This summer marked the second year of Hook ’Em Here, Harlingen (HEHH), an immersive five-week paid internship program designed specifically for undergraduate students at the College of Education to step outside their comfort zones and serve as teachers in a community as unique as they are.
As one of the program’s partner cities, Harlingen is known for its distinctive cultural scene as a vibrant, historical city in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, just five hours outside of Austin.
The internship, which is supported through a generous gift from the Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation, provides aspiring teachers and community supporters with first-hand experience in Harlingen’s schools and classrooms through the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District (HCISD). Students receive a $2,000 Dean’s Community Service Award that recognizes their deep interest in learning and helps to support travel and housing experiences.
This year’s program included 13 student interns and eight mentor teachers, one of whom was a returning student. Each of the three participating HCISD schools is supported by one campus coordinator. Although most of the interns are majoring in Early Childhood, three are pursuing degrees in Youth and Community Service.
Ana Rodríguez-Cintrón, the coordinator of HEHH and an instructional coach in the Office of Professional Learning & Teacher Pipelines for HCISD, said that this year the program felt more cohesive and better structured. Overall, the second year built on the foundation of the first and showed growth in the quality of interactions and program delivery,
she said. These early experiences help interns develop a deeper understanding of the profession and inspire a sense of purpose and passion for teaching.
Three of this year’s HEHH interns were from the Valley, including Brianna Chavero, a third-year early childhood bilingual education major. Chavero, who grew up in McAllen, Texas, has expressed interest in returning back to her hometown to teach after earning her degree.
I often found myself reflecting on my own school experiences and it felt like a full-circle moment,
Chavero said. But this time, I was giving back to the community that raised me.
Working alongside mentor teachers – who bring an average of 12 years of teaching experience – interns provided accelerated reading instruction and math support to elementary and middle school students. Each mentor teacher supports interns with lesson plans, learning strategies and classroom skills, while enhancing their ongoing professional development.
Interns were encouraged to use available resources that would best engage their students. By her second week, Chavero was leading small group instruction and activities with confidence.
Chavero credited her first in-classroom experience with expanding her knowledge and understanding of classroom management, lesson planning, student engagement and the everyday realities of teaching, which she described as both challenging and rewarding.
It confirmed my passion for working with young students,
Chavero said.
Next spring, Chavero will begin her Intern I student teaching, with a strong foundation from her HEHH experience. It’s helped me become more adaptable, more prepared to handle last-minute changes to lessons, schedules and classroom dynamics,
she said. It’s also shown me the value of building relationships with other educators and being part of a supportive school community.
Originally from Houston, Terryn Hargis, a rising senior at UT studying general education for K-6, was unfamiliar with the Valley before her internship. During her time in Harlingen, she felt supported by the community and fully embraced her teaching experience.
I loved the students’ curiosity about who I am and what I have to offer them as a teacher,
Hargis said. Her relationship with her mentor played a key role in her development, helping drive her growth in the classroom and strengthening her skills as an educator.
My time in Harlingen helped me understand how important community and environment are to teaching,
she said. It also showed me the kind of attitude and qualities a teacher needs: a constant desire to improve and a genuine love for kids. The impact you make matters, and kids remember.
This summer’s interns entered the program with clearer expectations, said Rodríguez-Cintrón, contributing to a more confident and professional classroom environment.
Many of the mentor teachers were returning participants, which led to stronger, more intentional mentoring relationships,
she said. They were better prepared to guide and support interns through meaningful feedback and modeling.
Additionally, she noted that she was impressed with the initiative and willingness to learn demonstrated by this summer’s interns. It’s clear that the program is not only helping interns grow but also creating meaningful connections between future educators and our district,
she said.
Outside of the classroom, COE students had the opportunity to give back to the community as volunteers at United Way nonprofits serving HCISD youth, including the Child Advocacy Center, Loaves and Fishes, Children’s Bereavement Center and the Harlingen Literacy Center.
Brianna Chavero said her HEHH experience taught her what it truly means to be a teacher – not just academically, but emotionally and practically as well. Her time as an intern deepened her commitment to pursuing teaching as a career.
I’m even more passionate now about serving my community through education,
she said. “The Valley holds a very dear place in my heart.”
For more information about Hook’Em Here, please send an email to coe-hookem@utexas.edu.
