San Angelo ISD PAYS Fall Graduation

PAYS Coordinator of Academic Alternatives Claudia Becerra opened the Thursday evening commencement ceremony with the processional of graduates to Pomp and Circumstance. 

Graduate Makayla Smith shared a welcome message thanking staff, saying “without you we wouldn’t be here today,” and then led her peers and attendees in the national and state pledges. 

PAYS Assistant Principal Bernadina Riojas introduced SAISD School Board members and SAISD administrators present to celebrate the occasion, including Superintendent Carl Dethloff, and CHS Principal Jill Ross and LVHS representative At-Risk Coordinator Aaron Beck.

Mrs. Becerra then addressed the graduates, with a personal message touching on the importance of gratitude, “So, I want to talk to you about gratitude…All you have to do is change your thinking from I have to to I get to. I can say I have to go to work or I could say I get to go to a place everyday and spend time with people who are as passionate about helping kids as I am. I could say I have to work with students who have challenging behaviors or I could say I get to give every student a fresh start so they have the best chance of success… 

“I hope you all recognize this simple mind shift can give you a very deep sense of gratitude…I get to be something I am passionate about..I get to meet new students every year,” she said. “I get to watch them reach milestones… I get to learn about their hopes and dreams…and lastly graduates, I get to be here with you…It’s your turn now, what do you get to do?”

Graduate Tristan Smith, followed with a special message for his fellow graduates. “PAYS was what I needed because I could work in the morning and go to school in the afternoon and finish my work at night. Since PAYS is self-paced, I was able to finish a lot earlier than I would have. I have gotten all the help I needed in my classroom with all the amazing teachers and resources and this benefited me a ton. It let me start my life earlier and set me on the track I needed to be on…I am grateful for PAYS and all the opportunities it gave me.” 

Mrs. Becerra then presented the Class, and SAISD Board Vice President Ami Mizell-Flint addressed and accepted the class, sharing a message of congratulations and inspiration.

“At every PAYS graduation that I have the honor of addressing, I make sure to tell the class that this is my favorite graduation of the year, because the graduates of this celebration chose to take the path to success when they could have just dropped out,” Mizell-Flint said. “I can promise you, you will not regret the decision to finish your high school career.

“Be an advocate,” she said. “Advocate for what you believe in. Advocate for public education. Advocate for foster care. Advocate for pet adoption, for voting or mental health, for victims of any kind. The list goes on and on. Pick a passion drop and jump in. Advocating for something or someone gives you a higher purpose. And as a result of your advocacy work you will learn new things, meet new people, and  possibly find new opportunities. Most importantly you can change a life, and in doing so change the world.” 

Following each graduate’s walk across the stage to accept their diploma, Graduate Rheana Torres spoke at the closing before Ms. Riojas proudly presented the graduating class and graduates tossed their caps in a final culmination of the event before celebrating with families and friends. 

“SAISD is proud of our PAYS Class of 2023 graduates and their achievements, and honors this important milestone and stepping off point for their future,” the school district stated.