In-District Charter Transforming Student Outcomes

by Josh Wucher, Chief Communications Officer, Transformation Waco

Transformation Waco (TW) is the nonprofit, in-district charter partnership managing and operating five campuses in the Waco Independent School District: Alta Vista Elementary, Brook Avenue Elementary, J.H. Hines Elementary, G.W. Carver Middle, and Indian Spring Middle. We serve a diverse student body from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade, and we are led by a board who has a deep belief in the power of Waco – our students, families, educators and community.

We work to improve the quality of academics at our schools, draw in new resources and build strong connections with our families and the Greater Waco community. We attract educators who have a heart for tackling difficult circumstances. With over 98% of TW students economically disadvantaged, we are committed to increasing student success by closing economic and racial disparity gaps, which means our responsibility extends beyond the classroom and into the community.

Four strategic priorities provide direction and operational guidance: talent development, performance management, support to students, and nonprofit operations. Our priorities are by no means mutually exclusive, as they build on one another with work that interweaves academics, behavior, attendance, engagement and staffing.

There are several key initiatives to recruit, develop, retain and promote a culturally-responsive staff, which now consists of more than 350 dedicated teachers, leaders and support staff. Our Urban Educator Residency Program is an innovative partnership between the Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL), Tarleton State University and TW to provide interns and residents with the training they need to teach in the challenging and fast-paced environment of a TW classroom. Nineteen residents have earned a master’s degree and teaching certification and have committed to serving in a TW school for at least three years.

Transformation Waco CEO Dr. Robin McDurham (center left) and Waco ISD Superintendent Dr. Susan Kincannon cut the ribbon at the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Vision Center opening.

Student volunteers serve Transformation Waco families meals at parent engagement night at Cameron Park Zoo.

We believe in growing our own, and our partnership with AUSL also includes a Novice Teacher Academy (NTA) and an Instructional Leadership Academy (ILA). The NTA provides teachers with less than three years of experience with professional learning and collaborative walkthrough opportunities. While most school district professional development lasts a few days to a week, we designed our yearlong NTA to maximize the success of our new teachers. The TW ILA is another yearlong program where over 24 assistant principals, deans of instruction and instructional specialists have met to improve their skills and position themselves to take on advanced leadership roles.

We understand that students can’t succeed in the classroom if their basic needs aren’t met, which is why we have a variety of wrap-around services that focus holistically on our students’ health, social-emotional and academic needs. We want our families to feel supported by us so that they believe in us as much as we believe in our students.

A J.H. Hines elementary student proudly holds books that were donated from Baylor Athletics and Baylor External Affairs Solid Gold Neighbor program. G.W. Carver and Indian Spring middle school students participate in the “Hidden Figures” project organized by the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa to get young women excited about math, science and engineering.

G.W. Carver and Indian Spring middle school students participate in the “Hidden Figures” project organized by the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa to get young women excited about math, science and engineering.

All TW campuses have collaborative Support Services teams that may consist of family support specialists, licensed clinical social workers and counselors, and organizations like Communities in Schools and Baylor School of Social Work’s BEAR project. They work together to mentor, tutor and provide academic and behavioral interventions. All TW students have access to a service called Telehealth for Schools, where a safe and confidential video visit with a Waco Family Medicine clinician is possible right on the school nurse’s computer. With financial support from the Rapoport Foundation, we opened and have been operating the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Vision Center since January 2020. All students ages six and up at Transformation Waco and Waco ISD campuses can receive a free eye exam and glasses while visiting our staff optometrist. We hope that seeing a doctor while at school will reduce the need for students to leave school because they are sick and will lead to fewer absences.

At Alta Vista Elementary, the Waco nonprofit Inspiración works under TW supervision to empower at-risk Latino families by fostering parenting knowledge and skills that directly impact children’s development. Community members frequent our campuses with the STARS Book Club reading to our students, and volunteers also form lasting relationships in our free afterschool programs. Our Afterschool Academies feature a variety of enrichment topics, including STEM, art, drumming, dancing and gardening. Last summer, we also partnered with McLennan Community College Kids Camp, the Doris Miller YMCA and Waco Civic Theater to offer enrichment programs during the break.

A G.W. Carver and Indian Spring Middle School family enjoys a meal at the campus Thanksgiving Luncheon.

Transformation Waco leaders and staff participate in race equity work during Transformation Leaders Network’s #getREAL Summer Conference.

Because of the determination and dedication of our educators, leadership and community partners, we are making strides in recovering unfinished learning and building on the successes we established prior to the pandemic. With the right opportunities and support, we are confident that we can join together to build world-class schools that exemplify excellence.