Harris County Department of Education Translation Coordinator Wendy Utterback delivered interpreting audio equipment this week to Clifton Independent School District and connected with district leadership on the Department’s key initiatives. The equipment was donated by Audio Resource Group for the Professional Translators and Interpreters Conference in July and Viki Villarreal, Clifton ISD’s English as a Second Language director, had her name drawn. Utterback met with Villarreal and Clifton ISD Superintendent Andy Ball on Aug. 30.

She will deliver a second set to Weimar ISD and winner Irene Juarez, a paraprofessional at Weimar Elementary School, on Sept. 10.

In addition to teaching them how to use the equipment and explore scenarios, they discussed disadvantages small districts face when it comes to providing language access services to students and families. Networking with school districts across the state – Clifton ISD is northwest of Waco and Weimar sits between Houston and San Antonio – further extends HCDE’s footprint as a leader in public education.