Latest news with #WindhamSchoolDistrict
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Windham School District celebrates Second Chance Month
Apr. 16—HUNTSVILLE — In April of each year, Windham School District and its higher education partners, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, recognizes its alumni by celebrating Second Chance Month. This month is dedicated to honoring individuals who accessed and completed rehabilitative programs during incarceration and are now thriving in their communities and lives. Second Chance Month also highlights the importance of entities such as Windham, college and university partners across the state and others that are committed to providing opportunities for people who are incarcerated to engage in academic and career and technical education programs with promising labor market projections in preparation to contribute to Texas communities. Seventeen years ago, on April 9, the Second Chance Act was enacted to help improve the likelihood of life-long success for individuals leaving incarceration. Texas reports one of the lowest recidivism rates in the country, with only 16.9% of individuals returning to incarceration within three years of reentry. Windham and postsecondary partners have contributed to this decrease of recidivism by remaining committed to educational opportunities while cultivating student excellence and transforming lives. "Second Chance Month allows Windham to recognize former students and graduates who worked diligently during incarceration to prepare for productive futures," Windham Superintendent Kristina J. Hartman said in a news release. "These individuals prioritized their education, gained strong career skills and maintained an optimistic outlook resulting in a positive impact to themselves, their families and communities." Through the power of education, Windham fosters successful outcomes by offering a variety of educational opportunities, including life skills programs that promote cognitive behavioral outcomes, academic courses for students to earn their high school equivalency or diploma and dual credit opportunities through partnerships with Lee College and Central Texas College. Additionally, Windham offers approximately 40 hands-on career and technical education (CTE) courses to help prepare students for employment in high-demand jobs. Finally, Windham partners with institutions of higher education for students to continue career preparedness, building upon the skills obtained with the district, through certificate and degree programs. Windham's steadfast dedication to providing success-driven educational opportunities to our students is represented in the district's alumni. According to Windham's 2023-2024 Annual Performance Report, of the 46,648 individuals who rejoined their communities from TDCJ in the 2023-2024 school year, 70% participated in Windham programs. Furthermore, approximately 60% of students enrolled in higher education programs during incarceration were Windham graduates. The district is proud to celebrate the positive impacts of current and future alumni during this year's Second Chance Month.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Windham School District unveils 2025-2029 Strategic Plan
Mar. 3—HUNTSVILLE — Windham School District, serving students incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, recently unveiled its 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, a comprehensive, five-year roadmap designed to drive the district's goals and initiatives forward. Alongside this plan, the district introduced a refreshed vision and mission statement, highlighting the commitment to being a leader in education, while fostering lifelong student excellence and motivation. Windham's newly refined vision and mission better reflect what the district strives toward daily. Vision: To be a leader in education by inspiring excellence and transforming lives. Mission: To guide, motivate and empower students through innovative educational pathways. These changes certify that the district prioritizes the academic, career and individual growth of students to assist them in becoming the best version of themselves. "Windham is excited to implement an improved plan, vision and mission that focuses on advancing the goals of the district not only as it relates to our educators and students, but also for the communities we serve," Windham Superintendent Kristina J. Hartman said in a news release. "Our 2025-2029 Strategic Plan sets a bold course for the future, reaffirming our commitment to excellence in education and ensuring that Windham remains a leader in empowering students to achieve their full potential." Windham's 2025-2029 Strategic Plan is dedicated to the delivery of high-quality instruction to students while supporting their transition into apprenticeship, postsecondary education programs or employment. To achieve this, the district aims to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and staff, enhance the integration of technology in classrooms and strengthen effective communication. Windham plans to accomplish these goals through continual program improvement and annual progress evaluation. The updated Strategic Plan champions improved internet connectivity for students and educators, increasing technology usage and outcomes in the classroom and workforce as the intended result. Additionally, Windham will maximize pre- and post-reentry employment resources for students and