Supporting Educators

The purpose of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is to “ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.” Recruiting and retaining highly qualified, credentialed special education teachers can be challenging for many school districts. These challenges can increase for rural communities. Soulful Presence believes that future special education teachers should receive the support necessary to achieve their college education while being encouraged to return to their community to share their talents and knowledge.

Soulful Presence established the Cissy Vargas Scholarship Fund. The Cissy Vargas Scholarship was created to support the special education teaching profession and to encourage graduates of Taos High School in Taos, New Mexico to complete their special education degree and to serve their community by giving back to others with intellectual disabilities.

The scholarship fund was created by the Vargas Family, and other supporters, to honor Cissy Vargas, a native of Taos, New Mexico and daughter of Alice and Elias Vargas of Ranchitos. Cissy is one of the first and founding participants of the Taos County Association for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (formerly ARC). Cissy has been active in the program since the early 1960’s, working in various jobs throughout Taos as a productive member of the community. Of special note is that Cissy has inspired each of her siblings, and several of their children, to complete graduate degrees in education. It is through this scholarship fund that her inspiration can be shared with others in the community interested in pursuing and completing college degrees in special education.