Talent Search-Del Valle TRIO Program Director Cynthia Mendieta-Gill to Attend Conference, Advancing College Access Efforts

In January 2024, Cynthia Mendieta-Gill, Director of the Talent Search-Del Valle TRIO program, is set to participate in the New Tech Network (NTN) conference in Los Angeles, California. Her nomination for this opportunity came anonymously from a Del Valle Independent School District employee, joining a cohort of Texas-based college access professionals.

NTN, an organization dedicated to fostering scalable and sustainable change, unveiled a college access initiative in September 2019, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Originating with three Texas districts, NTN has expanded its reach to encompass 49 schools across 15 districts in Arkansas, Southern California, and Texas, collaborating closely with educators and leadership teams.

The multi-year initiative's objective is to enhance postsecondary enrollment rates for Black, Latino, and low-income students within the participating network schools. With a wealth of experience exceeding 25 years, NTN has demonstrated its proficiency in supporting schools and districts, facilitating positive changes.

Cynthia brings over two decades of experience as a K-12 administrator and active involvement in Texas State University's pre-college TRIO programs. Her fully-funded attendance at the NTN conference presents a unique opportunity for professional development and knowledge enrichment in the realm of college access initiatives.

TRIO is a set of federally funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree. More than 900,000 low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities are served by over 3,100 programs nationally. Within the state of Texas, TRIO serves over 62,000 students. TRIO programs provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other supports necessary for educational access and retention. TRIO also provides direct support services for students, and relevant training for directors and staff. 

TRIO Website: https://www.education.txst.edu/trio