Aug. 14, 2019 – Belinda Medellin, a technology teacher at CAST Tech High School in San Antonio ISD, received a surprise announcement today, Aug. 14. In front of her students, Medellin was named the 2020 Secondary Teacher of the Year by Education Service Center, Region 20.
This recognition at the regional level makes Medellin eligible for consideration for Texas Teacher of the Year by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor the State of Texas can bestow upon a teacher, and finalists for the state distinction will be announced later this month.
“We would like to thank Ms. Medellin for making learning in her classroom both memorable and impactful,” said Dr. Jeff Goldhorn, executive director of ESC-20. “She serves as a role model for teachers across our region and I commend her in her belief that education should always be looked at through the lens of opportunity with a forward-thinking mindset.”
Earlier this year, Medellin was named one of SAISD’s three 2019 Distinguished Teachers of the Year. In her application, Medellin wrote about her desire to keep her students moving forward.
“The most significant contributions and accomplishments that I have made in education involve helping my many students discover what they would like to do after high school graduation,” Medellin said.
In preparation for their future, Medellin had her students conduct career research on Glassdoor.com, Salary.com and Indeed.com. During the assignment, students discovered that designers in user experience, or UX, made $30,000 more in annual salary than a graphic designer with similar skill sets. In addition, UX was a growing field with UX designers in high demand.
That “aha” moment led Medellin to develop a UX pathway for her high school students, with the help of industry partners. The Texas Education Agency approved the pathway this past spring, making CAST Tech the first high school in the nation to offer a four-year UX track.
“The students of today and the future need to be ready in all aspects of technology,” she said. “It is part of everyday life and the students in Texas need to have the skills to be marketable worldwide.”
Medellin has 12 years of teaching experience, including two years with CAST Tech High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music and theater from Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis and her master’s degree in teaching and learning with technology from Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa.