Category: Education News

Whataburger celebrates Orange Spirit Week 2021 and 71st anniversary

Whataburger will host its first ever systemwide fundraiser to benefit Feeding America®. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.

Orange Spirit Week is Whataburger’s annual tradition of honoring its legacy while giving back to the communities it serves. This year, in honor of its 71st anniversary, Whataburger is partnering with Feeding America® to help provide at least 2.5 million meals through local food banks across Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. (Whataburger, 2021)

From Sunday, August 8, through Sunday, August 15, customers who donate a minimum of $1 at any of the more than 850 Whataburger restaurants across these ten states will receive a thank-you coupon for a free Whataburger with the purchase of a medium fry and 32-ounce drink. A $1 donation helps provide at least ten meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. Whataburger guarantees a minimum donation of $250,000 with no maximum set.

Every dollar donated during the week-long fundraiser will go to Feeding America and its member food banks in the local communities. It is all in support of Whataburger Feeding Student Success, the company’s signature community program operating at the intersection of food insecurity and education and focusing on helping students at all levels of education achieve their goals and dreams.

The 2021 celebration will kick off in San Antonio on Sunday, August 8, with a drive-through teacher appreciation event at The DoSeum. As part of the Whataburger Feeding Student Success program and Whataburger’s commitment to providing support for education in the communities it serves, the event will include classroom supply and summer swag giveaways for teachers with whom student success begins. Teachers will also have the opportunity to participate in drawings for classroom grants and receive free meals from the Whataburger Food Truck, which debuted during last year’s Orange Spirit Week, among other fun activities. Teachers must show their school IDs for entry into the event.

During the week, Whataburger employees, known as Family Members, will assemble and deliver 10,000 school supply bags to local organizations across ten states.

“Feeding America is doing such amazing work through their network of food banks. All of us at Whataburger are looking forward to joining our customers in showing support for them during Orange Spirit Week. We invite our friends and neighbors to visit their local Whataburger throughout the week and donate to help keep our children nourished and on the path to bright futures.” – Ed Nelson, Whataburger CEO

The magic of Whataburger started on Aug. 8, 1950, in a tiny burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. An entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson set out to build a burger so delicious that customers would take that first bite and say, “What a burger!” Today, Whataburger is known for delicious burgers, big flavor, and the brand’s pride in taking care of its guests, communities. and employees, known as Family Members. Orange Spirit Week celebrates its founding and the foundation for success that Dobson created. Today, Whataburger is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 850 locations across its 14-state footprint, and sales of more than $2.8 billion annually. Whataburger has 50,000 Family Members (employees) and more than sixty million customers who like to customize their Whataburgers just the way they like it.

San Antonio Charter Moms hosts back to school pandemic recovery workshops

Photo: San Antonio Charger Moms, used with permission.

Just as families started to unwind from the stressful school year and settle into a normal summer filled with sleepovers, swim holes and summer camps – STAAR test results flooded in-boxes confirming Covid-slide concerns and leaving parents anxious about the school year ahead. Now with back-to-school season upon us, San Antonio Charter Moms is helping parents prepare for the pivotal year ahead by teaching them how to unlock personalized learning resources from STAAR report cards and decipher valuable data points for pandemic recovery. Virtual parent workshops are scheduled for August 12 and 26 and September 9 from 5:30p.m. to 7p.m. with registration available online. (San Antonio Charter Moms, 2021)

While many hold strong opinions about the STAAR test, too few are aware that the report cards provide personalized learning resources built into the results as explained in a recent Charter Moms Chat interview with Dr. Nathan Balasubramanian, Founder, CEO, and Superintendent of 7Cs Academy. Also known as “Dr. B,” Balasubramanian holds a background in psychometrics, is a trained curriculum auditor and a TEA Authorized Provider for evaluating and improving student outcomes. He argues that stakeholders may want to take another look at standardized test results to make them work to the student’s advantage.

“No matter how parents feel about the test, STAAR results offer a significant amount of personalized data which we so badly need after a year of educational upheaval. We encourage families to take a closer look at the results before the school year begins so they can identify problem areas and use the resources available to start the school year informed and ready. Waiting for parent-teacher conferences in the Fall will put students further behind in the race to catch up.”

