Ruth Campbell

A cross-section of educators from around the area gathered Wednesday for “At the Crossroads: Generative AI at the Future of Teaching in the Permian Basin” at the J. Conrad Dunagan Library at University of Texas Permian Basin. The keynote speaker was Jose Antonio Bowen, scholar, educator, musician, consultant, and bestselling author. The workshop was designed [...]

Even without knowing he’s written an entire book on the subject you know right off the bat that University of Texas Permian Basin Associate Professor of History Roland Spickermann is passionate about adoption. He and his wife, Lorraine Spickermann, lecturer of teacher education and teacher residency site coordinator at UTPB, have two adopted daughters from [...]

Thanks to passage of House Bill 8 during the most recent special season of the Texas Legislature, Texas students will have a new battery of tests to take starting in the 2027-28 school year. House Bill 8 replaces the STAAR exam with three shorter standardized exams. Ector County Chief Academic Officer Robert Trejo said tests [...]

Permian High School’s Mojo Panther Den has changed locations making it easier to spot and to access. It is now in the lobby of the school. It was on V Hall at the end of B and C Hall by gymnastics and resembled a converted concession stand. Jennifer Livesay is the Student Senate sponsor, teaches [...]

A proposition on the Nov. 4 ballot, if approved by voters, could make access to dementia treatment and innovation easier for West Texans. “Today, it’s far too difficult for Texans to get an early and accurate diagnosis. The Permian Basin faces shortages of neurologists (and) dementia specialists, which forces families to travel long distances for [...]

As University of Texas Permian Basin becomes better known as a place to get an affordable, quality education, its enrollment has continued to increase year over year. In a media availability Thursday Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Becky Spurlock said the university is excited about that growth. The university enrolled more [...]

Anyone who is a veteran can participate in University of Texas Permian Basin’s Mending Mental Gaps program. The Odessa session starts Oct. 6 and there are sessions in Midland and at Immaculate Conception University in San Antonio. Guided discussions center on literature, poetry and novels. They also explore themes like honor, camaraderie, trauma and the [...]

Used by more than 300 athletes a week, The Cindy and Homer Daniels Nutrition Center, tucked into the weight room at the D. Kirk Edwards Family Human Performance Center, has made a night and day difference for athletes. Homer Daniels said the idea came from University of Texas Permian Basin football coach Kris McCullough. One [...]

With the release of state A-F ratings, Sam Houston Elementary became the only non-choice school in Ector County ISD to earn an A rating. The A comes after years of hard work and ups and downs where the campus was F-rated at one point. The four keys to their success are professional learning communities, Opportunity [...]

Dignitaries, elected officials and community members turned out for the grand opening of Harmony School of Innovation-Odessa Monday. The new campus, a STEM-focused, public charter school, is located at 4261 Mission Blvd. The groundbreaking took place in May of 2024. Putting a prekindergarten through 12th grade campus in Odessa was prompted by parents who wanted [...]