graduates by implementing employment and career-centered strategies within the classroom and the community. Furthermore, the district plans to increase the teacher fill rate, currently at 80%. Finally, the 2025-2029 Strategic Plan outlines Windham's goal to enhance communication at the student, internal and stakeholder levels. This will be accomplished by focusing on person-centered language, improving the flow of communication and promoting awareness at the governmental and community levels. "Our goal is to foster clear and open communication on all levels, ensuring everyone feels heard and supported," Windham Division Director of Instruction Kevin Sawnick said in the release. "Not only that, but by placing an emphasis on person-centered language, we create a more respectful environment and empower our students to see their potential and take meaningful steps toward achieving their goals." Windham's implementation of its 2025-2029 Strategic Plan represents a significant rise in educational excellence across all campuses. By focusing on innovative initiatives, the district will enhance the quality of programs offered to students. With a steadfast dedication to providing future-focused education, Windham is poised to create lasting, positive impacts on students, their families and communities throughout the state, the release said. View Windham's 2025-2029 Strategic Plan at the district website.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Windham School District unveils 2025-2029 Strategic Plan
Mar. 3—HUNTSVILLE — Windham School District, serving students incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, recently unveiled its 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, a comprehensive, five-year roadmap designed to drive the district's goals and initiatives forward. Alongside this plan, the district introduced a refreshed vision and mission statement, highlighting the commitment to being a leader in education, while fostering lifelong student excellence and motivation. Windham's newly refined vision and mission better reflect what the district strives toward daily. Vision: To be a leader in education by inspiring excellence and transforming lives. Mission: To guide, motivate and empower students through innovative educational pathways. These changes certify that the district prioritizes the academic, career and individual growth of students to assist them in becoming the best version of themselves. "Windham is excited to implement an improved plan, vision and mission that focuses on advancing the goals of the district not only as it relates to our educators and students, but also for the communities we serve," Windham Superintendent Kristina J. Hartman said in a news release. "Our 2025-2029 Strategic Plan sets a bold course for the future, reaffirming our commitment to excellence in education and ensuring that Windham remains a leader in empowering students to achieve their full potential." Windham's 2025-2029 Strategic Plan is dedicated to the delivery of high-quality instruction to students while supporting their transition into apprenticeship, postsecondary education programs or employment. To achieve this, the district aims to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and staff, enhance the integration of technology in classrooms and strengthen effective communication. Windham plans to accomplish these goals through continual program improvement and annual progress evaluation. The updated Strategic Plan champions improved internet connectivity for students and educators, increasing technology usage and outcomes in the classroom and workforce as the intended result. Additionally, Windham will maximize pre- and post-reentry employment resources for students and graduates by implementing employment and career-centered strategies within the classroom and the community. Furthermore, the district plans to increase the teacher fill rate, currently at 80%. Finally, the 2025-2029 Strategic Plan outlines Windham's goal to enhance communication at the student, internal and stakeholder levels. This will be accomplished by focusing on person-centered language, improving the flow of communication and promoting awareness at the governmental and community levels. "Our goal is to foster clear and open communication on all levels, ensuring everyone feels heard and supported," Windham Division Director of Instruction Kevin Sawnick said in the release. "Not only that, but by placing an emphasis on person-centered language, we create a more respectful environment and empower our students to see their potential and take meaningful steps toward achieving their goals." Windham's implementation of its 2025-2029 Strategic Plan represents a significant rise in educational excellence across all campuses. By focusing on innovative initiatives, the district will enhance the quality of programs offered to students. With a steadfast dedication to providing future-focused education, Windham is poised to create lasting, positive impacts on students, their families and communities throughout the state, the release said. View Windham's 2025-2029 Strategic Plan at the district website.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Yahoo
Inmates in this Texas program are leaving prison with jobs — and lower chances of reincarceration
