Spring 2023
Welcome to Transformation Waco's community newsletter!
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Growth in TW AfterSchool Academies |
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Transformation Waco (TW) expanded our free afterschool programming to Monday-Friday at every Zone campus this year! Enrichment topics range from drumming to dancing, sports, art, gardening, leadership building and STEM. Students receive high-impact tutoring, homework assistance and a meal, with support from community partners like the Greater Waco YMCA, Baylor University, and Girl Scouts of Central Texas.
Free afterschool is one of the many TW wraparound services provided to students.
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Dear Transformation Waco Community,
For our students to thrive, they need safe, supportive environments at school, at home, and in neighborhoods. As Full-Service Community Schools, Transformation Waco (TW) is the bridge that connects students and families to integrated support known as "wraparound services." This holistic approach addresses out-of-school barriers to learning by providing access to enhanced social and health services, free afterschool programs, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed care, and restorative justice practices. Since TW's creation, grant funding and federal COVID relief dollars have been used to sustain these much-needed services for our students. As those federal funds wind down, we need a permanent option for maintaining these services, notably support for mental health.
In 2018, TW created a pipeline for licensed clinical social workers or LCSWs. These employees are licensed to treat various mental health conditions, including behavioral disorders, addictions, severe mental illness and serious emotional disturbance. Our model is successful because the social workers are integrated into the school community as staff members. They connect with families, provide targeted strategies to teachers and campus staff, and contribute to student progress monitoring.
The demand for their work continues to grow as more students experience post-covid anxiety, depression, and other mental health-related issues. The needs outweigh our current capacity for services. However, legislation passed in the Texas House and currently in the state's Education Senate Committee would allow public schools to bill Medicaid for specific mental or behavioral health services provided to public school students. If passed, HB 98 would mean that we can continue and expand these vital services to our students and their families with a sustainable funding source as the federal grants come to a close. Doing so will help ensure academic success and positive community outcomes.
Join me in advocating for our students by reaching out to Senator Brian Birdwell -- who sits on the Education Senate Committee -- and say you favor the passage of HB 98. Click here to e-mail the Office of Senator Brian Birdwell or call (512) 463-0122.
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Sincerely,
Dr. Iliana A. Neumann
Transformation Waco Board President
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The Bernard and Audre Rapaport Vision Center serves all students in Waco ISD. Nurses complete vision screenings and, if needed, provide a referral for a vision exam. Our vision center provides an eye exam with our clinic optometrist and prescription glasses, all at no cost to the student or their family.
Exams are held during school hours and transportation is provided. This year, the clinic provided 202 exams from August-May and delivered 72 pairs of glasses.
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What TW coordination of care members say about wraparound services: |
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"As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), I can provide individual and group therapy to our students and collaborate with their families and teachers to help them be successful in school. Our area’s waitlist for mental health services can be 8-10 weeks long. Having an LCSW on our team allows us to provide vital mental health support immediately. At Transformation Waco, we work hard to care for the whole child, and our clinical social work services help students regulate and stay in school to learn (and have fun)."
John "Will" Ward - LCSW,
Clinical School Social Worker
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"The ability to coordinate behavioral health services for students on our campus via our telehealth partnership with Waco Family Medicine is invaluable. Our students benefit from access to this service while at school because they do not have to miss class or worry about transportation. We can serve more students needing behavioral health services due to the ability to outsource this program in conjunction with the mental health services available at G.W. Carver Indian Spring Middle School."
Amy Mundy - RN, G.W. Carver Indian Spring Middle School
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A Letter From TW Chief Executive Officer |
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Dear Transformation Waco Community,
Transformation Waco proudly announces that 11 teachers have earned the Texas Education Agency’s Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) designations. The TIA system provides a way for teachers to make additional compensation for exceptional performance, resulting in high levels of student achievement.
Of the 11 TW teachers, four qualify as Master, four are designated Exemplary, and three received Recognized designations. We are thrilled that every Transformation Waco campus has a TIA-designated teacher!
Once a teacher achieves a TIA designation, they will receive a cash award annually for five consecutive years, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.
Master Designation awards allotment between $12,000- $32,000
Exemplary Designation awards allotment between $6,000- $18,000
Recognized Designation awards allotment between $3,000- $9,000
We have amazing educators across the Transformation Zone, and TIA is an excellent step in keeping high-performing teachers in the classroom. Congratulations to our TIA-designated teachers!
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Sincerely,
Robin McDurham, EdD
Transformation Waco Chief Executive Officer
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TW school board recognizes students and staff |
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At the board's April 25 meeting, trustees recognized a group of Alta Vista young authors and Teacher Incentive Allotment designated teachers.
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Chamber's Café y Pan Dulce hosted at Alta Vista Elementary |
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Thank you to community members and businesses who visited Alta Vista Elementary School for the Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Café y Pan Dulce. We loved hosting this incredible networking series and sharing about TW's community school strategy of providing wraparound services to our students and families. Visitors spoke about their businesses including an Alta Vista Voyager Dominic Villa. Special thanks to Principal Lindsey Helton for welcoming everyone to campus.
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Community partners join TW for Mental Health Matters event |
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Transformation Waco hosted the first Safety and Security Information Nights series for our families with "Mental Health Matters." We spoke with families about mental health resources available at school and in the community.
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TW highlights staff transforming lives |
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We proudly continue our “Transforming Lives Honorees” program to recognize the transformational impact of our staff on ensuring a positive present and future for students, families and coworkers. Staff-nominated honorees each receive a $1,000 grant for school-based passion projects. Check out our presentation videos below.
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Transformation Waco | 254-754-9169
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