ACCELERATION ACADEMIES OF ECTOR COUNTYMarco Salazar Findsthe Recipe for His FutureMany high schoolers work low-wage jobs or none atall. They make plans for building careers after gettingtheir diplomas, often with help from college, tradeschool or military training. When they describe theiradult selves, it’s in the future tense. Not Marco Salazar.At 17, the Ector Acceleration Academieslearner has joined his older brother Raul tobuild a gourmet catering business in WestTexas. The enterprise, Ratengo, features theirunique blend of Mexican, Asian and Frenchcuisines — and is so successful that they wererecently featured on a CBS news program.Marco couldn’t pursue his career and his dreamwithout the flexible, personalized education offered atAcceleration Academies of Ector County (EAA).“I just didn’t have time to do full-time schooland full-time work,” says Marco. “It made ita lot easier for me to actually do school andgraduate instead of missing a bunch of days.”Marco hasn’t lived a charmed life. Far from it: Heand his brother grew up in a struggling family andcommunity, and Marco saw many friends cycle in andout of jail. His brother urged him toward somethingbetter — starting with a high school diploma.“He doesn’t want me to end up like how someof my friends are,” says Marco. “Graduatinghigh school is a big thing for him.”“Man, to work with my brother, who, when I say wecome from humble beginnings, I mean we come fromvery humble beginnings… it’s an absolute blessing”Marco and his brother were recentlyfeatured on a CBS news program.Raul told CBS. Marco added, “Now I see a careerpath. I see goals in life. I see being successful in thefuture. I’m excited for that, that excites me.”It wasn’t always a big thing for Marco. Aftertheir business took off earlier this year, hegrappled with whether to continue hiseducation at a school with a traditionalschedule. “I already found what I loved, and Iwas like, I don’t want to do school any more.I was ready to just drop out — but then Ifound this program.”EAA allows the young chef to organize hiscoursework around his other obligations. Sometimeshe and his brother will serve at a tuxedo dinnerparty late into the night, and then he’ll work on amath or English class in the wee hours. Other times,Marco will come to the academy site located at theProsperity Bank building and take advantage of theone-on-one coaching provided by caring teachers,counselors and advocates.“Everyone just kind of gives you that homefeel; everyone’s here for you,” Marco says ofEAA educators. “It’s not just like, oh, you’rejust the student. They know you by name— they come with a real personal approachand it makes you more motivated to actuallydo your schoolwork and get graduated.”Marco and his brother began their business byselling their original Mexican sushi and have seen itgrow explosively in 2022. After earning his diploma,Marco plans to continue working with his brother,and to pursue a post-secondary education that willsupport his dream of traveling internationally andblending native cuisines into an original, deliciousfusion.“If it weren’t for Acceleration Academies,” hesays, “I probably would have dropped out.”
““They come witha real personalapproach and itmakes you moremotivated toactually do yourschoolwork andget graduated.”
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