TEMPLE, Texas — The Temple Independent School District Bilingual/ESL department has been recognized for their contributions to bilingual and ESL education by Education Service Center Region 12. The department received several honors during Region 12’s Bilingual and English as Second Language Awards (BESA) celebration earlier this week.
Erika Rains, Coordinator of Bilingual/ESL for Temple ISD, was named Region 12 District Leader of the Year. Rains was recognized for her exceptional leadership, strong communication with the community, dedicated support of student groups, effective collaboration with instructional coaches, and significant contributions to curriculum development. Rains was also credited with playing an instrumental role in the continued success of Temple ISD’s bilingual program.
“Being named Region 12 District Leader of the Year is a humbling and deeply meaningful honor,” Rains said. “To me, it represents the hard work, dedication, and shared vision of an incredible team committed to making a lasting impact in our schools and community. It is a reflection not just of my efforts, but of the collective passion we bring every day to support our Emergent Bilingual students.”
Connie Sisneros, the Director of Bilingual/ESL for Temple ISD, was also recognized alongside Rains for being selected as presenters at the Texas Title III Symposium. Sisneros and Rains will present “Juntos Prosperamos: Fostering a Culture of Belonging and Excellence” at the state conference and Temple ISD is one of just three Region 12 districts selected to present. Temple ISD also received recognition for training the next generation by providing training for teachers to test for certification. Marilyn Tamatave, a fourth-grade teacher at Temple’s Hector P. Garcia Elementary School, was also recognized during the event for being nominated for Elementary Teacher of the Year.
“We are incredibly honored to receive two additional recognitions that highlight the dedication and impact of our department,” Sisneros said. “First, being one of only three districts in Region 12 selected to present at the state level is a true testament to the innovation and expertise of our team. Second, we are proud to be recognized for our in-house training efforts, which support teacher certification preparation. We have been committed to training teachers at the district level for many years, and these efforts not only strengthen our teaching workforce, but in turn, directly impact student success by ensuring every classroom is led by a well-prepared, highly qualified educator.”
Temple ISD’s Bilingual/ESL Department serves 1,442 students or a little more than 16 percent of the district’s total population and continues to grow year-over-year.
The BESA Awards are in their third year and the event was created to help recognize professionals working in Emergent Bilingual and ESL classes and departments. Award categories include peer nominations for the Texas Education Agency’s Title III Symposium along with team awards and individual honors. The 2025 TEA Title III Symposium will be held in July in San Antonio.