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Heritage Middle School

Two Frenship Leaders Receive Lubbock Top 20 Under 40 Award

During Frenship ISD’s November school board meeting, Frenship Board of Trustee Chelsea Salazar and Frenship ISD CTE Coordinator Ira Florez were recognized as recent recipients of the award.

The Top 20 Under 40 Award honors individuals who are movement makers and game changers in the Lubbock community. This award recognizes outstanding individuals under the age of 40 who exemplify leadership in their careers, while actively participating in making Lubbock a better place to live, work, play, learn, and raise a family.

“It is an honor and pleasure to be named alongside such amazing leaders in our community.  I am so thankful for a supportive family and employer that allows me to give back to my community,” said Salazar.

“I was absolutely thrilled to learn that I have been chosen as one of the recipients of the 2024 Young Professionals Top 20 Under 40 award! This recognition is a true honor, and I am proud to be recognized alongside young Lubbock professionals who are actively making a difference in their respective career fields and within the community,” added Florez.

Not only are Salazar and Florez known leaders in their careers, but they are also perfect examples of the Frenship Way SERVE Model as they volunteer with many organizations across the Frenship and Lubbock communities.

Salazar, the Executive Vice President and Marketing Director for Peoples Bank, joined the Frenship ISD Board of Trustees in January of 2023, volunteering her time and expertise to serving the Frenship community. She also serves on the Frenship Foundation for Leaders, a nonprofit organization that supports Frenship teachers and students through grants and scholarships.

In addition to her time spent volunteering at Frenship, she also enjoys serving as a board member at the Parenting Cottage and volunteering with organizations like the Texas Girls and Boys Ranch, Meals on Wheels, and United Way.

“I feel very blessed to work, live and raise my family in Lubbock and the surrounding communities. I will continue to work alongside the community leaders to ensure we are keeping it a great place to work, live and raise families,” said Salazar.

Florez joined the Frenship family in January of 2022 as the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator, overseeing more than 90 CTE courses across 20 programs of study that are offered at Frenship. These programs help prepare students for high-demand careers in industries such as education, agriculture, information technology, culinary, construction, health sciences, automotive, and more.

Florez works with multiple boards that help impact her work in CTE including the Career and Technical Association of Texas, Community Workforce Partnership Board, and the Talent Pipeline Management Healthcare Collaborative Board. In addition to CTE work, she also serves on the Texas Council of Women School Executives, Hispanic Association of Women, and was just accepted to the Leadership Lubbock Class of 2024.

“This achievement marks a significant milestone in my journey and reinforces my dedication to ongoing learning and personal growth. I want to express my gratitude to the Frenship leadership team for their unwavering commitment to growing their own and fostering a culture that promotes professional growth and development,” said Florez. “Thank you to my director, Keith Patrick, for nominating me for this award. His guidance, leadership, and support has been extremely valuable.”

Both Salazar and Florez will be recognized at the Young Professionals of Lubbock Top 20 Under 40 Awards Gala in January for their exceptional leadership and service to our Lubbock community.

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