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Texas A&M-San Antonio Institute for School and Community Partnerships
SAN ANTONIO – The Edgewood Independent School District (ISD) School Board voted Tuesday night to approve two SB 1882 partnerships with Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
Under the agreement, A&M-San Antonio will become an operating partner of Edgewood ISD institutions, Gus Garcia Middle School and the Burleson Center for Innovation and Education. The agreement details a collaboration with Edgewood ISD that provides Gus Garcia and Burleson Center administrative leadership, teachers and the surrounding community with the support needed to improve outcomes for current and future students. To facilitate these efforts, A&M-San Antonio is establishing the Texas A&M-San Antonio Institute for School and Community Partnerships, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization led by Dr. Carl Sheperis, dean of the University’s College of Education and Human Development (COEHD).
“We are taking a wrap-around approach toward improving outcomes for students at Gus Garcia and the Burleson Center,” Sheperis said. “Both of the schools will be powered by the collective force of the A&M-San Antonio College of Education and Human Development and the greater A&M-San Antonio community. We will be able to jointly achieve outcomes that would be difficult in isolation.”
This collaboration with Edgewood ISD is the first of its kind under SB 1882, legislation that incentivizes ISD partnerships with institutions of higher education and other entities in order to improve student outcomes. The Edgewood ISD collaboration is also the initial step in the A&M-SA & South Bexar County ISDs Partnership to Impact Regional Equity and Excellence (ASPIRE) program, launched Nov. 22, 2019, between A&M-San Antonio and seven south Bexar County ISDs.
“This partnership with Edgewood ISD is a great opportunity for us to launch one of the biggest elements of ASPIRE: SB 1882 lab schools,” Sheperis said. The COEHD will work directly with Edgewood ISD to operate the approved schools with the aim of creating a long-term and lasting impact for the community, according to Sheperis.
“Edgewood ISD continues to offer opportunities and choice for its students, which is part of the five-year innovation plan. We are excited to partner with Texas A&M-San Antonio as part of our collective efforts to enhance our programming for the students of Edgewood ISD,” said Dr. Eduardo Hernandez, Edgewood ISD superintendent of schools.
A&M-San Antonio and the ISDs participating in ASPIRE aim to create equitable opportunities across districts and enhance social mobility, income growth and career readiness for south Bexar County and the greater San Antonio area, and to tackle persistent challenges across the region. Along with Edgewood, participating ISDs that will be collaborating with A&M-San Antonio include East Central, Harlandale, Somerset, South San Antonio, Southside and Southwest. More agreements under ASPIRE are currently in development that will lead to collective and customized partnerships, respective to the ISDs.
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For more information, contact:
Erin O’Brien: 210-784-1120 / eobrien@tamusa.edu
Danielle Saldaña: 210-784-1122 / dsaldana@tamusa.edu
Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Established as a standalone university in 2009, Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-San Antonio) is a comprehensive, four-year public university that reflects the culturally diverse, heritage-rich community it serves. Situated on nearly 700 acres in South San Antonio, A&M-San Antonio is a Military Embracing institution offering more than 40 undergraduate programs and 14 graduate programs to 7,000 students. A&M-San Antonio holds the HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution) designation. Visit https://www.tamusa.edu/ for more information.
Edgewood Independent School District
Edgewood Independent School District (ISD) provides an exceptional learning experience that engages, empowers and prepares students to compete and reach their highest potential in an ever-changing world. For more information, visit https://www.eisd.net/.