On Jan. 16, Jan. 17 and Jan. 18, our district suffered many tragic losses. Two car accidents, only days apart, took the lives of two Robstown ISD (RISD) students and one faithful educator. These individuals were our students, colleagues, friends, relatives and so much more. Although this pain hurts like nothing we may have ever felt, we pause to remember the good times that God granted us with these individuals.
Roxana Ybarra, a proud Robstown High School alumna, Class of 1993, began her professional journey with RISD in 1995 as a substitute teacher. From 1995 to 1997, she perfected her craft in the classroom as a substitute teacher while finishing her degree. In 1999, she became a first-grade bilingual teacher at San Pedro Elementary, where she taught until 2013. She then taught at Robert Driscoll Elementary and Ortiz Intermediate School, encompassing first- through fifth-grade bilingual education, as well as math. In 2020, Mrs. Ybarra moved to Seale Junior High School to teach sixth- through eighth-grade math, and in 2023 she became the Seale Junior High librarian.
Ms. Ybarra obtained her professional educational degrees from Del Mar College, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. She also belonged to five book clubs, where she joyfully expressed her deep passion for literature.
Mrs. Ybarra sponsored many extracurricular activities, including student council, National Junior Honor Society, UIL campus coordinator, webpage manager and Destination Imagination. Mrs. Ybarra dedicated 23 passionate years of service to Robstown ISD, and we are so blessed by the many lives she touched throughout her time with us.
Connor Zapata, a proud seventh-grade Weevil, was enrolled in all honors classes and participated in cross country, theater arts, Weevil Weekly Reporter, Dramáticos, student council and Picker Paths. Connor was looking forward to playing tennis and wanted to try out for baseball as well. He was good at dodgeball and had a strong faith in God. Connor was set to appear in the upcoming theater production Must See Weevil TV; the production will now be dedicated to him. His peers shared that he helped them in Weevil Lab with IXL, their computer-based curriculum. Connor was a spectacular Weevil who embodied courage, strength and confidence to change the world.
Eden Raine Rubio filled our school with enthusiasm, creativity and laughter. From her very first day, Eden was ready to make her mark on Pre-K—most likely in pink. She loved exploring new things and worked hard to learn and grow, recently sharing that she would “read more books” for her New Year’s resolution. Though she was little, she did not shy away from big things. She was an incredible classroom helper, taking time to think, observe and follow through on every task. She expressed herself joyfully through playful songs, outstanding outfits and impressive block structures—adding a side of silliness and smiles for extra Eden charm.
But her art was where she truly shined. Her attention to detail and ability to express her thoughts and ideas on paper were unparalleled, adding eyelashes and fingernails and coloring every corner of every page, filling each creation with imagination and making it a world of her own. We were truly blessed to have her in our lives. Her joyful and enthusiastic spirit will always be remembered.
Robstown ISD is grateful for the many memories that Mrs. Ybarra, Connor and Eden left with us. We will cherish these memories and hold them dear to our hearts.