By 9 a.m. on a Friday in September, 16 University of Texas students had gathered in the McCombs School of Business dean's conference room. They weren't in trouble, they weren't interviewing, and they weren't asking for extra credit. Instead, they had joined Dean Lillian Mills for breakfast tacos, orange juice and coffee to talk about their favorite nonbusiness class and ask her any questions they had brewing. view article

The average age of Texans last year was 37, while the Legislature’s average age was 55. Hurdles to voting and the unique challenges young candidates encounter fuel the mismatch.  Figure out what to wear to be taken seriously; prepare a few one-liners to respond to the inevitable critiques about your age; know the issues facing your district.  These are among the tips Rep. Erin Zwiener, a Driftwood Democrat, serves up to young people seeking elected office in Texas.  Zwiener was the second youngest elected state lawmaker in Texas when she won a state House seat at 33. On the campaign trail, competitors and potential voters frequently chided Zwiener about her age, questioning whether she had the skills and experience needed for the job. Zwiener had a standard comeback: Lyndon B. Johnson,   he future president, was 28 when he was elected to U.S. Congress, and Lloyd Doggett, now in his 29th year in Congress, was 27 when elected to the state Senate.  “Some of those lines really helped remind folks that my age wasn’t that unusual,” she said. view article

The World Culture Fair is a highly anticipated event each year, where students have the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and creativity. This year, students either worked individually or in groups to select a country, conduct in-depth research, and present their findings to peers, staff, and community members. The presentations went beyond the usual reports and incorporated an immersive experience, including traditional clothing, food, music, and detailed displays that allowed the audience to engage with the culture they were exploring. view article

Pablo Arenaz, president of Texas A&M International University in Laredo, died unexpectedly Thursday night, the university said in a statement Friday.  Arenaz served as president of the 8,500 student university since 2016. He was 74-years-old.No cause of death or additional information was immediately available, the university said in a press release.  “Texas A&M International University has thrived under Pablo,” said John Sharp, Texas A&M University System chancellor, in a statement. “He was truly one of the best presidents in the country! He will be difficult to replace as a president and a friend!” view article

The eventual ruling could set a precedent for how federal agencies approve nuclear waste projects elsewhere. view article

The Waco Independent School District (Waco ISD) has officially welcomed Dr. Tiffany Spicer as its new superintendent following a unanimous vote by the school board on Friday, October 4. Spicer, selected from a pool of 50+ applicants, is set to take the helm on October 15th. Jeremy Davis, a trustee on the Waco ISD Board, expressed enthusiasm for Spicer’s appointment. view article

In this week’s episode of Big Country Politics, Abilene ISD school board trustee Billy Enriquez discussed the advancements he has seen in the district, particularly in relation to the Hispanic community. He shared his perspective from attending Abilene schools in the 1950s and 1960s to serving six years on the board. Enriquez has been on the school board since 2018. He says his vision for AISD has never changed in those six years. view article

The Democratic congressman is polling closer to Sen. Ted Cruz in his challenge this year, and independent race rankers are noticing.   Democrats are closing the gap in their uphill campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, with polls showing improvement for Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and national Democrats’ spending in the race a month ahead of Election Day.  For the first time this race, Allred pulled ahead of Cruz in a statewide poll last month, and he continues to poll within a margin of error with Cruz. National Democrats announced Texas would be included in a multi-million-dollar ad buy last week. Allred is consistently outraising Cruz, bringing in more than $1 million in a day twice in the third quarter. view article

Tommie Dobie Bothwell Elementary School welcomed its first group of students in August. It’s the first in a wave of upcoming schools for the district.  Located in the Cambridge Crossing neighborhood, Bothwell Elementary is Celina ISD’s fourth elementary school. The new campus will soon be followed by CISD’s fifth elementary school expected in fall 2025 and its second middle school in fall 2026. Even more campuses, including future high schools, are on the horizon with bond conversations starting as the district sees fast growth that mirrors the city.   Bothwell Elementary Principal Kristen Aune said opening a new school is filled with high energy as staff work together for the first time with students and parents.  “We’re doing everything to make sure that students are safe and learning, but there’s so much excitement to that,” Aune said. view article

