Port Isabel ECHS College and Career Advisor Named 2025 “rootEd Texas Advisor of the Year” for Outstanding Support of Rural Students

Edinburg, Texas – During the statewide convening for rootEd advisors whose role is to support rural students with college and career guidance, Normalinda Vera, advisor at Port Isabel Early College High School in Port Isabel, Texas, was named the 2025 Advisor of the Year by rootEd Texas for her extraordinary efforts supporting rural high school students as they prepare for life after graduation.

Vera was honored at the 2025 rootEd Texas Summer Training Conference on July 23, 2025 at the Region One Conference Center in Edinburg.

The training brought together rootEd advisors and partners. The three-day conference included professional development on key topics such as mapping the advising year, supporting military-bound and college-bound students, connecting students to CTE and local workforce pathways, and using data to drive impact. A new session this year explored the integration of AI into advisors’ work—equipping advisors with tools to enhance their day-to-day support for students.

Region One Education Service Center joined the national rootEd Alliance initiative in October 2023 to help prepare rural students for success after graduation. Through this partnership, seven dedicated rootEd advisors have been placed at five rural high schools in Region One’s service area.

rootEd Texas, which served 3,680 seniors at 47 rural high schools across the state in the 2024-2025 academic year, is a collaborative effort among national organization rootEd Alliance and local partners Region One Education Service Center, Education to Employment Partners, Kilgore College, and Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas. The effort is designed to help rural students develop a path to achieve career success and economic stability. Dedicated college and career advisors, called rootEd advisors, work one-on-one with seniors in rural high schools to ensure they graduate on a path to a well-paying job, whether through college, career training, apprenticeships, or military service.

The Advisor of the Year award celebrates a standout rootEd Advisor who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to help high school students in rural communities develop and achieve strong plans for life after graduation.

“Supporting students is about helping them see what’s possible for their futures and then working with them to turn those possibilities into plans,” Vera said. “I’m deeply honored by this recognition, but the greatest reward is seeing my students gain confidence and pursue their goals.”

With more than 15 years of experience in public and private education, Vera brings deep expertise and empathy to her work, helping students and families to find the best-fit training or education opportunities, as well as navigating the often-overwhelming application and financial aid processes.

As a result of her efforts, at Port Isabel Early College High School:

• 100% of students created a postsecondary plan and financial plan.
• 99% of students submitted their FAFSA by the end of the year.
• 100% of career training students got accepted into a program.
• 100% of college students committed to an institution.
• Port Isabel had a 39.4% increase in enrollment in two- or four-year college compared to a three-year baseline pre-rootEd.

With Vera’s encouragement and guidance, Natalie Martinez, Port Isabel Early College High School class of 2025, applied to thirteen colleges — and was accepted to all of them. She said, “I wouldn’t be on my way to UTSA without my rootEd advisor Ms. Vera. She knew that I could accomplish things that I hadn’t seen in myself.”

Natalie’s parents said rootEd’s support has been a blessing, providing their daughter with the guidance to select a field of study and university.

“I’m very grateful for Ms. Vera and rootEd has been a blessing to us,” said Natalie’s parents, Lucy Villarreal and Jarrod Martinez. “We did not go to college, and Ms. Vera guided our daughter onto her path to apply for colleges. We are very proud of Natalie’s accomplishments and we’re excited for her future.”

Vera’s career began in higher education at the University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College, where she supported students across admissions, financial aid, and advising. She went on to serve in multiple enrollment and student services roles at three Texas colleges, before bringing that experience to her work in rural high schools. Vera earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication/Public Relations from the University of Texas at Brownsville and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Our Lady of the Lake University.

Watch a video of Vera action here.

“Normalinda has made an incredible impact as a rootEd advisor at Region One ESC,” said Jennifer Avelar, Region One ESC Director for College and Career Success. “She meets each student where they are, and her one-on-one approach has built tremendous confidence among both students and their families. She goes above and beyond for students and staff, and ensures every senior has a post-graduation plan. We’re incredibly proud that her work at Port Isabel Early College High School is being recognized with the 2025 rootEd Texas Advisor of the Year award.”

Highlights from rootEd Texas’s success for rural students include:

• rootEd students are 20% more likely to enroll in further education and career training than their peers.
• 25% increase in college enrollment at rootEd Texas schools, amidst a 6% decline in rural enrollment nationally.
• 91% FAFSA completion rate in rootEd Texas schools, compared to statewide completion rate of 55%.
• $20,000 average financial aid awarded to enrolled rootEd students, 60% higher than national average for the same graduating class.

“By expanding access to education and training as rural Texas students plan for life after high school, rootEd advisors are changing the trajectory of their futures,” said Noa Meyer, board chair of rootEd Alliance. “Normalinda Vera exemplifies what makes advising powerful and deeply effective: belief in every student’s potential, connection with her community, and relentless commitment. We’re honored to recognize her with this well-deserved award.”