Inga Cotton, Founder and Executive Director of San Antonio Charter Moms

San Antonio Charter Moms has created a user-friendly step-by-step set of instructions for interpreting the report cards and identifying personalized learning resources for your child. The first step for accessing your child’s report card is to visit TexasAssessment.gov. Once logged in, you can quickly review your child’s performance year to year. From this page, you can download your child’s report card into a printable PDF, a great resource to use during parent-teacher conferences. On the test results tab, the scale score tells us whether a student is in one of four categories: Masters Grade Level, Meets Grade Level, Approaches Grade Level, or Did Not Meet Grade Level. Scroll down a bit, and you will see information on performance and progress, showing where your child’s score falls on the continuum. In a latest information session with San Antonio Charter Moms, local parents, and educators, Balasubramanian stated, “Parents should monitor the child’s progress along the continuum. Even if the child is performing at the highest level, they should continue to show progress along this graph year after year or they are not being challenged to reach their full potential.”

In this section you can also review questions that your child missed; the goal is not to focus on any one question but to identify patterns of challenge. For example, parents can see firsthand whether their child struggled consistently on multiplication in math or metaphors in reading. Having this data allows parents to personalize learning for their child and seek additional resources to help them succeed.

Further down the page, the report card offers Lexile scores for reading and Quantile scores for math. The purpose of these scores is to help match students with reading and math materials that are at the right level of difficulty. Students learn best when they are doing work at their individualized level. If it is fast and easy, they get bored. If it is hard and slow, they get frustrated. If it is exactly right, they will have fun and feel challenged along the way.

The parent portal allows you to personalize learning resources, which is key to keeping students engaged and growing. Within the portal, parents will find a link to literacy and Lexile tools, including a Find a Book Tool that allows you to enter a Lexile score and an area of interest to search for book recommendations on just about any topic imaginable. From there, why not head to your local public library to tap into the endless resources available for free. The parent portal also includes math and Quantile tools. Dr. B recommends using Math@Home to find materials, including videos and problem sets, that will be at the right challenge level and on the right topics to help students get the help they need to advance to the next level. Should parents need guidance with the process, they can join the San Antonio Charter Moms discussion group on Facebook for support from parents and caregivers who are walking the same journey to prepare for the challenging year ahead.

In summary, STAAR scores can be an extremely useful tool for setting a path for progress. As parents and educators brace for the pivotal year ahead, communication and engagement between parents and educators is paramount to success. Reviewing previous test results with teachers early in the school year and asking for guidance in problem areas can put students on the right path. More specifically, parents can ask for tutoring recommendations, school library resources, additional books or online games. The important thing is to be engaged and work together to set a course for success. If parents do not receive the feedback they are looking for, Cotton recommends going up the chain of command to see who at the school can help. If no help is available, it may be time to exercise the right to school choice.

San Antonio Charter Moms (SACM) began as a blog in 2012 when Founder Inga Cotton was inspired to help San Antonio families more easily find useful information about high-quality school options. Starting with a focus on the growing local charter school offerings, the blog has evolved into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that shares fair information about all types of schools. Established in 2018 as a nonprofit, SACM can accept funding that enables it to grow in ways that support accomplishing its mission of being the most trusted information source on education in the region. This growth includes Spanish-language blog post translations, surveying target publics, holding meetings with decisionmakers, supporting public speaking, community outreach and enhancing mobile technology.

SAY Sí welcomes new co-directors

Stephen Garza-Guzman and Nicole Amri announce first in-person events at Westside location and registration for 2021-2022 school year. Photo: google

Following the recent announcement of SAY Sí’s executive evolution, SAY Sí’s new Co-Executive Directors Stephen Garza-Guzman and Nicole Amri are excited to welcome the community into its new location as they prepare for the return of in-person events and student applications for the 2021-2022 school year. After delays to its official opening due to the pandemic, SAY Sí is excited to open its doors to the Westside for the first time as construction on the first phase of the new location ends. In order to remain accessible, SAY Sí will continue to offer virtual programming to serve as many students as possible throughout the upcoming school year. (SAY Sí, 2021)

“How often does a new leader have such blessings? Our mission is tried and true, and we’ve had the honor of growing up with and around our powerhouse of a staff. All this to serve students, parents and alumni who are truly the energy and power behind our organization. We’re ready.” – Nicole Amri, Co-Executive Director of SAY Sí.

