RGV LEAD Launches 2026-2027 Academic Year with Fall Leadership Workshop in Mission Texas
A new academic year begins best when schools, students, and workforce partners come together with a shared purpose. This morning in Mission, Texas, RGV LEAD welcomed more than 350 attendees and industry partners for the Fall Leadership Workshop, marking the official kickoff of the 2026-2027 academic year.
Hosted with the support of regional leaders and workforce partners, the workshop brought energy, connection, and focus to the work ahead. The event centered on a clear goal: helping students see strong career pathways and preparing them for the opportunities that await across the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.
On behalf of the RGV LEAD Board of Directors and Board President Eloy Garza, the organization extends its appreciation to every attendee, partner, sponsor, educator, and community leader who helped make the morning possible.
A strong start for the 2026-2027 academic year
The Fall Leadership Workshop served as more than a kickoff event. It set the tone for a year built around student success, workforce readiness, and practical career exploration.
For RGV LEAD, the start of the school year is a chance to bring partners into the same room, build alignment, and focus on what students need most. That includes access to real career information, exposure to local industries, and support from adults who understand the value of career-connected learning.
With more than 350 attendees in Mission, the workshop showed the strength of that shared commitment. The turnout reflected the dedication of educators, district representatives, workforce organizations, civic leaders, and industry professionals who continue to invest time and energy in students’ futures.
The message was simple and powerful: students benefit when communities work together.
Leadership and partnership at the center of the morning
RGV LEAD’s work depends on steady leadership, active collaboration, and a belief that students deserve meaningful pathways into college, careers, and service.
The organization recognized the leadership and support of:
RGV LEAD Executive Director Maricela “Mari” De León
RGV LEAD Project Coordinator Dr. Diana Ybanez
Board President Eloy Garza
Vice President Esmeralda Adame
Executive Board Member Jonathan Eric Medina
Board Member Frank Almaraz
Their work, along with the guidance of the full Board of Directors, helps connect education and industry in ways that are practical and student-centered.
Events like the Fall Leadership Workshop also create space for regional partners to share what career readiness looks like in real life. Students need more than a general idea of the future. They need to see what different fields require, what skills matter, and how today’s learning connects to tomorrow’s opportunities.
That kind of connection takes coordination. It takes trust. It takes people who are willing to show up.
Thank you to PNC for supporting students and future careers
RGV LEAD extends a sincere thank you to PNC, the event sponsor, for its commitment to students and their future careers.
Support from sponsors helps make gatherings like this possible. It also sends a clear message to students, families, and educators: career preparation matters, and the community is ready to stand behind it.
When organizations invest in student-focused programs, they help create more access to career awareness, mentorship, and workforce learning. That support can shape how students think about their goals and how they prepare for life after graduation.
The Fall Leadership Workshop gave attendees a chance to begin the year with that sense of shared responsibility.
Career industry partners help students connect learning to work
The workshop also welcomed career industry partners who play a key role in helping students understand the world of work. Their presence gave the gathering a practical focus and helped connect classroom goals with real career fields.
RGV LEAD is grateful to the following career industry partners for participating:
City of Pharr
DHR Health
CareerViewXR
Workforce Solutions
Rio Grande Valley Builders Association
Professional Women in Building
Each partner brings a different perspective to the table. Together, they represent public service, health care, career exploration, workforce development, construction, and opportunities for women in skilled industries.
That range matters. Students have different strengths, interests, and goals. Some may be drawn to health care. Others may be curious about construction, city government, technology, or workforce training. A strong career readiness event gives students room to explore those options and ask better questions about their future.
The more students can connect their education to possible careers, the more confident they can become in planning their next steps.
Building momentum across the Rio Grande Valley
The Fall Leadership Workshop in Mission, Texas, reflects the kind of regional teamwork that has long been central to RGV LEAD’s mission. Schools cannot do this work alone. Employers cannot do it alone either. Students gain the most when education, workforce, and community partners stay connected throughout the year.
This kickoff created momentum for the months ahead. It brought people together at the start of the academic year, renewed a shared focus on career pathways, and strengthened the relationships that support student success.
It also offered a reminder that the Rio Grande Valley has a powerful network of people committed to young people. From board members and sponsors to workforce partners and educators, each person present helped shape a strong beginning for 2026-2027.
More photos from the Fall Leadership Workshop will follow, but the message from the morning is already clear: RGV LEAD is ready for the year ahead, and the community is ready to support students as they prepare for bright futures.