History

Windham School District (WSD) provides academic and vocational education to eligible offenders incarcerated within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Windham operates in the Correctional Institutional Division. The district, which began operation in 1969, was established by the Texas Legislature and was named by the Texas Board of Corrections for the late James M. Windham, a 24-year member of the Board. It is the first education system of such scope to be established within a statewide prison system. Classes are conducted in prison units across the state.

Philosophy

Adults in the United States face the challenges of life in an ever-changing technological age. Successfully coping with these challenges requires adults to employ educational processes that are the basic tools of human growth and development. Incarcerated adults, as a group, lack the basic educational tools needed to adjust successfully to the economic, sociological and cultural dimensions of today's society. Confined persons need to develop the academic skills that will allow them to process knowledge and information. They need vocational competencies that will enable them to contribute to a productive society. They need the social skills that will provide them with self-confidence and the ability to interact successfully with their fellow man.

Mission

The mission of the Windham School District is to provide appropriate educational programming and services to meet the needs of the eligible offender population in TDCJ and reduce recidivism by assisting offenders in becoming responsible, productive members of their communities.

Goals

• To reduce recidivism.
• To reduce the cost of confinement or imprisonment.
• To increase the success of former offenders in obtaining and maintaining employment.
• To provide an incentive for offenders to behave in positive ways during confinement or imprisonment.

General

Windham School District provides appropriate educational programs to meet the needs of the eligible offender population, thus reducing recidivism by assisting offenders in becoming productive members of society. Studies show that education and employment reduce recidivism and save tax dollars. According to a study conducted by the Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council (CJPC) in 2000, offenders with higher levels of education have lower recidivism rates, and releasees who are employed have a lower recidivism rate than those not employed.

Many of the offenders in the TDCJ lack the educational background and basic skills necessary for attaining employment upon release. The typical Windham student functions below the sixth grade level.

According to a recent study (“Survey of Texas Employers 2002” by L. Jean Walker, Ph.D.), employers have difficulty hiring employees because applicants lack specific job skills. Employers also stress the importance of employability skills such as teamwork, problem solving, and dependability. Windham’s academic and vocational programs are designed to provide offenders with the skills they need to obtain employment upon release.

Windham provides a variety of academic classes and Career and Technology Education (CTE) to offenders incarcerated in the TDCJ. In addition to WSD programs, the Division of Continuing Education offers offenders the opportunity to participate in college courses, Project Re-Integration of Offenders (RIO), and recreational activities.

WSD operates over 80 school serving the Institutional Division (ID) and State Jail Division (SJD) of TDCJ. Most literacy program participants attended classes 15 hours per week, and most of those participating in CTE programs attended 30 hours per week.

Organization

The Texas Board of Criminal Justice (TBCJ) serves as the school board for Windham School District. The authority to administer, organize, manage, and supervise the daily operations of WSD is delegated by TBCJ to the Superintendent, who may further delegate this authority to staff as appropriate. Reporting to the Superintendent are the Public Information Officer, the Administrator for Human Resources, and Division Directors.

Delegation of authority from the TBCJ to the Superintendent
includes:

• Employing and terminating staff as necessary for efficient operations
• Developing, implementing, maintaining and updating policies, procedures, and regulations
• Organizing the district to improve operations
• Overseeing fiscal management.

The Superintendent is responsible for implementing measures to evaluate the effectiveness of WSD programs, maintaining relations with TBCJ and TDCJ, and interacting with state offender family organizations. The Superintendent also serves as the governmental liaison for the District and is responsible for all contacts with the Governor's office, the Legislature, and other state agencies.

The Windham Public Information Officer is responsible for press releases, media relations, and providing current news to all Windham staff. The PIO publishes the Windham newsletter, provides photographs for WSD publications, updates the website calendar and bulletin board, and provides supervision for the offender newspaper staff. Windham School District acquired responsibility for the publication of the offender newspaper, The Echo, from the TDCJ during the 2001-2002 school year.

Contact Information

Physical Address:

Windham School District
P.O. Box 40
804 Bldg. B, FM 2821 West
Huntsville, TX 77320