Co-Executive Directors Stephen Garza-Guzman, a nine-year employee of SAY Sí, and Nicole Amri, a SAY Sí alumna and employee, plan to take what they have learned from the organization to build upon existing programs and serve more youth as they transition into their new roles and open the doors of the 1310 S Brazos location this August. As the organization continues to establish its new home in 78207, the leadership team looks forward to making more meaningful connections on San Antonio’s Westside.  

“We are eager to recruit new students again, pilot new creative mediums and deepen our service to new populations,” – Stephen Garza-Guzman, Co-Executive Director of SAY Sí. 

After graduating the class of 2021 and taking a short break this summer, SAY Sí will welcome the return of its students back into its studios starting this August, as well as four major in-person events for the public, including:

  • August: Back-to-School Art Supply Drive
    As part of many efforts to put school and art supplies in the hands of San Antonio youth, SAY Sí will give away free art supply kits to elementary- and middle school-aged students on Saturday, August 21, 2021 from 10 a.m. to Noon at SAY Sí (1310 S. Brazos St. San Antonio, TX 78207).
  • September: The San Antonio Show
    Centered around local artists, both established and emerging, this celebration of San Antonio’s LatinX roots will dig into the past, present and future, and showcase all the things SAY Sí loves about San Antonio. The exhibition will be free and open to the public. Official dates will be shared at a later time.
  • November: Muertitos Fest
    SAY Sí will celebrate both Native American Heritage Month and Día de los Muertos in a slow reopening of in-person events/activities. More details to be announced in the coming weeks. 
  • December: We Are Now: Youth Voices During Challenging Times
    In collaboration with UP Partnership, SAY Sí is taking submissions for this city-wide high school art show. For more information or to apply, contact SAY Sí.

Applications for the 2021-2022 school year will open on August 1, 2021. Updates and more information on the application process can be found online. 

Founded in 1994, SAY Sí is a national award-winning, art-based nonprofit youth development program located in San Antonio, Texas. The goal of the organization is to provide San Antonio area students in grades 6-12 with the opportunity to develop artistic and social skills in preparation for higher educational advancement and career building. SAY Sí programs serve over 200 students from all of San Antonio’s school districts – in addition to serving 4,000 youth in community programs. SAY Sí’s unique approach to education has placed the organization on the national stage, with recognition as one of the top out-of-school-time organizations in the country by The Wallace Foundation, as well as serving as one of seven international youth arts organizations chosen to receive an inaugural Creative Catalyst Award by Adobe Project 1324 in 2016.

 

SAY Sí student receives globally competitive Adobe Design Circle Scholarship

San Antonio resident Jonathan Rodriguez selected as one of ten students from around the world. Photo: google

SAY Sí is thrilled to announce that recent high school graduate and SAY Sí alum, Jonathan Rodriguez, has been awarded the Adobe Design Circle Scholarship, a globally competitive design scholarship. To help reach untapped youth communities and foster diversity in the design industry, Adobe’s Design Circle Scholarship awards 10 annual college scholarships – up to $25,000 per year, for each year of the recipient’s undergraduate education (up to four years or $100,000). Rodriguez’ application was selected as one of 10 students from around the globe and will be applied toward his studies in UX Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) this fall, which intersects with his web design background and passion for creativity, technology and leadership. (SAY Sí, 2021)

As an industry underrepresented by Latinos, Rodriguez believes he will make a difference in driving UX Design innovation of products, services and systems inclusive of his culture, which will help to be made possible by this generous scholarship.

“This award means I will be able to do what I love doing, which is being a creative professional. I was so happy when I found out that I called my mom right away and messaged my two SAY Sí Instructors, Stevan and Ned. I will be studying UX Design at SCAD, and with the Adobe Design Circle Scholarship Program, I will have the opportunity to job shadow and be mentored by creatives at Google, Adobe and many other companies. This is a life-changing award and sets a new standard and path forward.”

scholarship recipient and SAY Sí alum, Jonathan Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is one of SAY Sí’s studio liaisons, acting as an ambassador for the nonprofit arts organization. SAY Sí’s mission is to support and amplify the voices of young artists, regardless of their socioeconomic status by providing hands-on training in digital and tech-based work, visual arts and new media. Rodriguez credits SAY Sí for encouraging and helping him to achieve his goals and hopes his success story will inspire others to do the same.

