Ysleta ISD is going global – and bringing the benefits straight back to its classrooms after Alicia R. Chacon International School Assistant Principal Dr. Ramon Benavides received a special invitation to join international colleagues for a 10-day STEM research summit in China this month.

Benavides, the 2022 Texas Teacher of the Year and former Department of Defense (DoD) STEM Ambassador, was chosen to participate in the 2026 STEM Teaching & Research Summit in China through the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

From Texas to China

As part of the all-expense-paid summit, Benavides traveled with other U.S. Teachers of the Year from July 5-14 across Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Zhejiang, and Hangzhou to share ideas, explore innovative practices, and build relationships with international peers. Activities included:

·      Attending the Strategic Cooperation Signing Ceremony between the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Shanghai International Training Center - Holistic Education Growth Program (HEGP), and the International Exchange and Education Association

·      Participating in a China-U.S. STEM Education Seminar in Shaoxing

·      Visiting the waterfront promenade Bund in Shanghai and the arts and crafts enclave Tianzifang

·      Touring the Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing

Turning Global Connections into Student Opportunities

For students at Alicia R. Chacon International School – an academic magnet language program with an international curriculum that includes lessons in English, Spanish, and functional skills in a third language such as German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, or French — the impact of Benavides’ international trip is immediate.

“I’m excited to share how important this experience is for our students and for others across Ysleta ISD,” Benavides said. “I was able to build relationships with schools and organizations in China that will help us create meaningful opportunities for collaboration moving forward.”