Huntsville, Texas — On July 26, Windham School District students participated in the district’s first 2024 College and Career Day, held at the Wynne campus in Huntsville. This initiative, hosted by Windham’s College and Career Readiness department and Lee College, empowered students with essential knowledge and resources for their future educational and career endeavors.
“Windham’s inaugural College and Career Day marks a significant milestone in our commitment to preparing students for success,” Windham’s College and Career Readiness Administrator Ashley Koonce said. “We are thrilled by the enthusiastic participation and look forward to building on this foundation to empower our students as they pursue their educational and career aspirations.” As part of the district’s 2030 Plan, Windham aims to increase the employment rate of eligible students and graduates to 95% before they return to their Texas communities. This initiative also supports the goals outlined in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s 2030 Plan.
Throughout the day, students engaged in interactive sessions hosted across four breakout rooms. Topics covered included occupational licensing, reentry resources, financial aid strategies and comprehensive information on Windham’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings. Facilitators led informative discussions aimed at equipping students with the necessary tools to succeed in any academic or career pathways they may choose.
The event featured distinguished facilitators including Calvin Green, Lee College Reentry Specialist, and Lance Byrd, Lee College Director of Counseling and Advising, alongside the dedicated team from Windham’s CTE and College and Career Readiness departments. Together, they provided invaluable insights and guidance to students on navigating postsecondary options, understanding financial aid opportunities, such as the Pell Grant, and exploring CTE pathways tailored to support their reentry into the community. Mr. Green provided attendees with firsthand insights into reentry resources, enabling them to relate and ask questions about their postsecondary and reentry goals. The College and Career Day concluded with a question-and-answer session, providing attendees with the opportunity to network directly with facilitators and deepen their understanding of the pathways available to them.
This event was an exciting step towards achieving the goal of implementing college and career readiness curriculum across all Windham programs, as detailed in the district’s 2030 Plan. Witnessing the students’ eagerness to prepare for productive reentry motivates the district and fuels anticipation for the progress these events will bring.
ABOUT WINDHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
Windham School District (Windham) provides academic, career and technical education and life skills programs to eligible students within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). With 99 campuses located in prison facilities across Texas, Windham strives to equip students with the necessary education and skills to successfully reenter the workforce within their communities. As supported by the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, this article includes utilizing person-first language. The district uses terms such as “student” and “graduate,” to describe people incarcerated in TDCJ facilities, building the foundation for personal and professional growth. For media or partnership inquiries, please contact Danielle Nicholes, Communications Administrator, at danielle.nicholes@wsdtx.org.