Founded in 1994, SAY Sí is a national award-winning, art-based nonprofit youth development program located in San Antonio, Texas. The goal of the organization is to provide San Antonio area students in grades 6-12 with the opportunity to develop artistic and social skills in preparation for higher educational advancement and career building. SAY Sí programs serve over 200 students from all of San Antonio’s school districts – in addition to serving 4,000 youth in community programs. SAY Sí’s unique approach to education has placed the organization on the national stage, with recognition as one of the top out-of-school-time organizations in the country by The Wallace Foundation, as well as serving as one of seven international youth arts organizations chosen to receive an inaugural Creative Catalyst Award by Adobe Project 1324 in 2016.

The DoSeum accepting applications for 2021 Artist-in-Residence Program

The DoSeum seeks artists who will create a miniature exhibit to complement ‘DoSeum Express: Tiny Trains and Trolleys’. Photo: google

The DoSeum is now accepting applications for their fifth-annual Artist-in-Residence Program (AIR). For this year’s Artist-in-Residence exhibition, The DoSeum is looking for a San Antonio-based or regional visual or multidisciplinary artist who has experience or has worked in miniatures or miniature scenery. The artist’s installation will complement DoSeum Express: Tiny Trains and Trolleys, a new holiday exhibition featuring working train sets which will become a holiday tradition at The DoSeum in the years to come. (The DoSeum, 2021)

For this program, The DoSeum seeks to partner with professional mid-career artists who seek ways to challenge the young, curious minds of San Antonio through their art. The Artist-in-Residence program provides children with the opportunity to interact with the work of a professional artist to appreciate the artistic process while connecting to themes of STEM and literacy.

The DoSeum will provide the venue, staging, and trains. We request artist support to create the miniature scenery through which the trains will travel. Imagination, creativity, and outside-the-box thinking is encouraged. Children will not touch the scenery but will be viewed through interactive pop-up bubbles, periscopes, and cameras (provided by The DoSeum). We are seeking up to 6 artists to provide a 4’x8′ landscape (base material will be provided).

Previously chosen residents submitted proposals that simultaneously challenged themselves to explore new facets of their own work while incorporating meaningful experiences for guests.  We are seeking up to six artists. The selected AIR artist(s) will receive an honorarium of up to $1,000 and production costs of $2,500 to aid them in the execution of their project.

 ELIGIBILITY

Artists must meet these following requirements to be considered:

  • Open to visual and multidisciplinary artists.
  • Desire to work collaboratively with museum staff and the public to create works that step away from traditional models.
  • Experience creating social engagement participatory works of art. 
  • Experience with miniatures and creating miniature scenery
  • Local and regional mid-career professional artists are encouraged to apply.
  • Artists presently enrolled in post-secondary or graduate-level programs are encouraged to apply after completing studies.
  • Chosen artists will need to pass a background check.

Artists with the above-mentioned experience, interested in exploring non-traditional exhibition spaces, and available for The DoSeum’s 2021 production and exhibition timeline are strongly encouraged to apply.

TIMELINE

Application Deadline: Friday, June 18, 2021

·        June 2 at 10a.m.: Optional Virtual Question Forum – Registration link for Q&A.

·        June 18: Application Deadline

·        June 18-25: Organization Deliberation

·        June 25: Finalists Announced

·        July 16: Finalist Proposal Deadline

·        July 23: Winners announced

·        August – October: Prototyping and Fabrication

·        November 6: Exhibition Opening

For information regarding the Artist-In-Residence program, eligibility, or questions about the process please contact Meredith Doby, VP of Exhibits.

More information about the program is available online.

The DoSeum is one of the leading children’s museums in the nation; a place where your mind is always at play.  The DoSeum offers innovative exhibits and experiences to get children excited about concepts in science, math, art, and literacy and encourages them to take the excitement into the world. Through joyful learning and discovery, The DoSeum Experience grows curious minds, connects families, and transforms communities. For more information, visit TheDoSeum.org The DoSeum is a 501 c3-non-profit organization.

iFLY hosts STEM field trip for Deerpark Middle School students

NASCAR driver Daniel Suarez inside the iFly tunnel during the STEM field trip. Photo: Pryor Films, used with permission.

On Friday, May 21, iFLY Indoor Skydiving hosted a STEM field trip for Deerpark Middle School, a local Title I school, at the Austin tunnel with special guest Daniel Suárez, NASCAR driver from Monterrey, Mexico, and iFLY National STEM Education Director Michelle Brumley, co-sponsored by Trackhouse Racing Team. (iFLY Indoor Skydiving, 2021)

iFLY Austin hosted 60 students from Deerpark Middle School for a STEM-specific field trip delivered by Brumley that featured an interactive presentation, including a physics demonstration in the wind tunnel, experimental STEM activities, safety training, flight time for each student, and a guest appearance by NASCAR driver Suárez. Suárez suited up and took flight inside the iFLY tunnel as part of the STEM presentation. Deerpark Middle School students were able to meet NASCAR driver Suárez—piloting the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro throughout 2021—sponsored by iFLY.

