Why were we not informed? This school year, T-STEM Executive Director David Simmons and Carrillo-Rowley said, Mendez has more students participating in the schools extracurricular activities, including guitar, choir and band. Everything was all over the place. Does Illinois Require Front License Plates on Vehicles? Enroll now Inscrbase Hoy Employment Contact Us UTeach Tutors. In recent years, Mendez Middle School teachers have watched administrators cycle through campus like a spinning turnstile. I do not believe this student had any intention of hurting me, she said. Im only surprised it didnt happen sooner.. I simply heard a commotion coming from just outside my classroom, and I made a choice to quickly step out into the hallway to assess the situation and see if theres something I could do to help, she said. In a series of interviews with the American-Statesman, various teachers said they witness student fights weekly. Mendez Middle School is located at 5106 VILLAGE SQ DR, AUSTIN, TX, 78744. Mays said the district is hoping parents will feel more comfortable keeping their kids at their elementary school and wont transfer out. When T-STEM took over, Jones said he wanted to stay to finish the work he had started, but Simmons opted to hire Carrillo-Rowley. So when state education officials approved a plan for a science-based coalition to take over the Southeast Austin campus, teachers, students and parents envisioned a turnaround for Mendez. The daily classes for students who need additional support academically or behaviorally emphasize intervention, character building and conflict resolution. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Sign Up for Daily News & Breaking News Newsletters, Sign up for Digging Deep: Inside KXAN Investigates newsletter. The student population of Mendez Middle is 573 and the school serves 6-8. Youre learning, theyre learning, and you go from there. It reopened that fall as Eastside Memorial High School. I was an athlete, and I had coaches who tried to tell me what my goals were and that never felt good. School district data show that at the end of the first six weeks, three teachers had left Mendez, one after the first week. Austin City Council Member Delia Garza also showed up to the speak to the school board meeting, and told trustees it was the first time during her four years in office she has testified to a governing body. In November, multiple teachers said, about 15 students were involved in simultaneous fights in the hallway. At Mendez, a partnership with the nonprofit Communities in School and UTeach called the T-STEM Coalition, has overseen the school. The Exit: Teachers Leave. The change goes into effect this fall. Were here to serve; thats what we do.. I tell them they are empowered to make their own.. The district lost 5,000 students during the 2020-2021 school year. Under a state law passed in 2017, T-STEM has two years to raise the school's performance to passing levels. This feeder pattern represents the path students take as they advance to high school. He has faith the state and district will make the right decisions. Hopefully, everything works out for the benefit of the students, said Hernandez. We have asked teachers to do a lot of things differently, said Simmons, pointing to project-based learning, increased academic rigor and the additional time demands that come with supporting and tutoring students who are not succeeding. The results were the lowest middle-of-the-year scores for a middle school in the Austin district. Austin ISD Gets B Overall From TEA, Sees Failing Grades At Some Middle And Elementary Schools, New Principal Hopes Project-Based Learning Will Improve Academics At Mendez, No More 'Same Old, Same Old': Mendez Middle School Picks Partner Focused On STEM, Two Community Groups Compete For Job To Help Turn Mendez Middle School Around, No One Raises Hand To Take Over Troubled Mendez Middle School, It's 'All Hands On Deck' At Mendez Middle School To Avoid Takeover. Theres definitely more structure, said Melody, who's 13. 2022-2023. Multiple students at the school have parents who are or have been incarcerated, and more than half of the student body is learning to speak English. This weeksAustin ISD school board meeting was full of passion, and even some tears as students,teachers and community members stood up to fight to keep thecampus open. Mendez Middle School, serving approximately 600 students in South Austin, aims to provide students with a wealth of opportunities on their path to success. Mendez Middle School 5106 Village Square Dr., Austin, TX 78744 state education officials approved a plan, in-district charter being operated by the Texas Science Technology Engineering and Math Coalition, failed to meet state academic standards for five consecutive years, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Because how can we guarantee continuity at five different campuses. The charter operator was one of two groups that pitched turnaround proposals to Mendez teachers and parents, who welcomed T-STEM's promise to partner with the Austin school district, the University of Texas UTeach Institute, which provides additional staff training and support, and Communities in Schools. Some Mendez teachers say the new interventions have come too late. Questions and concerns: 719.313.7007 Email: mendez@thirdfuture.org. Mendez needs to stay because I am not the only champion in my community. According to state test scores, 12% of students are at least proficient in math and 17% in reading. The families in southeast Austin have faced and continue to face so many obstacles to begin with, and then familiesin my district do not have the luxury to choose their neighborhood based on school performance many are just living where they can afford to live, said Garza. But at this point, teachers and parents in these