Somerset ISD honored with award, funds

The Somerset Independent School District received a national award Tuesday — and the $50,000 that comes with it — for its commitment to helping teachers thrive while improving student outcomes.

The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching surprised district leaders with its District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness during a Zoom meeting, praising administrators for their “longstanding commitment to innovation” and their efforts to support teachers, especially amid an ongoing pandemic.

In a news release, the organization’s CEO, Candice Mcqueen, praised Superintendent Saul Hinojosa and said, “We are proud to celebrate Somerset’s story and inspire districts across the country.”

Somerset partnered with NIET during the 2010-2011 school year, implementing a program meant to support the growth and development of teachers. Since then, overall student proficiency by Texas Education Agency standards has increased by 8 percentage points, and last year the district went from a C grade to a B in student achievement and froma B to anain student progress, according to NIET.

“Dr. Hinojosa and his team identified a need, enacted a bold vision, and now are consistently improving outcomes for students,” Mcqueen said.

Since September, Somerset ISD has piloted a mass coronavirus testing program offered by the local nonprofit Community Labs, testing students and staff for the virus weekly. Thetesting has been effective in identifying asymptomatic cases onthe district’s seven campuses and the number of students attending classes in person has increased by 16 percent since testing began, Hinojosa said.

“Throughout this pandemic, Somerset has exemplified what it looks like to put the needs of students first,” Mcqueen said. “We have seen that leadership extend over the past decade through its work to invest in teachers and truly prioritize student achievement.”