Trackhouse Racing Team is planning to launch a racing-themed STEM curriculum within the SLAM! (Sports Leadership Arts and Management) inner-city charter schools, community organizations, and youth groups to inspire those who want to pursue STEM careers. GRAMMY® Award-winning global superstar and co-owner of Trackhouse Racing Pitbull and founder/co-owner of Trackhouse Racing Justin Marks plan to amplify the sport’s influence around the world by impacting the lives of the underrepresented and creating a movement of positivity and possibility using the platform and excitement of sports and music. 

iFLY STEM field trips are built to increase awareness of exciting STEM careers and how STEM can be used in the real world. Students get fired up about math and physics when they see it come to life in a state-of-the-art wind tunnel. iFLY’s highly trained STEM educators guide students through an immersive, hands-on experience before defying gravity when they actually fly. In fact, iFLY STEM curriculum aligns with both national and state-specific education standards while making STEM exciting and fun. 

iFLY is a sports and recreation company with the mission to deliver the dream of flight. The company pioneered the body-flying “indoor skydiving” experience and is the world leader in vertical wind tunnel technology. Guests do not need to be an athlete or in the best shape of their life. iFLY’s world-class instructors are pros at making flying fun for everyone.

Austin-based iFLY Holdings, LLC., is the world leader in the design, manufacturing, sales, and operations of wind tunnel systems for indoor skydiving. The company has flown more than 9,000,000 people in a dozen countries and at sea since launching the modern vertical wind tunnel industry in 1998. iFLY has over 81 facilities operating worldwide with 36 wholly-owned in North America. iFLY supports and utilizes the safety and training guidelines set out by the International Bodyflight Association (IBA) to ensure the safety and progression of the sport of indoor skydiving. iFLY makes the dream of flight a reality by giving their customers “wings” in a safe and reliable environment.

The Trackhouse Racing team enters its inaugural season with an integrated technical and operational partnership with championship-winning Richard Childress Racing. The alliance delivers Trackhouse Racing full support from Chevrolet in all vehicular and engine development.

San Antonio museums and zoo partner to launch Museo Institute

Museo Institute, a new and exciting professional development program for educators is now accepting applications. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The DoSeum is proud to announce a new alliance with the San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio Zoo, McNay Art Museum, and the Witte Museum in the creation of Museo Institute, an exciting new professional development opportunity for San Antonio educators. The newly launched initiative is a year-long professional development program that invites formal educators to explore informal learning and teaching approaches, discover opportunities for collaboration, and create lessons and activities that merge the best practices of informal and formal education to the benefit of students. Upon successful completion of the program, educators will receive up to 85 CPE credit hours, research-based curriculum resources from leading institutions, and new methods for teaching STEM and STEAM in each educator’s unique setting. The year-long program is currently accepting applications and is set to begin this July, ending in June 2022. (The DoSeum, 2021)

The program was established to bring the vast resources of these organizations together for the teachers of San Antonio. Participating Museo Institute organizations recognize the value cultural organizations bring to educators and how many institutions have offered CPE programs for educators over the years. However, this is the first time so many institutions have come together to design a year-long program in benefit of San Antonio educators. Educators infuse their STEM/STEAM teaching curricula by implementing approaches and methods learned from the informal educators at each cultural organization. A more detailed program description and timeline are available online. 

The cohort learns through virtual and on-site training. Fall training will cover topics including:

  • Maker-Centered Learning, Constructivism, and Digital Literacy – The DoSeum
  • STEAM & Art Conservation – The McNay
  • Using Art & Thinking Routines for Interdisciplinary Content Learning – San Antonio Museum of Art
  • Unlocking Classroom Exploration Through Citizen Science & Service Learning – San Antonio Zoo
  • Integrating STEAM Learning into Other Content Areas – the Witte

The spring practicum will be a hands-on/minds-on project during which each educator receives more training along with coaching from educators at the cultural organization with which they are placed.