communities have questions about how the change will help those issues and how the transition will work. View Mendez athletics schedules on RankOneSport . T-STEM guidelines also require Mendez teachers to stay after school and work some Saturdays to help lagging students catch up. Note: STAAR was cancelled in Spring 2020 due to COVID-19. When Carrillo-Rowley arrived on campus, she became Mendez's fifth principal in five years. AISD plans to move sixth grade classes from Martin and Mendez to some elementary schools that feed the two schools. The school is part of AUSTIN ISD. 2022-2023 Adopted Budget. We give students experiences and opportunities like nowhere else. How many COVID cases are in local & statewide schools? But test scores have remained low in the three and a half years the school has been run by the T-STEM coalition. It has 573 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1. Nearly 300 people died on Austin's streets last year. We still have work to do.. She left behind a lasting legacy as the first Latina . Keep your elbows low and against your sides and spread your feet shoulder-width apart with your dominant foot slightly in front. October 3, 2022 January 3, 2022 by americanpost. Why did we not at least get to help make a plan? The email address for the school is joanna.rowley@austinisd.org. This week's Austin ISD school board meeting was full of passion, and even some tears as students, teachers and community members stood up to fight to keep the campus open. Together, Perez said, Were serving our community. "It was not pretty," he said. There's a Concerning Amount of COVID in Chicago Wastewater Right Now. Mendez Middle School may soon be under new leadership as Austin ISD explores ending the partnership that manages the school. KickStart, a national character-building karate program launched at Mendez three years ago, also has added more students. For a current project, her students are trying to figure out how to successfully navigate and survive the Oregon Trail, applying concepts in economics, geography and vocabulary to the task. Compare Mendez Middle School to Other Schools. 2021Austin Independent School District Currently, Dr. Thurston is the principal at Mendez Middle School in Austin, Texas where he is excited to lead intense school improvement efforts. Mendez Middle is a charter school located in Austin, TX, which is in a large city setting. In both 2020 and 2021, TEA labeled all campuses Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster. Charter School Adopted Budget. 5106 Village Square Drive Last week, a female student collapsed after a fight with another student and was carried from the school in an ambulance. This is notthe first time the district has been faced with a school closure, and hadto overhaul campuses. Fighting at Joliet schools escalates amid attacks . Daily instruction will reinforce our Core Belief; that all students can. Mendez Middle School. Runoff turnout tracker: How many people have voted? Some teachers complain that T-STEM administrators haven't provided enough support in dealing with disruptive students or trained them properly on project-based learning, a hands-on technique in which students learn about various subjects through problem-solving tied to the creation of projects. This community shouldnt face the additional fear of their neighborhood school closing, becoming segregated or less reflective of the community.. This week's Austin ISD school board meeting was full of passion, and even some tears as students, teachers and community members stood up to fight to keep th. You have to try to train them as you yourself are trying to figure it out yourself. Everyone felt they were moving in the right direction, said Ken Zarifis, president of Education Austin, the Austin district's labor union, and a member of the selection committee that helped choose T-STEM. Its an all hands on deck pretty much all of the time kind of environment.. Perez said she is having to grasp project-based learning as she teaches it, but she said her students are more engaged. Each child's exact path is determined by his or her home address. The campus also struggles to retain substitute teachers, and when no one fills in for a teacher who is out, the students are divvied up and sent to neighboring classes, even if those other classes are for different subjects or grade levels. 3 Aim to get a blow in as early as possible. With that in mind, AISD will work diligently with the Texas Education Agency as well as the school community to keep Mendez open.. Austin, TX 78744 He said when became principal before the 2017-18 school year, Mendez already had endured four years of academic failure, and the school district started putting more resources into the school. He was brought in at the end of the last school year. That same week, a male teacher trying to break up a fight was struck in the head and suffered a concussion. At Mendez Middle, 12%. The transition, though, has been far from a smooth one. If the southeast Austin campus fails again this school year, it could be closed. Austin ISD officials announced the change last week in a letter to families, saying it will help both schools gain enrollment and do better academically. Ramos said he worries about trying to set up sixth-grade programs at the elementary schools that will prepare the students to attend Martin or Mendez for seventh and eighth grades. It is challenging by all means, but its enjoyable every day. Before taking charge of Mendez, T-STEM had never attempted to lead a school turnaround. If you need to pick-up your student at 2:45 or earlier, please email the office at least one hour prior to pick-up at MSOffice@dist50.net. Both Martin and Mendez have seen declining enrollment the last few years. Over a recent 2-month span, the Statesmanvisited multiple classrooms and interviewed a group of 17 current and former Mendez parents, volunteers, students and teachers, including seven Mendez teachers, who asked to remain anonymous for fear they would lose their jobs if they spoke publicly of the schools problems. Discover their incredible story in this picture book from award-winning creator Duncan Tonatiuh A Pura Belpr Illustrator Honor Book and Robert F. Sibert Honor Book When her family moved to the town of Westminster, California, young Sylvia Mendez was excited about enrolling in her . He also said he recognizes the coalitions methods and curriculum might not be a good fit for everyone. Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students Teachers and parents helped choose T-STEM, which promised a collaborative partnership with the Austin school district. But once the school year started, with the many concerns on campus, it makes us wonder if T-STEM is in over their head.. Claire McInerny is a former education reporter for KUT. , Stock up on COVID kits (on sale now) before spending, Heading to the cabin this winter? Both middle schools have received F grades from the state, and Mendez is currently trying to avoid state takeover because of its rating. Students Suffer. If you can make it fun for them, they engage., Carrillo-Rowley said the second semester has been better as students are finally starting to trust us and listen., Change is hard, and its hard to get everyone to buy in, she said, but Im not going anywhere. Main:512-414-1700, School Report Card & TAPR/AEIS Information. The teachers average 6 years of experience in teaching. With a focus on both community service and career and technical education, Mendez strives to live up to her legacy by providing students with the foundation they need to enter the global workforce and become contributing members of their community. Carrillo-Rowley says a review of the content areas they have studied show that Mendez students have made gains. Its going to be hard to keep a lot of our programming, Ramos said. Theyre doing pretty well, considering its a new model, a brand-new system theyre having to deal with. Theres more structure with our lesson plans. Those who left Mendez departed for personal reasons, medical issues or promotions, she said. Mendez Middle School 5106 Village Square Dr., Austin, TX 78744 719.313.7007 + mendez@thirdfuture.org . One teacher, considered a leader among her peers, began having panic attacks and started taking anti-anxiety medication. Consuelo Herrera Mendez, the schools namesake, worked as a teacher for nearly 50 years and was a tireless advocate for Mexican-American rights. Currently 60% of the students that are moving from fifth grade to sixth grade within the Mendez and Martin vertical team [leave], Mays said. Enrollment has grown slightly, too, up 3 percent to 626 students. Im still smiling, and I still love my job, said Carrillo-Rowley, who, as an administrator in the Midland district, helped turn around struggling schools. Is a front license plate required in Texas? If you need to excuse an absence for your student, please call 847-856-3401 or email MSOffice@dist50.net. The campus is providing additional instructional coaches to teachers. Fax: (512) 414-3522. All rights reserved. If the campus doesn't improve academics during the 2022-23 school year, or the Texas Education Agency could take over . Simmons said there are still significant challenges at Mendez, but T-STEM is determined to find solutions so Mendez will be able to serve the students and the Dove Springs neighborhood for years. The state also closed Pearce Middle School inthe summer of 2009. Her sister was an assistant principal at the school, where her nephew also is a teacher. We do recognize this may not be a good fit for every staff member at Mendez because its a different approach, its a different style. [2] For instance, you can bring your hands up to block a blow to your face. To find out where your child will attend, click on the school finder below the feeder pattern. https://scorestream.com/apiJsCdn/widgets/embed.js. Haven Middle School in Evanston is the location of the growing trend of violence, and teacher Amber Evey Schmitt was caught in the middle of a recent fight. Unfortunately, Im not surprised that this incident happened. In November, multiple teachers said, about. Discover short videos related to mendez middle school fights on TikTok. Copyright 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Several parents gathered at Georgia Jones-Ayers Middle School in Allapattah Tuesday in the hopes of meeting with administrators to discuss the recent violent incidents. On a recent day in March, three students sat in a semicircle as a teacher helped them to work out their differences. Mendez Middle School was established in 1987 and today serves more than 600 students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Authorities are urging indoor masking in major cities as the 'tripledemic' rages, The City of Austin has a dilemma: What to do with 32 fighting roosters, Delayed Texas maternal mortality report to be released next week, state says, To avoid state takeover, Austin ISD wants new leadership at Mendez Middle School. Early Student Pick-Up & Absence Procedure. Why it matters: If Mendez doesn't score a C or higher in TEA's accountability system in the 2022-23 school year, the school or even the district could be taken over by the state. Report cards are out, and the Austin Independent School District received a preliminary grade of B for the 2018-19 school year from the Texas Education, When students at Mendez Middle School return to school next month, there will be new curriculum and a new principal.After Mendez failed state standards, The community's pick to run Mendez Middle School would revamp the way students learn by focusing on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), Two organizations presented plans last night to parents, teachers and community members about how they would help Mendez Middle School improve.Mendez has, The Austin Independent School District has received no offers to run Mendez Middle School, which is on the brink of state takeover. 