GATESVILLE — As Amanda Morgan walked out of state prison for the third time in her life, she felt equipped to never return. She wouldn't spend the dollars in her pocket on a pack of cigarettes, as she says she did the last two times she was released from prison. And rather than returning to a life of drugs and crime in her previous home, she'd be dropped off at a sober-living facility in San Angelo and had plans to begin a full-time job almost immediately. 'I've worked hard to get where I am today,' Morgan, 45, said as she prepared for her release from the Patrick L. O'Daniel Unit about 40 miles west of Waco. 'I'm going to be good.' Morgan is one of 30 women who graduated last week from STRIVE, a highly selective, 12-week reentry program the Texas Department of Criminal Justice launched in 2019 to help women incarcerated at the Patrick L. O'Daniel Unit (formerly called the Mountain View Unit) address emotional trauma, learn professional skills and land a job prior to their release. STRIVE, an acronym for Strength Through Restoration, Independence, Vision and Empowerment, has graduated 824 women. Every graduate left prison with a job offer in hand, and graduates are about half as likely to return to prison as the general prison population, state officials said. Within three years of their release, 5.6% of STRIVE participants returned to prison compared to 9.7% of all incarcerated Texas women, according to data provided by prison officials. Criminal justice reform advocates say lawmakers should pump money into STRIVE and similar programs that contribute to lower rates of recidivism. Research, time and time again, has found such programs to save money that the state would otherwise spend to reincarcerate repeat offenders. But more dire needs for the state's roughly 135,000-person prison population mean rehabilitation programs like STRIVE are not where the agency plans to direct additional state dollars in the next budget cycle. The same day Morgan and other STRIVE graduates donned gowns and walked across a stage to collect their diplomas, the criminal justice agency's executive director Bryan Collier defended his budget request before state lawmakers. Last year, the agency submitted a historic $10.9 billion appropriation request for the next two years. Requests include $240 million to construct dorms to house a population projected to increase by about 10% over the next five years, an additional $404.5 million to pay for inmates' health care costs and $28 million to fund a pay increase for parole officers who had a 33% turnover rate. An additional $215 million is needed for major facility repairs. Not included in the budget request are dollars to expand rehabilitation and reentry programs which include chaplaincy, reentry transitional coordinators, substance use treatment programs, and the sex offender treatment program. STRIVE also falls into that bucket, though it is run in collaboration with the Windham School District, which provides education to Texas' incarcerated population. Windham is also not currently seeking state dollars to expand rehabilitation programs, officials said. 'If rehabilitation works, then let's invest in it,' said Jennifer Toon, who was incarcerated and now runs Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance, a nonprofit that advocates for currently and formerly incarcerated women. 'STRIVE is at one facility. How do we replicate that culture and make it more than just three months?' The STRIVE program is highly coveted for its competitiveness, participants said. They must complete an interview and aptitude assessment to gain admission. The program is open to women who have demonstrated good behavior and are not in high-security custody, among other requirements. STRIVE living quarters don't have metal bars nor are they dark, isolating cells. Instead, the women reside communally in a bright, rectangular dorm with rows of cots separated by red brick. Words of encouragement decorate the white walls: 'There is no force equal to a woman determined to rise.' 'I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.' Participants learn coping skills and healthy ways to respond to triggers in a class focused on trauma and healing. The course also addresses issues of domestic violence and sexual assault. Another few hours are dedicated to career and technology. The women receive an email address and computer access to search for and apply to jobs. They can also complete certifications in professional communication, occupational safety, safe food handling and forklifting to make them more attractive job candidates. 'This is the first time I've ever done anything during my incarceration,' said STRIVE graduate Aubrey Nothaft, who said she has been in prison eight times and plans to work in cosmetology, a skill she learned while in prison. 'I begged to get into STRIVE. I just don't want to come back (to prison).' A program supervisor and two case managers are dedicated to the STRIVE program. There are also two full time teachers from the Windham School District. About six mentors, who are female inmates selected by the warden and other agency officials, live with participants and offer support. Mentors and community volunteers also teach the students about healthy relationships, addiction recovery, and managing finances. The program is 'the full package with the bow on top,' said Sherri Cogbill, the deputy director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice reentry and integration division. 'The confidence they gain through this program is extraordinary.' Before STRIVE graduates return to the free world, they select hygiene products and professional clothing to take with them. Mentor Shy Belser, 61, helps participants select clothing in their size. 