School districts in the Texas Panhandle are coming up with new ideas to help with teacher and student burnout. Happy ISD is joining Dimmitt, Channing and several other school districts by transitioning to four-day school weeks. In previous years, Happy ISD would alternate between four-day and five-day weeks. This is the first year that the school has fully transitioned into four-day school weeks. view article

A Central Texas school resource officer (SRO) has been honored at the state level thanks to his hard work, but for him it's all just part of the job he loves. 6 News sat down with the man who won the Lynelle Sparks Officer of the Year award to learn what goes into the job and the impact the SRO role has on campuses. view article

A marching drumline, chanting cheerleaders and roaring applause rocked several schools in the Somerset Independent School District, as the district’s Education Foundation surprised teachers with more than $56,000 in classroom grants. The hundreds of students gathered at Somerset Elementary were the loudest. Their school was awarded 10 grants to fund classroom innovation, more than any other — everything from a “bring back cursive” effort to a specialized curriculum using adaptive books designed for students with disabilities. view article

Victoria Independent School District (VISD) has introduced the college application manager within its SchooLinks platform for the 2024-25 school year. This new tool helps high school students organize and manage the college application process by tracking deadlines, organizing materials, and requesting letters of recommendation. While the College Application Manager aids in organization, students must still submit applications through individual college portals or common application platforms. VISD encourages students to consult with high school counselors or the College and Career Center for additional guidance. view article

The legal request comes after a judge dismissed most of the claims in a lawsuit accusing Barbers Hill ISD of discrimination.  But Darryl George, 18, would like to return to his Houston-area high school in the Barbers Hill school district for his senior year and has asked a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order that would prevent district officials from further punishing him for not cutting his hair. It would allow him to return to school while a federal lawsuit he filed proceeds.  George’s request comes after U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown in August dismissed most of the claims the student and his mother had filed in the federal lawsuit alleging school district officials committed racial and gender discrimination when they punished him. view article

Aldine ISD students and staff are falling behind under the leadership of Superintendent LaTonya Goffney, whose administration doesn’t have many answers for its struggles, a Houston Landing investigation has found. Stagnant academic results, climbing teacher turnover and increased hiring of inexperienced teachers have marked Goffney’s tenure, which dates back to 2018. At the same time, more Aldine students are less prepared for life after high school than students across Texas, state data shows. view article

Two Socorro Independent School District (SISD) employees were arrested and charged this month after they both sexually abused a student during two separate incidents, according to court documents obtained by KTSM. Rodolfo Laureano, 52, a school bus driver at SISD, and David Hernandez, 36, a school security officer at SISD, have both been placed on administrative leave after they both inappropriately touched a student this month. view article

In the Abilene Independent School District, 1,238 students were considered homeless last year, but the number of families that received help from the AISD Foster Care and Homeless Services was greater, and it continues to grow. Darrin Cox, the homeless and foster care liaison for Abilene ISD, mentioned that the number of people in need has continued to increase over the years. view article

“Good morning, sorry to interrupt your classroom for a few minutes,” said KENS 5 Anchor Sarah Forgany as she walked into Eve Thompson’s classroom at Alamo Heights ISD’s Woodridge Elementary. Thompson looked puzzled at first but when she finally figured out what was happening, you could see she was clearly trying to hold back tears. “I’m blown away,” Thompson said. view article

Even amid the chaos of the first day of school at Aldine ISD’s Reed Academy, Superintendent LaTonya Goffney radiates calm and confidence. She commands every space she enters, and not just because her outfit for the occasion is a striking jade green pantsuit. Children gleefully high-five the seventh-year superintendent as she strides through the halls. Teachers stop in their tracks to greet her, bouncing in excitement as they embrace. Her jokes, told through a beaming smile, send ripples of laughter through classrooms. view article

A first-of-its-kind county health care partnership is set to begin between Fort Bend County and Lamar Consolidated ISD this fall, officials said. At a Sept. 10 meeting, Fort Bend County commissioners approved a community health worker certification program between Fort Bend County Health & Human Services and LCISD’s Health Science Career and Technical Education program. view article

The city of Florence recently began general upgrades and maintenance to the main water line on FM 970, which leads to Florence Middle and Florence High. However, "unforeseen complications occurred," says the city, and despite repairs, those complications continued. view article

The namesake of the Bryan school district’s football stadium has died. The announcement of Merrill Green’s passing was shared on the X/Twitter account of Bryan High School principal Lane Buban. Green coached the Bryan High football team between 1972 and 1992. He was also a member of the Bryan ISD school board for more than 12 years, retiring from that position in 2012. view article

Florence Independent School District schools will be closed Monday due to ongoing water line repairs, the district said Sunday afternoon. According to the district, Florence Middle and High schools have no water due to the repairs. All campuses will be closed Monday as a result. view article

The Fort Worth Independent School District has launched an investigation after learning that one of its students was left behind at a museum during a field trip. Wednesday a group of students from Carrol Peak Elementary went on a field trip to the Fort Worth Science and History Museum. One of them was left behind and didn't return to school with the rest of their classmates. view article

Temple Independent School District has opened Thrifty Wildcats, a community thrift shop designed to support students transitioning into the workforce while providing affordable items for residents. Located at 300 S 27th St, Thrifty Wildcats invites shoppers to fill a bag with donated items—ranging from clothing and shoes to housewares—for just $5. view article

Friday night spells homecoming in Sherman, which means lots and lots of people downtown. In an effort to help get people to the game safely and quickly, Sherman ISD will run a free shuttle service to pick people up at their cars and drop them off at the gate. view article

For three years during the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government gave Texas and other states billions of dollars in exchange for their promise not to exacerbate the public health crisis by kicking people off Medicaid.When that agreement ended last year, Texas moved swiftly, kicking off more people faster than any other state.  Officials acknowledged some errors after they stripped Medicaid coverage from more than 2 million people, most of them children. Some people who believe they were wrongly removed are desperately trying to get back on the state and federally funded health care program, adding to a backlog of more than 200,000 applicants. A ProPublica and Texas Tribune review of dozens of public and private records, including memos, emails and legislative hearings, clearly shows that those and other mistakes were preventable and foreshadowed in persistent warnings from the federal government, whistleblowers and advocates. view article

The Seguin ISD will not be welcoming local homeschool students to join its UIL activities. Emily Allen, Seguin ISD’s director of communications, says the school board on Tuesday unanimously voted against the opportunity which was recently allowed by state legislation HB 547. According to that legislation, Texas school districts are allowed to invite non-enrolled homeschool students to join its programs. That opportunity, however, must independently be approved by each school district. view article

Gamification is the process of adding game like elements to a non game setting to make it more interesting. In 2018, Robstown Independent School District implemented a new gamification technology, known as Beanstack, that gave students more freedom in their reading material and fostered an internal motivation to read. view article

Galena Park ISD turned off the air conditioners in its school buildings for three hours on Tuesday because the school district participates in a voluntary program with CenterPoint Energy. In a message sent out to parents on Tuesday, GPISD Superintendent John Moore said the AC had been turned off at 1 p.m. after CenterPoint had called the district and asked them to reduce power. The air was turned back on at 4 p.m. and Moore said classes continued as normal. view article

McNeil High School held the largest cross-country invitational in Texas on September 21-22 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. The 30th annual McNeil Invitational featured over 400 teams and nearly 6,300 runners competing on a challenging course. “This prestigious event brings together some of the top high school cross country athletes from across Texas,” said Round Rock ISD Athletic Director Jeff Cheatham. “The McNeil Invitational has a tradition of excellence, providing a competitive environment for teams and individual runners alike.” view article

On Tuesday, Galena Park ISD shut off the air conditioning at multiple campuses after the district said CenterPoint Energy asked it to conserve energy. According to the district, the utility company called administrators to request that the air conditioning be shut off to reduce power consumption. view article

A group of Houston parents, students, and community members are using their creativity to protest the recent changes within Houston ISD. Through their love for the arts, they’ve stitched together a unique way to make their voices heard, using crochet to raise awareness about what’s happening in the district. view article

"It was a big mistake," Mayor John Whitmire said about HISD's decision to deny the band an opportunity to perform for a national audience early next year. The Houston mayor said that when he saw Chron's Friday night story about the legendary Waltrip High marching band being forbidden from performing at the College Football Playoff game in New Orleans early next year, he could not believe his eyes.   view article

We must all learn to live within limitations we cannot avoid.  As I start my 51st and final year of teaching, campuses across the country are in turmoil. My university, Columbia, is the epicenter of an emerging student movement that is shaking the foundations of higher education. The temperature created by the friction among students, faculty, administrators and alumni has not been this high since the 1960s. view article