“We’re working to disrupt the trajectory of trauma for our students and community,” says Amy Graeber, Chief Instructional Officer. “Our hope is that our kiddos have the experiences and support that help them lead their own path forward.They were part of this tragedy, but it isn’t their identity or define their future. They deserve every opportunity any other student in Texas has—and even more—because we’re putting the right systems in place and bringing in partners who are ready to support us right now.” The district maintains six full-time counselors with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1, below the state average. Graeber stresses the focus on ensuring students don’t carry “this tremendous backpack on them the rest of their life” regardless of where they were during the tragedy, recognizing that trauma touched every student in the community. CAREER PATHWAYS AND AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP Batesville, a small community in Zavala County that merged with Uvalde CISD in 1973, now hosts one of the district’s most ambitious initiatives. The Batesville Agritech Leadership Academy operates as a magnet school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, designed to draw students from across the region with specialized agricultural technology programming. Funded by a $1 million TEA grant allocated at $500,000 over two years in partnership with nonprofit Collegiate EduNation, the academy integrates career readiness from the earliest grades. “Students in grades one through eight complete career-focused research projects in partnership with organizations like Texas A&M AgriLife and 4-H,” explains Sandra Gonzalez, Principal of the Batesville Agritech Leadership Academy. “We give examples like fifth graders researching moon phases while discovering careers in space science. Starting in sixth grade, students receive counseling on college and career options, and both schools encourage students to apply for internships and other forms of handson experiences in agricultural technology careers.” The academy incorporates virtual reality and AI tools as part of what Dr. McClain calls a “moonshot project” to enhance engagement in a region where agriculture remains central to the economy. The 384 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx