Latest news with #Texas-wide
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Harmony Science Academy-Waco named school of character
Waco, Tx (FOX 44) – Harmony Science Academy Waco has been recognized as a National School of Character by a national advocate for character development in schools. Each year, certifies schools and districts at the state and national level that demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development, which the organization says has a positive effect on academic achievement, student behavior and school climate. Only 72 schools nation-wide were recognized. 'At Harmony, our mission is to empower every student with both intellectual strength and emotional integrity,' said CEO Fatih Ay. 'It's truly inspiring to witness how our scholars are integrating academic knowledge with Character Education to enhance our schools and make meaningful contributions to their communities.' 'There is an ethic of care at these schools,' said spokesperson Lori Soifer. 'Working together with students, parents and community members, these schools are creating stronger communities focused on character.' The announcement said each of these schools has put into place a comprehensive, multi-year approach to character education that inspires their students to understand, care about and consistently practice a set of core values that will enable them to flourish in school, in relationships, in the workplace, and as citizens. The schools then underwent a rigorous evaluation process to achieve their certification, documenting how they have implemented character education best practices and structures at each school. Harmony Public Schools is a Texas-born, Texas-wide public charter school system with campuses serving PreK-12 students in 23 cities across the state, placing a heavy focus on STEM skills, Character Education, project-based learning, and college readiness. Harmony Science Academy is located at 1900 North Valley Mills Drive in Waco. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Harmony Public Schools offers sign-on bonus up to $10,000 for TIA designated teachers newly-hired to Harmony
Apr. 8—Harmony Public Schools will offer sign-on bonuses of up to $10,000 to teachers previously designated as Teacher Incentive Allotment recipients who are newly hired by Harmony. A catalyst for helping high-quality teachers remain in the classroom, TIA creates accessible pathways for teachers to earn up to six-figure salaries. The fund was created during the 86th Texas Legislature in 2019 in order to reward and retain highly-qualified teachers. A recent TEA study conducted during the 2023-24 school year showed that designated teacher retention exceeded the statewide teacher retention rate by eight percentage points. Harmony Public Schools was among the earliest adopters of the TIA program, increasing its payout to HPS teachers each year. In August, Harmony will award roughly $12 million in 2025 TIA bonuses to nearly 1,200 teachers, with some earning more than $20,000 in annual bonuses. Harmony's latest TIA initiative is intended to attract TIA designated teachers from outside the school system who may be looking for new career opportunities. In addition to retaining the TIA bonus already designated to them by the TEA, newly-hired Harmony teachers with TIA designation will also receive between $1,500 and $10,000 for signing with Harmony. The final amount is determined based on the teacher's TEA designation level, as well as the agency's determination of the campus' level of need (i.e. high-need campus). A full list of campuses and their corresponding sign-on bonus amounts by designation level can be found through the link at: Similarly, Harmony also is offering bonuses to current team members with TIA designation who transfer from low economic need schools to high economic need schools. Harmony teachers can earn $2,000-$8,000 in bonus compensation for transferring to a school of high economic need. Harmony Public Schools is a Texas-born, Texas-wide public charter school system with campuses serving PreK-Grade 12 students in 23 cities across the state, including Greater Houston, DFW, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Waco, Lubbock,Midland- Odessa, Bryan, Beaumont, and the Rio Grande Valley. Harmony's curriculum places a heavy focus on STEM skills, Character Education, project-based learning, and college readiness. Harmony Public Schools is currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year for both students and team members.
Associated Press
06-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Susan McDowell Joins Upbring as Advisor for New Austin Community Program
Austin, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Building on the child wellbeing vision unveiled in Dallas, Upbring is proud to announce the launch of its new community-based programming in Austin. As part of this exciting expansion, former LifeWorks CEO Susan McDowell joins Upbring as a strategic advisor, lending her vast expertise to further refine its innovative, data-driven approach to supporting children and families. Drawing on the successful framework developed in Dallas, the Austin initiative will leverage advanced data analytics, community insights, and real-time technology to pinpoint and address the root causes of child adversity. Central to this effort is Upbring's proven VectorPoint ™ assessment tool, which will guide local interventions by measuring long-term healing and resilience in children. 'Bringing this initiative to Austin represents an important milestone in our efforts to transform child wellbeing across Texas,' said Michael Loo, President and CEO at Upbring. 'We are thrilled to welcome Susan McDowell as an advisor. Her leadership experience and deep understanding of community-driven models will be invaluable as we tailor our approach to the unique needs of Austin's diverse communities.' Susan McDowell added, 'Too many families have their lives upended by systems involvement. Upbring has a bold vision to disrupt the status quo through community collaboration, innovative data tools, and true partnership with families. They are thinking outside the box, and I'm excited to be part of making this happen in Austin. By leveraging data-driven insights and deep community engagement, we have the opportunity to create meaningful, lasting change for children and families.' In Austin, Upbring will further expand its reach to even more community organizations, educators, healthcare providers, and local leaders to co-create tailored solutions that address both immediate needs and long-term systemic challenges. By integrating comprehensive data insights with community expertise, the program aims to ensure that every child has access to the resources necessary for their material, physical, cognitive, educational, social, and emotional development. This initiative underscores Upbring's ongoing mission to develop scalable, sustainable models that empower communities to tackle child adversity at its core. The organization invites community members and partners in Austin to join in this collective effort to build healthier, more resilient futures for children and families. For more information or to explore partnership opportunities, contact Upbring at [email protected]. To learn more about its mission, visit and follow Upbring on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Founded in 1881, Upbring is a Texas-wide organization implementing generational innovation to advance child wellbeing. We deliver a broad spectrum of life-restoring services that elevate and heal human beings in our communities. By shifting perspectives and re-imagining current systems, we are securing a future free from the damages of abuse. Join us in our mission to break the cycle of child abuse by empowering children, families and communities.
