At D. McRae Elementary School, Principal Antoli Sanchez says teachers are advancing grades with their students. By putting teachers where they feel most comfortable, they can thrive with their students. 

Some teachers have moved up in grades with their students for three years, meaning they could be with them from first grade to third. By staying with their students, the teachers already know their strengths and weaknesses, giving them a head start on closing the gap.

Cesar Chavez Elementary School is using teacher collaboration to accelerate success for students. Principal Monica Ordaz said the campus created time and space for teachers to practice true collaboration.

In their collaboration time, teachers talk about their strengths and areas for growth. Principal Ordaz also spent a lot of time building a culture of trust on the campus so teachers feel comfortable asking for help or to move to a different class if needed.

One of the most effective strategies M.L. Phillips Elementary School Principal Christina Nandayapa used in transforming her campus was small groups. 

She and her staff spent a lot of time analyzing student data and making data-driven decisions. With that data, teachers started identifying where each student needed to be to achieve growth. Specifically, the campus needed to perform better in Domain 3: Closing the Gaps.

By putting the students in small groups and setting specific goals, teachers were able to elevate students to where they needed to be. Teachers knew exactly what scores each student needed, by naming it, they could achieve it.

Fort Worth ISD and The University of Texas at Arlington officially launched Direct to UTA: College Ready Career Bound during a signing ceremony Nov. 21 on the UTA campus.  The partnership guarantees admission to UTA for qualifying FWISD students as early as the end of their junior year, expanding college access and strengthening pathways from high school to higher education. Eligible students will receive early admission offers along with college-readiness support, including scholarship consideration, financial aid workshops, and campus experiences.

“Fort Worth ISD is deeply grateful for partners like UTA who share our commitment to opening doors for students. Direct admission strengthens not only our students’ futures, but our entire community,” Superintendent Dr. Karen C. Molinar said during the ceremony. “Nurturing student success is truly a team effort, and together we are ensuring every student has the opportunity to flourish.”