By Juan Montoya
This past Monday the staff at Texas Southmost College saw Dr. Sylvia Atkinson clearing out the office of the Executive Director of High School Programs & Community Outreach she had occupied since July 2018.
![Image result for Dr. Sylvia Atkinson, TSC]()
Sources say that Atkinson had handed in her resignation to the board about three weeks ago effective March 1 as a result of her being charged with eight felony counts in federal court.
A federal grand jury indicted Atkinson on Dec. 11, 2019 for one charge of conspiracy, one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, five counts of bribery, and one count of Travel Act-State Law Bribery, the federal equivalent of the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act.
The indictment is now in federal court and has been assigned to Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr.
Unlike the termination of former TSC president Lily Tercero, there has been no threat of litigation and the board allowed her a two-month transition period for her to get her business in order and the college could transition without difficulty.
"There will be no lawsuit, no buyout, or anything of that sort," said a high-level administrator at the college. "She realized her presence could affect the image of the college that she loves. After all, she got her Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Administration in 1993 when TSC and UTB were together in Brownsville. She reached an amicable agreement with the board to resign so she could focus on her defense on the federal charges."
The administrator said that as the director of the High School Programs and Community Outreach Atkinson had been highly effective as is reflected in the increased number of students enrolled in the Dual Credit Program in high school across the district.
"She was tireless and did a great job for TSC," he said. "We wish her the best of luck with her legal problems."
This past Monday the staff at Texas Southmost College saw Dr. Sylvia Atkinson clearing out the office of the Executive Director of High School Programs & Community Outreach she had occupied since July 2018.
Sources say that Atkinson had handed in her resignation to the board about three weeks ago effective March 1 as a result of her being charged with eight felony counts in federal court.A federal grand jury indicted Atkinson on Dec. 11, 2019 for one charge of conspiracy, one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, five counts of bribery, and one count of Travel Act-State Law Bribery, the federal equivalent of the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act.
The indictment is now in federal court and has been assigned to Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr.
Unlike the termination of former TSC president Lily Tercero, there has been no threat of litigation and the board allowed her a two-month transition period for her to get her business in order and the college could transition without difficulty.
"There will be no lawsuit, no buyout, or anything of that sort," said a high-level administrator at the college. "She realized her presence could affect the image of the college that she loves. After all, she got her Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Administration in 1993 when TSC and UTB were together in Brownsville. She reached an amicable agreement with the board to resign so she could focus on her defense on the federal charges."
The administrator said that as the director of the High School Programs and Community Outreach Atkinson had been highly effective as is reflected in the increased number of students enrolled in the Dual Credit Program in high school across the district.
"She was tireless and did a great job for TSC," he said. "We wish her the best of luck with her legal problems."