Counseling department conduct PK-12th classroom counseling lessons on character traits, career development, and SEL. TISD creates a space where everyone feels safe, respected and cared for and is essential to addressing traumatic stress throughout the year. We promote wellness and resilience by reinforcing communication and social skills, problem solving, anger management, self-regulation, coping with grief and optimism.

                                                            ​

Tornillo Independent School District School Counseling department works with students to promote personal and college and career planning, scholarships, college application guidance, completion of FAFSA and provide 9th-12th resource student guides. ​

Pre-Kinder Program

• Tornillo ISD offers free, full-day prekindergarten classes to students that meet one of the federal requirements. Some seats may be available for non-qualifying students based on availability.​
• Our mission is to love, serve, and care for our students by providing a learning environment that inspires curiosity, builds confidence, and fosters a love of learning.​
• Students will follow a learning plan that will focus on the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines. Click below to view the guidelines.​
• English:  https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/PreK_4_Family_Guide.pdf​
• Spanish:  https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/Prek_4_Family_Guide_Sp.pdf​
• Resources:  TEA Early Childhood Education Family Resources

Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment in a free prekindergarten class, a child must be at least four years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year and meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements:​

 To get into PreK, your child needs to meet only ONE of the following requirements:  ​

• Does not speak or understand English​
• Eligible for the Free or Reduced – Price Lunch Program​
• Homeless​
• If you have a parent that is an active-duty military or active-duty reserve, see below for more information.​
• Is or ever has been in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing​
• Has a parent that was an active-duty member of the armed forces, state military forces or reserve component who was injured or killed while serving on active duty​
• Is the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as: a peace officer under Texas Government Code §3106.002, a firefighter under Texas Government Code §3106.003 an emergency medical first responder under Texas Government Code §3106.004​

NOTE:  Eligibility also applies to three-year-olds when a three-year-old program is available.

Required Documents 

You need the following documents to enroll your child in PreK: ​

• Your child’s Birth Certificate​
• Your child’s Social Security Card​
• Your child’s Immunization Record​
• Current Utility Bill (electric and water bill preferred)​
• Parent’s Driver’s License or I.D.​
• Custody Papers or Divorce Decree (if applicable)​
• Proof of income for PK students (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, or last 3 pay stubs)​

In the military? If you are enrolling your child using the military criteria, you will also need to provide: ​

• A copy of the DOD Photo ID for the child ​
• A copy of the State of Service Form or A copy of the Death Certificate, ​
• A copy of the Purple Heart order or a copy of the Line of Duty Determination documentation ​
• A copy of appropriate documentation for the service member who is missing in action ​
• A letter from the Department of Family and Protective Services indicating conservatorship ​

NOTE:  If your student qualifies for PreK, they will be eligible for the entire school year. Once enrolled, your child is required by compulsory attendance laws to continue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is pre-k important?​

Pre-k is very important to a child’s development and school readiness. Your child will have early language, literacy, and math experiences to better prepare them in later grades. Attending Pre-K also helps young students gain a sense of self, exploration, discovery, and confidence.  ​​

How old does my child have to be to enroll in an early childhood program?​

Must be 4 years old by September 1st for the full day Pre-K Program.​​

Does my child have to qualify to enroll in the Pre-K Program?​

Yes. Your child must meet one of the following requirements to qualify:  Age, Educationally Disadvantaged, Limited English Proficient, Foster Care, Military or Armed Services, Homelessness, Star of Texas Award.​

What resources are available if I believe my child needs Special Education services?​

If you believe your child may need these services, you may contact the principal at your school location or our Special Education Department.​

What strategies or resources are provided for students learning English?​

Please see our Bilingual/ESL Education Department for more resources and contact information.

Contact Information

Tornillo Elementary School 915-765-3150​

Mission

The Tornillo Independent School District Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program is designed to prepare students to pursue post-secondary education and/or careers in current and developing fields.   

TISD Career and Technical Education Programs of Study provide opportunities for our students to participate in student organizations, work-based learning/internships, and earn industry-recognized certifications.  Many of our students graduate with a certificate that allows them to begin their career upon graduation. 

Mission 

The mission of the Technology Services department is to provide innovative tools that enhance teaching and student learning, effective and streamlined solutions for all educational and support staff, as well as to foster technologies that promote community and parental educational involvement. 

Program 

Through its Digital Academic Initiative, Tornillo Independent School District continues to take the necessary steps in ensuring that all students are equipped with 21st century digital knowledge and skills.   This digital 1:1 device initiative gives both students and teachers the tools required to research, produce, and communicate information.  This program will also increase access to digital curriculum, libraries, resources, and eventually pave the way to replacing some traditional print textbooks, paper materials, and other classroom equipment.   

Both instructional & operational programs are nearly 100% cloud-based, which allows for 24/7 anytime- anywhere access through a single-sign platform which facilities either on-site or remote work/learning environments.   

The district has also invested in additional high-speed bandwidth services slated to be installed during the Spring/Summer of 2022, which will significantly improve the overall online experience, fully support online state testing, and offer new learning opportunities. 

Recent Awards & Accomplishments 

• Fall 2021 - FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund Award: 470 student laptops, 70 teacher laptops 
• Fall 2021 - FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund Award: Broadband Highspeed Internet Access to qualifying households. 
• Summer 2022 - FCC E-rate Category 2: District-wide WiFi infrastructure upgrades, pending FCDL. 

https://www.twitter.com/TISD_Technology 

@TISD_Technology