Education has been getting a lot of bad knocks in the past many years.  If one read and heard all the negative news one might come to the conclusion that there is absolutely nothing good coming out of the public education system.  The faculty and staff within the Cleburne ISD are working hard every day to discredit the nay-sayers.  One campus, in particular, is achieving their goals.  Cleburne TEAM School is that campus.

TEAM school is currently in its 19th year of existence.  The 17 faculty and staff members there serves a 100% at risk student body.  100% at risk means that all of these students are in danger of not graduating within a four year period.The reasons for being at risk are many and varied.   There may be personal crises that don’t allow a student the opportunity to focus within a normal school structure.  There may be significant family problems that demand more from the student.  It may be that the student is not fitting in well with the typical high school environment.  What ever the reason, TEAM school affords our students a luxury that not many districts have, a choice.

That’s right, TEAM school is a choice academic school.  The students at the campus choose to attend the school and adhere to its rigorous policies.  Before being considered for admittance into the school the student must be at least 16 years old and both the parents/guardians and the students have to go through an extensive interview process.  If the student is accepted they will have given an individualized graduation plan that is aligned with the State of Texas recommended graduation plan.  The students will have the opportunity to progress at their own speed while being guided by their advisers.  All students have to pass all 4 portions of the Exit Level TAKS and earn 24 credits in order to earn the title of TEAM School Graduate.

TEAM school offers the basic reading, writing, and arithmetic, but they also offer Chemistry, Physics, Government, History, Computer Courses, Spanish, Art, Career Connections, SAT prep, and Personal Finance.  The faculty at TEAM school has led the students on field experiences at Navarro College, University of Texas at Arlington, and Hill College.  This academic year TEAM school has held its first Job Fair/ Family Night to benefit the students, their family, and our community.  TEAM school also is classified as a Tier I Level high school by the USMC.

TEAM school hosts two graduations a year, in December and May.  In the 2007-2008 school year they had 223 students enrolled and had 78 graduates.  Think about it, that is 78 more qualified, educated, and productive people in our community.   TEAM school graduates have gone to become nurses and teachers.  They have become Harvard University students and proud members of our United States Armed Forces.  One graduate is a member of the U S Marines even had the honor of protecting former Sec of State Collin Powell during a visit in Afghanistan.

Georgann Storm is the proud principal of TEAM school and Tami Murphy is her assistant.  Valerie Pogue is the able Counselor and Gail Wright serves as the PEIMS/Registrar.  Cynthia Bowers leads the students through Social Studies, ESL and John Cook facilitates Vocational Education. Nancy Davis guides them through English and John Tanner helps the kids in Technology/PE.  Karla Allen and Pat Cantrell team up to assist in Math.  Wanda Spurgeon is very helpful with Technology, Mary Parvin in  Art, and Rina Ramos facilitates Spanish.  The students also served healthy meals in the cafeteria by Misti Bingham and Connie Simon.  The campus is kept clean and neat by Severino Garicia and Arturo Olivarez.

You’ve heard the old saying, “You Should Not Judge a Book by Its Cover.”  It applies in this case.  On the outside you may not think well of the team school concept.  You would be mistaken and would need to dig deeper.  I have served with the great staff at TEAM School as they work to help the students in their academic journeys.  I can truly say that Cleburne TEAM School is fulfilling a need within our community.