By engaging with each organization’s education staff and a cohort of peers from across the San Antonio area, participants will design and implement projects to pilot new pedagogy and lesson/activity plans. By the end of the experience, these select teachers will implement the new curriculum and pedagogy to students in their local learning environments. Each cultural organization will provide a separate syllabus covering the details of their practicum.

Deadlines and How to Apply

  • Applications are available now on The DoSeum’s website and will close on April 16, 2021
  • 40 educators will be selected and notified on May 24
  • Program begins in July
  • One-day training sessions, one per museum scheduled on Saturdays: August – October
  • Spring practicum: December – May
  • Open house events, open-office hours: January – May 2021
  • Showcase celebration: May/June 2021

“After an unprecedented and challenging year in the field of education, we passionately believe it is of utmost importance to partner with educators and share educational tools and resources that can enhance and update their curricula.” – Richard Kissel, Vice President of Education at The DoSeum

Reconnecting with my home town: Veterans Park

Veterans Park in Brownsville. Photo: Sandra Cruz

Part one in a series of posts meant to help me reconnect with my home town and the areas around it while educating the public about the numerous places to see and experience. First of is Veterans Park in Brownsville. Last week I took a trip to see it for myself since I have never been here before, having been gone from the area for almost 20 years. What I found was a respectful and educational memorial to the areas’ veterans.

Veterans Park is located next to the city library and shares an entrance drive and parking.  It consists of veteran memorial walls and placards, a multi-purpose lawn, a walking path, and landscaping. Celebrating the rich heritage of veterans from the Brownsville community, this park is a beautiful living memorial. (City of Brownsville, 2020)

The park focuses on large concave concrete slabs that include the names of Brownsville area veterans from World War II to Afghanistan with each slab holding 40 names each. Currently there are more than 50,000 names of both living and deceased soldiers native to Brownsville. The center of the memorial contains three large flag poles centered on a concrete base with a start embedded within it. There is also a memorial to Medal of Honor Recipient, and Brownsville native, Sergeant Jose M Lopez.

The monument honors veterans from World War II to current conflicts, including the Afghanistan War and its Operation Enduring Freedom. The American Legion aimed to make the park an educational extension of the library by creating two murals showing the locations of conflicts on world maps from the 18th century to present.

If you decide to visit a park or trail, please abide Second Amended Emergency Order guidelines.  Protect yourself and others. Make sure you are wearing a face mask (face covering) and always practice social distancing.  Maintain distance–Stay 6 feet away from other people.  Avoid mass gathering. No crowds, no groups

San Antonio Charter Moms launches new podcast

San Antonio Charter Moms’ podcast provides in-depth, timely education solutions and resources. Photo: San Antonio Charter Moms, used with permission.

Whether distance learning, homeschooling, micro schooling, traditional on-campus or virtual schooling, San Antonio Charter Moms offers support, guidance and resources for parents and caregivers as they navigate the unchartered waters of pandemic parenting and schooling. For the first time, Charter Moms Chats are available in podcast form through Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Charter Moms Chats cover hot button topics between Host and Founder of San Antonio Charter Moms, Inga Cotton, and regional education experts. (San Antonio Charter Moms, 2020)

Recent podcast highlights include: Fighting Cyberbullying in the Age of Distance Learning, Charter and Choice Schools Open Enrollment Season Up to Date Insights and Using Insights from Previous Standardized Testing Results

DECEMBER 2020 PODCAST SCHEDULE:

  • December 14: Special guest Ambika Dani, CEO and Superintendent of Promesa Academy Charter Schools, covers enrollment and school vision.
  • December 15: Special guests Soner Tarim, CEO of Royal Public Schools, and school board members discuss enrollment and what to expect from the new charter.
  • December 16: Special guest Wendy Gonzalez-Neal, the Founder of My Child My Voice, shares a parent’s perspective about her school choice journey and being a parent advocate.
  • December 17: Special guest Barry LeMaitre, Principal at Brooks Lone Star, discusses enrollment and what student life is like at Brooks Academies of Texas.
  • December 18: Special guest TBA on the topic of Legislative priorities

San Antonio Charter Moms offers several online communities designed to fulfill the nonprofit’s mission of being the most trusted information source on education in the region. The Owl’s Education Express e-newsletter offers weekly updates on recent posts on the San Antonio Charter Moms blog, a list of upcoming events and important dates, and links to local education news. The Facebook discussion group serves as a sounding board and support group to more than 7,000 members seeking guidance on navigating school choice options, distance learning struggles and other educational challenges that families are currently facing. SACM developed San Antonio’s first free school finder app in 2019 called “San Antonio Charter Schools” and now includes the finder function through the nonprofit’s website for easy browsing. Charter Moms Chats are first broadcast live on Facebook several times a week at 4p.m., where Cotton and guests answer viewer questions and share additional learning resources. The education-focused nonprofit reaches a digital audience of more than 21,000 through its various social media channels, website, school finder mobile app and e-newsletter.

