STC IT educator champions technology and industry certifications for student success

For continuously advocating for technology and industry-level certifications and her belief that technology open limitless possibilities for students’ futures, South Texas College Information Technology dual credit faculty member Maria Carmen Salinas has been awarded the Distinguished Teaching and Learning Award for the 2023-2024 academic year.

This award is given to STC faculty who exemplify creative and innovative teaching techniques at the college.

“I am honored to be recognized for the DTLA award and I am equally grateful to advocate for students and help them gain meaningful careers in technology fields,” Salinas said. “To me, that means I am successful in my own career.”

Exemplifying a teaching style that combines group collaboration, communication, community involvement and service, Salinas said she has taught dozens of courses to high school students since beginning with STC in 2010, with the hopes of sharing her industry experience to students seeking to enter a variety of different fields.

“I encourage my students to work for as many certifications as they can while they are still in high school. My job is to be the spark that ignites that interest in them,” Salinas said. “From the beginning, my priority is to get to know my students on a personal level and find out what it is that they want to do and what career they’re going into because technology, as flexible as it is, can fit into any career field they want to go into.”

STC Associate Vice President for Dual Credit Programs and School District Partnerships Rebecca De Leon, Ed.D., said that by  incorporating hands-on learning and industry-standard exams into her curriculum, Salinas equips her dual credit students with essential skills and fosters a culture of achievement, significantly improving their educational outcomes.”

“Dual Credit Faculty Ms. Salinas embodies the transformative power of education in the Information Technology field,” De Leon said. “She supports our dual credit students on their journeys to earn a credential along with vital industry-based certifications, which not only open doors to career opportunities but also enhance their marketability in the workplace.”

Earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration-Computer Information Systems from the former University of Texas-Pan American and then a Master of Science in Information Technology from Walden University, Salinas said it was her goal to combine her expertise in technology with a love for teaching.

She got her start in the field as a software systems specialist at UTPA. She then continued to grow and was named the university’s IT Help Desk manager, where she served for more than 14 years, working with networking and server applications along with customer and service support.

She is also a certified expert through the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) and is an Adobe and Microsoft-certified professional.

Her industry experience inspired her to bring all the knowledge she received back into the classroom.

Now, as an instructor, Salinas said she integrates industry-standard exams, so students can earn certifications including Microsoft Office Specialist- Expert, Microsoft Office Associate and Adobe-Certified Professional in Visual Design.

“I have always had to stay up to date with all the new certifications and technology out there, and I hope it makes students realized that whether they are going into the medical field, engineering, construction or welding, everything revolves around technology. Now with Artificial Intelligence (AI) coming in, having a technology background and the skills learned in my class can open a lot of doors for them,” Salinas said. “Through me, they can get those college ready skills, so when they eventually get to a college or university, they have all the skills they need to be successful in the classroom.”