{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The TALAS VOZ","title":"The Heart of Education: Dr. Jessica Melendez-Carrillo on Empowering Students and Staff","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1981,"description":"Welcome to the first episode of The TALAS VOZ podcast. Today, host Rick Fernandez welcomes Dr. Jessica Melendez-Carrillo, Principal of Congressman Silvestre & Carolina Reyes Elementary School in Canutillo ISD. A proud El Paso leader and current TALAS El Paso President, Jessica shares her journey from aspiring news anchor to instructional leader of an A-rated campus serving a strong military-connected community.\n\nFrom opening a brand-new elementary school to sustaining high performance year after year, Jessica unpacks what it really takes to build culture, maintain excellence, and lead with heart. She reflects on the power of dual language education, the weight of early literacy, and why elementary school truly is “the foundation” of a child’s academic journey.\n\nRick and Jessica also explore the challenges facing campuses today, including conflict resolution among students in a digital age and navigating budget constraints across Texas districts. At the center of it all is Jessica’s leadership philosophy: everyone is a leader, expectations are high, and the work never stops once you reach an A.\n\nWhat You’ll Learn:\n\nHow Jessica’s early dream of working in television shaped her leadership presence\nWhy elementary school is the “heart of the work” and the foundation for long-term success\nHow opening a new campus builds systems, culture, and ownership from day one\nWhy maintaining an A-rated campus is harder than earning it\nWhat it means to lead with the mindset that “everyone is a leader”\nHow granular data analysis and professional learning communities sustain excellence\nWhy conflict resolution and peer relationships are growing challenges in the digital age\nHow budget deficits impact campus leadership across Texas\nWhat it means to be a Purple Star campus and support military-connected families\nWhy TALAS provides unity, mentorship, and statewide collaboration for Latino leaders\n\nEpisode Timestamps\n00:29 Jessica’s Journey from Aspiring News Anchor to Educator\n\n02:14 The...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/r00gAZr2m3BZAushOsHOuPAoN6CMVkCJInMATJ2gDTs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wMTJl/YTFiZjhmODBkNTkz/MDI4ZTdiODZlODE0/ODAwNS5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}