Gen. Colin L. Powell Elementary School
EPISD dedicates one of its newest campuses

Y.Wright

Monitor Staff

Members of the El Paso Independent School District held a formal dedication of General Colin L. Powell Elementary School at 4750 W. Ellerthorpe, Feb. 25.

Powell, which opened in August 2009, is one of three elementary schools built and opened as part of the 2007 Bond program. Already the school has more than 600 students enrolled. It boasts 36 classrooms and a total of more than 79,770 square feet located in the Paso Del Norte housing community. Russell Wiggs, EPISD Board of Trustee said this is the fifth school built on military property and it “exemplifies the long–standing relationship El Paso has with Fort Bliss.”

EPISD Superintendent Dr. Lorenzo Garcia was one of the guest speakers. He talked about how the standards of El Paso schools have risen in recent years.

“We are striving for excellence and equity in all of our schools,” Garcia said. “Today, close to 70 percent of EPISD schools are either recognized or exemplary.” 

 

 

Patricia Hughes, EPISD Board president, in sharing how the school got its name, remembered reading one of the nominations that made mention of honoring a great man who is still alive. Powell served 35 years in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of four-star general and serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After his retirement, Powell became the 65th secretary of State. 

Powell has received many awards and honors during his service to this country, but in a letter that he wrote to the Colin L. Powell Elementary School, he said, “I have received many awards over the years, no award matches having your name over the front of a school.”

With the impact of growth at Fort Bliss over the next few years, Powell will service thousands of military students in the years to come, and EPISD is making every effort to be prepared.

 “Nothing is by chance,” said Garcia. “Everything we are doing at EPISD is success by design.”