'I can't be more ready to go home,' said Ahlante Wilson, a STRIVE graduate who left prison last week after serving eight and a half years. 'It's the best feeling.' STRIVE is a bright spot within a state criminal justice system contending with a severe staffing shortage, a growing inmate population and ballooning correctional health care costs. The state prison system is responsible for housing about 135,000 offenders and managing the parole and probation of another 437,000 people. Reducing recidivism is among the agency's priorities, outlined in its 2030 Vision. Texas will become a 'national leader in rehabilitative programming,' the agency website states. 'To me, public safety is achieved if [inmates] don't come back,' Collier told state lawmakers during a public hearing last week, adding that education and rehabilitation programs are among the primary drivers of low rates of recidivism. But as they struggle to respond to immediate operational needs at their more than 100 facilities, agency leaders are not requesting to spend more money on rehabilitation. Instead, their budget proposal targets outdated technology, aging infrastructure, and staffing problems that, according to a Sunset Commission Report, have impacted the agency's ability to provide adequate public safety. 'It has to be a safe environment for anything good to happen in there,' Collier said during last week's Senate Finance Committee hearing. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has requested for the 2026-27 budget cycle $424 million to provide rehabilitation and reintegration services to convicted felons — any increase compared to the current budget cycle would only cover the rising costs of salaries and treatment. Rehabilitation and reintegration services include substance abuse treatment and vocational training but don't include the dollars expended by Windham school district. Despite competing priorities, some criminal justice advocates say rehabilitation programs like STRIVE should still be expanded and that doing so could ultimately save the agency money. 'My hope is that lawmakers will explore incorporating a boost to the funding for these kinds of effective treatment programs,' said Marc Levin, chief policy counsel at the nonpartisan think tank Council on Criminal Justice. The Council of State Governments estimated in a 2024 report that Texas will spend $369 million to reincarcerate people who were released from its prisons in 2022. To avert those costs, the council recommends that state and local governments, along with nonprofit organizations, expand support to individuals returning from incarceration. Agency officials say they will prioritize rehabilitation by maximizing the existing budget. Some formerly incarcerated women have suggested adding funding to STRIVE to make it longer than 12-weeks and to expand the services to other women. In fiscal year 2024, about 6,200 women were released from prison or state jail, TDCJ reported. 'I did 33 years in prison. Three months was not enough to help me learn to reintegrate back in society,' former STRIVE participant Donise Cherry said during a Sunset Commission hearing in November. Prison officials said they are looking to expand elements of STRIVE to other facilities. Last year, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice opened a new prison focused on rehabilitation. One reentry program the prison offers to male inmates is modeled off of STRIVE. Windham School District superintendent Kristina J. Hartman said the district is not asking for more funds for STRIVE this legislative session because it is currently focusing on assessing their programs. She said her district will consider growing its offerings in the 2027 legislative session, which may include an ask for technology to ensure students can compete in the job market and access online opportunities. Just because Morgan was no longer locked up did not mean life would become easy. Morgan was released last week on parole and would have to satisfy certain conditions, including wearing an ankle monitor, reporting to her parole officer each week and completing a weekly drug test. Morgan was convicted in 2021 of possession of less than a gram of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. She also has two prior robbery convictions. The day after Morgan's STRIVE graduation, she arrived at the sober living house where she tried to start off on the right foot. She planned to report to parole, visit the food stamp office, buy a few clothing items and finalize the details of her job, but she ran into obstacles. 'I got on the wrong bus, ended up going the wrong way and had to explain that to my parole officer,' Morgan said. 'It was a very stressful day. I didn't get anything accomplished.' After realizing the Goodwill office she was slated to work at would take hours to reach by bus, Morgan found a job at a landscaping company. The training she completed in horticulture and urban farming while in prison would come in handy, she said. The job was short lived, though. The company didn't have enough work for Morgan, so she is back on the search for a full-time job. Despite the ups and downs of life post incarceration, Morgan says she feels prepared and committed to bettering her life. 'I feel like they covered everything we would need in order to start fresh,' Morgan said about STRIVE. 'It's all going to work out.'
