Austin Pan American Round Table
Special Projects
Hermelinda Rodriguez Elementary School
Reading and Tutoring Program
In the Fall of 1999, the Austin Independent School District opened a new elementary school in Southeast Austin named after Hermelinda Rodriguez, a long time Austin educator. Hermelinda, Austin's first Hispanic school principal, was an active member of the Austin Pan American Round Table until the time of her death in 1998. She was also a much-admired leader and advocate for bi-lingual education. The opening of the Hermelinda Rodriguez Elementary School was the inspiration for a new Austin Table community service project.
In the spring of 2000 members began a reading and tutoring program at the predominately Hispanic school. For two hours each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon five Austin Table members met with twenty children in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. Many of the children were newly arrived immigrants from Latin American countries with poor vocabularies and reading skills. Teachers and the assistant principal selected the students who participated in the program. The younger children were helped in English and Spanish with reading, vocabulary, and comprehension, and the older children were assisted with class assignments. The program was well received by both the students and school administration. It will resume in fall 2000 with a goal of making it a permanent PART Austin Community Service Project.