“When I decided to earn a degree, I meant to send the message that it doesn’t matter how old you are or how long has passed since the last time you were in school; when there is a will, there is a way, something that I constantly tell my now adult children.”
ꟷꟷ Isidora Beltran
Isidora Beltran is the proud mother of three children. Her venture with AVANCE started in 1992, when she enrolled her son, Jeremy Rosales, into the Parent-Child Education Program (PCEP) when he was only two years old. Upon completing PCEP, Isidora enrolled Jeremy in Early Head Start (EHS). She fell in love with the program and didn’t hesitate to accept when asked to participate as a volunteer. During that time, she learned about the different family education workshops AVANCE offered, including English as Second Language (ESL), and Adult Education.
While I was learning English, I stopped volunteering, and AVANCE offered me a position as a teacher assistant. I became motivated to continue my studies and enrolled in GED classes. I graduated from the program and began working for AVANCE, an agency that has a mission I truly believe in. I love how my family was transformed through education, just the same way we continue transforming and educating the families we serve.
After earning my GED, I became a teacher and then a home-based visitor. I was privileged to work on both EHS and EHS Home-Based programs and developed my professional skills through different positions.
In 2011, I was asked to work at Kruse EHS; it was a new center. I have fulfilled different positions through the years until the most recent one, Family Development Worker (FDW). AVANCE has given me great rewards personally and professionally.
Seeing the families’ growth and continuing their education inspired me to further my education. I am proud to have graduated on December 10, 2022, from the University of Houston-Clear Lake with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.
When I decided to earn a degree, I meant to send the message that it doesn’t matter how old you are or how long has passed since the last time you were in school; when there is a will, there is a way, something that I constantly tell my now adult children. For Jeremy, AVANCE provided him with the tools to succeed in school and throughout his career as a refinery inspector.
My sons are my pride and joy, and taking the PCEP classes equipped me to be the best parent I could be.
Serving as a volunteer and then getting access to all AVANCE programs gave me the knowledge to value the importance to further my education and achieve the dream of being the professional educator I am today.
This website is supported by the Grant Numbers Early Head Start/Head Start 06CH011541, 06HP000564, 06HP000534, FRAMEWorks: 90ZB0030 and Ready for Life: 90ZD0003 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of AVANCE-Houston, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.