Motivational speeches were made to get the staff ready to prepare for the task at hand and start off the year on a positive note.  Teachers have been working this week to prepare their classrooms. The gymnasium was completely full of EPISD employees as each school went in their respective colors to show unity and school spirit as they heard speeches from Gilbert Gonzalez in his first term as superintendent among others from his administration. The event took place from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. and is a tradition which occurs every year where teachers and administrators come together to welcome each other back and make a commitment to improve the academic performance of the year before for the betterment of the students of the EPISD. Thirteen campuses in the EPISD did meet AYP requirements last year as mandated by the Federal Government which encompass five different criteria ranging from academic achievement in reading and mathematics, attendance, percentage of students tested and , if applicable, graduation rate.  Those schools were: CC. Winn High School, the Language Development Center, the Early Childhood Center,  RVLA, Graves, Glass, Kirschner, Benavides Heights, Henry B. Gonzalez, Kennedy Hall , Liberty, Armando Cerna and Perfecto Mancha Elementaries.