18-Year-Old Named To Socorro School Board

by ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Celina Avila

EL PASO, Texas — Tanya Kalya Loya isn’t your typical Socorro school board trustee, but she also isn’t your typical 18 year-old.

She graduated from Americas High School when she was only 16 years old and has served on various committees for the Socorro district.

Loya was so impressive during her interview that all seven district trustees voted unanimously to appoint her the newest member of the Socorro school board.

“I thought it was going to be a long shot considering there’s other very qualified candidates,” Loya said.

But out of the 14 applicants for the newly vacated SISD trustee position, 18-year-old Loya stood out.

“We were really impressed with her, not only with her intelligence and her knowledge of the issues but that she could bring a voice for generation for the school board. That we have a multi-generational board is just a really step forward for our district,” said SISD school board President Karen Blaine.

The junior political science student at UTEP has a proven interest in public service, including a recent internship with the mayor’s office. She even put councilman Steve Ortega as a reference on her application.

“I offered her an endorsement. She’s very diligent, very smart, a young up and comer so, I think she’s going to do an excellent job on that board,” said Ortega.

And for critics who question her ability to handle issues dealing with a multi-million dollar budget? Loya had this to say, “I’ve had a lot of work experience. I used to work for a stock broker. So I’ve been exposed to the global financial market, I understand the way capital budget works. I’ve never dealt with it hands on, but I’m ready to prove myself to this community.”

Loya says she plans to pursue a Ph.D in international affairs and she hopes this will be a good start for a long future in politics. A date for her official swearing in to the board has yet to be finalized.