By Daniel Perez / University Communications
David Caldwell shakes his head and laughs about his life’s journey. From an academically challenged high school student, he has become a nationally recognized teacher who successfully prepares students for information technology jobs.
Caldwell, a 1981 graduate of UTEP’s College of Business Administration, is a computer maintenance instructor at El Paso’s El Dorado High School. During the past nine years, his students have earned more than 1,000 IT certifications that have led to summer internships and academic scholarships.
IT Futures Labs, an initiative of Chicago, Illinois-based Creating IT Futures Foundation, picked up on Caldwell’s efforts. The Chicago foundation considers the El Paso native a role model whose innovative curriculum should be replicated because of how it prepares students for 21st century jobs, including students who are ethnic minorities or economically disadvantaged.
“El Dorado High School is a great example of how to build a winning high school IT training program,” said Eric Larson, director of IT Futures Labs. “The work that the teachers and administrators have done at El Dorado is truly inspiring.”
Caldwell, a first-generation college graduate, said he still uses the marketing and management strategies he learned at UTEP to engage his students. He does it because he knows the world can be a tough place if you are unprepared.
Caldwell initially left UTEP after realizing he was not prepared for college. He enlisted in the Air Force and returned to El Paso after his military service to assist with his family’s wholesale floral business. He worked during the day and took night classes at UTEP. He began to teach some Microsoft courses at El Paso Community College and eventually earned his alternate teacher certification at UTEP.
“Teaching has taken 15 years off my life,” he said. “You have to believe in what you do and that what you teach will make (students) successful. I know it sounds awkward, but part of the passion comes from knowing that you can make a difference.”
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