'Kids Were Doing What They Wanted To Do' Chris Jones is Mendez's third principal in five years. The Texas Education Agency has Mendez Middle School ontheir radar after four consecutive years of not meeting the states academic standards. Eric Ramos, a special education teacher at Martin, said he has concerns about the timing of all of this. Some of these kids have not seen success in STAAR their entire academic career, Carrillo-Rowley said. Mendez Middle School 5106 Village Square Dr., Austin, TX 78744 719.313.7007 + mendez@thirdfuture.org . Video-Recorded Fight at Evanston Middle School Leaves Teacher Hurt, Parents Demanding Action Published April 20, 2022 Updated on April 20, 2022 at 10:30 pm NBC Universal, Inc. The school is named after Consuelo Herrera Mendez, who worked as an educator for more than 50 years and advocated tirelessly on behalf of the Mexican-American community. 1998 - 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The district doesn't know for sure where all those students go, but Mays said charter schools are a big reason for the enrollment loss. The principal also noted that while overall suspensions rose, a survey taken in November indicated that Mendez students thought they were safer on campus than they were the previous school year. The stress became so overwhelming, she said, that during an advisory period, she curled up behind her desk and cried until two colleagues found her. (@j3ss1c4.01), (@jqhnny), Adrian Lopez(@aaadrianlopez), Hms(@hmsslander69), a person right . A surge in violence has become a major issue at a suburban middle school, with a teacher getting knocked unconscious during a brawl that was caught on cellphone video. The Austin ISD Board of Trustees has approved Third Future Schools to turn Mendez Middle School's academic performance around as part of what's called an 1882 partnership. Teachers Mendez Middle School employs 50 teachers, who have been with the school an average of 4 years. There was a lot of optimism over the summer. Even still, many parents say the proposed steps havent gone far enough to address their concerns. Community School Former Mendez Principal Chris Jones, who now is an assistant principal at Travis High School, said he routinely meets with several of the middle school's teachers and tries to boost their morale. Get these cozy, Last-minute tech gifts worth waiting for, according. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In-school suspensions, though, fell by 14 percent, totaling 143. Officials arrests man on TX child sex assault warrant, Diners rank 2 Austin, 4 Texas restaurants among most, Familys warning after getting unexpected Medicare, Rain chances return ahead of a temperature plunge. To contact the school, call (512) 414-3284. Every system youre putting in place, youre trying to figure out the glitches. Martin and Mendez middle schools will not offer sixth grade next year. The school district released a statement to NBC 5, saying that it has put a number of additional safety and support measures into place. In reading, 38 students were one correct answer away from a passing rate, and 169 students were two questions away. This school year, Mendez students are using a project-based learning model, which introduces content at different times than their peer schools. Were learning, she said. Why it matters: Mendez has been rated as an "F" school by the Texas Education Agency since 2013. 5106 Village Square Dr. Austin, TX 78744 Phone: To speak with front office: 512.414.3284. 4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd., Austin, TX 78704 With roughly 2 months remaining in the school year, some teachers at Mendez say the transition to T-STEM has been a learning curve, but the school is headed in the right direction. . Mendez Middle School, serving approximately 900 students in South Austin, aims to provide students with a wealth of opportunities on their path to success. Jones staggered class periods so the different grade levels were not all in the halls at once, a practice, he and teachers said, cut down on in-school fights. These circumstances are a result of the annual statewide testing and it is our belief that one standardized test should not define a school, AISDsaid in a statement to KXAN. That setting is not a quick-fix setting, Jones said. Mendez Middle School has helped me conquer my fears,astudent told the board while holding back tears. Meanwhile, data show at-home suspensions hit an all-time high last semester and students posted lackluster scores on midyear academic assessments, raising concerns that they aren't making gains quickly enough for Mendez to surpass state standards during testing in May. Austin ISD had to go back to the drawing board after receiving no applications in its recent request for proposals. Austin ISD reopened the campus as two single-gender campuses:Bertha Sadler Means and Gus Garcia Middle School. Unlike Brown v. Board of Education, which is widely known, Mendez v. Westminster is known by few Americans to this day. Phone: (512) 414-3284 The average daily attendance is up to 93.2 percent, a 1 percentage point increase from a year ago. We want to address that by keeping those students at their elementary campus.. One of the fears in the community is that removing sixth grade from these two middle schools is the beginning of a plan to close them. He said if the elementary schools had more than a few months to work with the middle schools and the district it could be successful, but hes worried about starting something new by August. MAPS: COVID-19 