Windham School District reports expanded post‑secondary partnerships, tech rollout and program gains
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Summary
Windham School District leaders told the board they doubled higher‑education partners in TDCJ facilities, increased staff satisfaction to 82%, awarded more than 13,000 industry certifications, and launched new CTE programs and campus broadband pilots. The board encouraged site visits and continued collaboration with TDCJ.
Windham School District Superintendent Christina Hartman presented the district's 2025 accomplishments and the district improvement plan for 2025–26, highlighting expanded partnerships, gains in staff satisfaction and student credentials, and technology modernization.
Hartman said Windham engaged in more than 50 legislative interactions during the most recent legislative session and credited outreach and training for helping principals explain Windham's work to lawmakers. She told the board Windham has doubled its higher‑education partners operating or preparing to operate within TDCJ and emphasized partnerships with employers and training providers to create reentry pathways.
"We have doubled the number of higher education partners now that are operating or preparing to operate within TDCJ," Hartman said, noting these partners help sustain post‑secondary pathways for students returning to Texas communities.
She described workforce and credentialing outcomes: the district awarded more than 13,000 industry‑based certifications in the most recent year and reported gains in high school equivalency and CTE participation. Hartman highlighted new and expanding programs—virtual‑reality training, boiler room operator apprenticeship, welding expansion funded by a Texas Workforce Commission grant, RV service technician training at Dalby and Garrett campuses, and a planned marine service technology program at Telford.
The Windham 2025–26 district improvement plan, presented by Kevin Sonic, sets six strategic goals including adult education and literacy objectives, professional development, staffing stability, communications, technology integration, and post‑secondary placement. Sonic listed numeric targets such as a combined 3,500 HSE certificates/diplomas and 15,000 industry certifications as benchmarks for the year.
Board members asked for additional detail on partnerships and serving students with disabilities; Sonic said the district has an ADA specialist and processes to identify and accommodate students, particularly those over age 22 who may not have been referred to special education previously.
The board also recognized multiple staff promotions and campus leaders (Andrea Krueger, Felicia Johnson, Christina McDaniel and Lori Lay), and praised Windham’s collaboration with TDCJ on campus libraries and donated book processes. Chair Eric Nichols and others encouraged board members to visit connected campuses as the district rolls out connectivity at priority sites (29 campuses in phase one) and orders 800 laptops for classroom use in phase 1.
What happens next: Windham will implement its improvement plan across campus plans and collaborate with TDCJ to complete a phased broadband and device rollout for 29 priority campuses in the 2025–26 school year; the board will receive periodic updates on progress and outcomes.