Each year the University of Texas Charter School (UT-UCS) educates approximately 3,000 students with a focus on the whole child. The success of the school, which received an “A” rating from the Texas Educational Agency, is remarkable given the serious challenges its students face every day. “Our students don’t have… read more
Teacher Spotlight: Angela Lara, Shriner’s Hospital for Children
During her first year as a graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin, Angela Lara struggled to adjust to the pace and rigor of college life on a sprawling campus so far from home in Guadalajara, Mexico. “I went through very difficult times when I wanted… read more
Settlement Home Charter School Helps Young Women Prepare for Bright Futures Ahead
At Settlement Home, students always start and end their classroom sessions on a good note. “The teachers provide a very welcoming environment,” says Tonya King, associate principal of the UT-University Charter School (UT-UCS) located within the facility. “They give students the opportunity to share one good thing about their day… read more
Staff Spotlight: Abram Cruz, Desktop Support Specialist
On any given workday, Abram Cruz is on the move. When he’s not at UT Elementary School helping teachers and staff with their technology needs, he’s busy providing IT services at one of the many UT-University Charter School (UT-UCS) campuses. The best part of the job, he says, is watching… read more
Teacher Spotlight: Brenda Deemer, Lead UT-UCS Teacher at Cedar Crest
Growing up, Brenda Deemer always felt right at home in the classroom. She often fancied the thought of staying in school forever. Yet later into her adult years, the idea of becoming a teacher never really occurred to her until she started volunteering as a Sunday school teacher at a… read more
Teacher Spotlight: Randall Jackson, UT-UCS Career Education Teacher
Before embarking on his decades-long career in teaching, Randall Jackson found his passion for helping others while working in hospitals and in the U.S. Peace Corps. When deciding on a college major, he realized the best way to continue his good work was to teach. Now, 15 years into his… read more
UT-University Charter School Celebrates Texas NeuroRehab Center’s New Sport Court
On a damp and drizzly Friday morning, UT-University Charter School (UT-UCS) students, faculty, staff and friends came together to celebrate their brand new sport court at the UT-UCS Texas NeuroRehab Center (TNC) campus. Complete with basketball hoops and a four-square court, this new gift, provided by the Jordan Spieth Family… read more
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Kathleen Daniels – Staff Member of the Year
Back when Kathleen Daniels was growing up, she discovered her calling in education when she helped her mom decorate the classroom before the rst day of school. She always felt right at home grading papers, cleaning the chalkboard and organizing her mother’s desk. Yet when she got to college, she… read more
Ashley Johnson – Teacher of the Year
For Ashley Johnson, teaching isn’t just about getting students through the curriculum. It’s a family a air. In her one-room schoolhouse, the small group of young, soon-to-be mothers learn how to work together as a team and support each other through two of life’s big milestones: high school graduation… read more
Letter from the Superintendent
Dear UT-University Charter School Family, Last summer, I watched a Disney movie starring a little blue fish who kept reminding herself to “just keep swimming” as she faced countless obstacles on her homeward-bound journey. In our charter schools, our students are on a journey of their own as they push… read more
First Response – A Q&A with RTI researcher Thea Woodruff
One of the many advantages of being a part of The University of Texas at Austin is having access to world-class research in Response to Intervention (RTI), a multi-tiered approach to keeping students on track and identifying learning gaps before they widen. This critical component is embedded in every classroom… read more
A Place of Hope
Just a few miles away from the sprawling UT Austin campus, there’s a tidy little playground surrounded by portable classrooms. Children giggle and shout as they dangle from monkey bars and a scoot down a shiny blue slide. Looking at this familiar scene of carefree youth, it’s hard to believe… read more
Author and founder of ‘Why Try’ Program Discusses the Power of Resilience
Last August, faculty and staff from the UT Charter School System came together at the UT Elementary School for the All-District Convocation. Keeping with this year’s theme, “Just Keep Swimming!” the event featured a special guest speaker who wrote the book on resilience. Everyone in the room received a copy… read more
Spotlight on Success at Annunciation Maternity Home
Memories of high school often conjure up images of prom night, Driver’s Ed and competitive sports. For Elizabeth Geurin, her favorite memory was when she realized she could raise her baby. Four-months pregnant, she came to Annunciation Maternity Home with a heavy heart. She decided to give her baby up… read more
Save the Date! Join Pro-Athletes, Scholars and Community Members at UT-UCS Fundraiser
A panel of professional athletes, coaches and scholars will come together at a University of Texas Charter School System (UT-UCS) fund-raiser event on Thursday, Feb. 2, 5:30-7 p.m. at Dominion Church International in Houston. They will be discussing the ways in which sports role models can use their star power… read more
Athletes and Youth Mentorship Event
Fundraiser & Education Dialogue Professional Athletes and Youth Mentorship in Urban Public Schools Convened by the University of Texas Charter School System WHEN: Thursday, February 2, 2017 • 5:30-7:00pm WHERE: Dominion Church International, 4411 Dallas Street, Houston, TX 77023 WHAT: A panel of professional athletes, coaches and community stakeholders will… read more
Meet a Charter School Teacher
Since he was a kid, Thomas Delgado has always been fascinated with the natural world. While other boys his age were playing with video games and climbing trees, he was busy tinkering with his chemistry kit and telescope. Now a teacher at Laurel Ridge, a school within the DDCE’s University… read more