CMS teachers first middle-school educators in Texas to earn coveted reading certification

The Canutillo Independent School District is proud to announce that a team of educators from Canutillo Middle School is the first middle-school cohort in all of Texas to complete and earn the coveted Texas Reading Academies certification. 

After a rigorous process and with the help of Region 19, CMS teachers Erika Gamboa, Yvonne Kurczewski, Patricia Montiel and Daniel Kim made history as the first middle school educators to earn this certification, which not only enhances their own professional practice, but also elevates literacy instruction for students across Canutillo Independent School District.

The Texas Reading Academies, mandated by House Bill 3, are designed to strengthen educators’ understanding of the Science of Teaching Reading — a cornerstone of effective instruction across all content areas. While most participants have come from early childhood and elementary settings, this Canutillo cohort represents a landmark expansion into the secondary level, demonstrating that strong literacy skills are vital for student success at every grade.

“These incredible teachers have taken on the challenge of this intensive professional development and emerged as trailblazers for middle school educators statewide,” said Canutillo Middle Principal Christopher Judge. “We are immensely proud of their leadership and their unwavering commitment to giving all students the tools they need to become confident, capable readers.”

Congratulations to Canutillo Middle School and its pioneering educators for leading the way in redefining literacy success for all Texas students.