San Antonio Charter Moms (SACM) began as a blog in 2012 when Founder Inga Cotton was inspired to help San Antonio families more easily find good information about high-quality school options. Starting with a focus on the growing local charter school offerings, the blog has evolved into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that shares fair information about all types of schools. Established in 2018 as a nonprofit, SACM can accept funding that enables it to grow in ways that support accomplishing its mission of being the most trusted information source on education in the region. This growth includes Spanish-language blog post translations, surveying target publics, holding meetings with decisionmakers, supporting public speaking, community outreach and enhancing mobile technology.

“We aim to make our resources more equitable to all to empower families to make informed decisions about their child’s education. We hope this new format makes accessibility even more convenient for busy families.” – Inga Cotton, Founder and Executive Director of San Antonio Charter Moms

Texas Young Masters 2020 announced this week

Texasculturaltrust
The 2020 class of Texas Young Masters was announced this week. Photo: google

The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) and Texas Cultural Trust are proud to announce the 2020 class of Texas Young Masters, a joint program that provides exemplary student artists in grades 8 through 11 with grants to pursue advanced study in their artistic discipline, including visual arts, literary arts, music, theater, dance, musical theater, folk arts, media arts and other. These 15 students represent the 10th class of Texas Young Masters and 11 Texas cities. Every two years since 2002, the TCA and Texas Cultural Trust have awarded more than $1 million to 169 young Texans. (Texas Cultural Trust, 2020)

On Friday, TCA Commissioners convened via conference call and unanimously confirmed the 2020 class of Texas Young Masters. These students are Texas’ most talented young artists and will receive the esteemed “Young Master” title and will be awarded scholastic grants of $10,000, disbursed over two years to advance their artistic study.

The 2020 class of Texas Young Masters:

  • Jordan Apodaca, 11th grade, Dallas, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Dance
  • Ava Arbuckle, 9th grade, Frisco, iUniversity Preparatory School, Dance/Ballet
  • Hannah Bambach, 11th grade, Dallas, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Literary Arts/Playwriting
  • Haley Beck, 10th grade, Allen, Allen High School, Dance
  • Christian Burse, 10th grade, Dallas, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Dance
  • Claire Druffner, 11th grade, Dallas, Coram Deo Academy, Music/Cello
  • Vincent Garcia-Hettinger, 9th grade, San Antonio, Brandeis High School, Music/Cello
  • Colby Golightly, 11th grade, North Richland Hills, Richland High School, Visual Arts/Painting
  • Kali Kleiman, 11th grade, Frisco, iUniversity Preparatory School, Dance/Ballet
  • Cayden McCoy, 11th grade, League City, Clear Springs High School, Theater
  • Ellie Palacios, 10th grade, Harlingen, Harlingen South High School, Musical Theater
  • Isobel Perez, 10th grade, Houston, Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Literary Arts/Poetry
  • Keshav Srinivasan, 10th grade, Sunset Valley, Liberal Arts and Science Academy, Music/Violin
  • Michelle Wang, 11th grade, Sugar Land, Clements High School, Visual Arts
  • Somesh Yatham, 10th grade, Round Rock, Round Rock High School, Music/Orchestral Composition

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration scheduled for April 20, 2020, to honor these Young Masters has been cancelled. TCA and the Trust will continue to honor their commitment to fund their artistic study. These scholarship grants are made possible by the generosity of individual donors, organizations, and foundations. To fulfill this obligation, the Texas Cultural Trust has launched a crowdfunding campaign to benefit the 2020 grantees. These students will be introduced and recognized through videos to be shared over digital and social media in April and May.

“The Young Masters grant program was created as a way to recognize and support young people pursuing the dream of becoming prominent Texan artists of the next generation. Young artists earn the Young Masters title through their outstanding artistic ability, talent, and dedication to developing their knowledge in their chosen discipline. We congratulate them on their accomplishments.” – TCA Executive Director Gary Gibbs