vaccination rates in your zip code, COVID-19 tracker: Cases in the KXAN viewing area, Data tracker: COVID cases, vaccine rates across Texas, TX high school football state semifinal scores Dec., TX superintendent in investigation found dead, Someone sneaks onto ranch, cuts manes of 20 horses, WATCH: Mayor candidates Watson, Israel debate, Sign up: New KXAN Texas politics newsletter launching. At the same time, the school's students have repeatedly failed to pass high-stakes exams, leaving Mendez at risk of being closed by the state. Austin ISD Lost Thousands Of Students During The Pandemic. Aminta Perez, a former college history professor, started teaching at Mendez last year after relocating to Texas. Both middle schools have received F grades from the state, and Mendez is currently trying to avoid state takeover because of its rating. Carrillo-Rowley says the teacher departures at Mendez aren't more frequent than what she witnessed as the principal at other schools. Mendez Middle School partners with Third Future Schools. Still Practicing: Tracking Problem Doctors, Texas Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout Investigations, Sign up for More than the Score Sports newsletter, Students collect sewing machines for CenTex refugees, Keep Austin Cultural: City has 1st Asian Culture, Officials: Church bus carry adults, children in Houston, Off-duty cop caught pissing in ice machine, Austin City Council votes, decisions to be aware, Grinch repeatedly cuts homes Christmas lights, family, Roads with speed displays down 50% in severe crashes, Texas man heads to prison for human smuggling, These Nintendo Switch controllers make great gifts, Best beauty deals for the holiday shopper, How do you make your home smell good for the holidays? In recognition of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 emergency, TEA labeled all campuses Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster for the 2020-21 school year. AISD thinks this could keep sixth-grade students in district schools. Mendez Middle School is a free 7-8 public charter school in Austin, TX, preparing students for the Year 2030 and Beyond. But she said she remains committed to turning around Mendez, which has failed to meet state academic standards for five consecutive years. Creative Learning InitiativeGearUpSocial and Emotional LearningSTEM Academy, After-school Meals But Mays said that is not at all the case here. With continued collaboration and commitment, we are confident these efforts will have a positive impact and will create a stronger Haven community, the district said. Map Student fights broke out starting the second week of school and have continued. The practice exams provide a picture of learning gaps students must close before taking the state-mandated STAAR test that arrives in the spring. Consuelo Herrera Mendez, the school's namesake, worked as a teacher for nearly 50 years and was a tireless advocate for Mexican-American rights. So this summer, teams are going out to communities to try and get students to re-enroll. Mendez Middle School employs 49 teachers, who have been with the school an average of 3 years. A fourth exited later in the semester, and a fifth left at the end of February; some teachers insist more have departed. Some say they fear being injured while breaking up fights or fear that innocent students will get caught in other students brawls. Family Resource Center What keeps me going and keeps me hopeful is were seeing growth.. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . The district is in the process of putting together a turnaround plan which includes finding an outside entity to partner with who can help turn things around. Please hear me when I say: I did not put myself between students to break up this fight, she said. We want all of our campuses to be strong and viable options for the populations that are currently in our schools, and the populations that we are losing to charter schools., PublishedFebruary 10, 2022 at 10:03 AM CST. The history of Austin ISD and school closures. The parents claim there. After her mother died, Sylvia made it her mission to educate people about her family's fight for desegregation. Some Mendez teachers say the new interventions have come too late. Indeed, the Mendez case is seldom taught in schools. Mendez is the only school in the Austin Independent School District in its fifth year of failing the annual state assessment, or STAAR, test. Flores said she's also concerned about the details of AISDs plan: students can attend sixth grade at their elementary school, but if parents want to send their kid to a middle school for sixth grade, they will have to attend another district school. 5 Followers, 2 Following, 8 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Send me anything like fights or memes or random shit (@mendez.middle.school) Mendez case and her family's fight for equality. Athletic programs include basketball, soccer, tennis, track, football and volleyball. For more information visit the Campus Website. Thats a huge problem for us. A vertical team is the progression of schools a student is assigned based on their location. Weve heard so many words from the administration, but we dont see a lot of action, parent Kate Robinson said. Scores in math show 34 students were one question away from reaching a passing rate of approaches standards, and 100 students were two questions from reaching one of the passing levels. Twenty-eight percent were rated as approaching standards, the minimum passing requirement, in reading, and 18 percent were judged as approaching standards in math. We know that as students are introduced into that middle-school setting, its a dynamic situation that for a sixth-grader, at that maturity level, can be challenging, Mays said. 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