Like others in our region, Everman ISD is growing its educator workforce from within their own classrooms. Seventy percent of educators teach within 25 miles of where they grew up. Having benefitted from Tarrant County public schools themselves, many alumni educators choose to pay it forward in their hometowns.
“Everman ISD set me up for success by instilling the values of family, morals, and principles,” says Kolbi Dixon, an alumna of Everman Joe C. Bean High School. “That really helped me moving forward in my education.”
After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Texas and earning her elementary and secondary teaching certifications, Ms. Dixon returned to her alma mater ready to apply her knowledge and skills towards mentoring students in her “Pathway to College and Career Readiness” course.
“What inspired me to teach is being able to help students understand that even if they set goals, there are so many things that they can reach beyond those goals,” explains Ms. Dixon. “Being able to expose them to the different opportunities and possibilities of life excites me.”
Dr. Felicia Donaldson, Superintendent of Everman ISD, galvanizes all district employees toward driving improvement in students’ post-secondary outcomes. For example, the district's Career and Technical Education (CTE) classrooms enable students to explore professions in electrical construction, engineering, health sciences, information technology, as well as teaching and training.
“Our CTE programs are impacting our students by them wanting to be in school more every day, by them being more focused on the work that they’re doing today, and understanding how that work is going to impact them tomorrow,” states Dr. Kentrel Phillips, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for Everman ISD.
Data shows their districtwide efforts are translating into student success. In 2023, post-secondary enrollment in Everman ISD exceeded the prior year cohort by 16% and 4-year graduation rates exceeded the prior year cohort by 1%. “Our students are working hard. Our staff is working even harder,” says Dr. Donaldson.
Why do Tarrant County school districts and their employees, like alumni educator Ms. Dixon, commit day in and day out to work toward increasingly better results for their students? For Dr. Donaldson, the reason is clear: “Public education provides an opportunity for students to learn and develop, so that they are afforded opportunities that will help them be productive citizens of society.” The returns on that investment benefit us all.
Our region’s education system shares the responsibility of educating 750,000 students across 569 public school campuses. Together, they educate seven percent of children in the state and are a larger regional employer than numerous Fortune 500 companies. Put simply, this Partnership is invested in the success of our public education system for our region’s students, schools, and community.
Tarrant County ISDs are creating successful outcomes for students, and they are not stopping here.
Sources:
*TEA, TAPR, TX IHE % of Graduates enrolled in TX Public Higher Ed. Institution (2022-2023) - TEA, TAPR 4-year Federal Graduation rate, report year 2022-2023.
**(Class of 2022, TAPR).
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