New Educational Partnership for Azleway
Posted/updated on: September 10, 2014 at 12:19 pm
SMITH COUNTY Trinity Charter Schools (TCS) on Tuesday announced a new partnership with Azleway Inc., an organization that operates a residential treatment center in the Tyler area and provides intensive therapy in a safe, healing environment for at-risk youth. That’s according to a news release from Lutheran Social Services. KETK reports Trinity Charter Schools will serve approximately 150 students on Azleways campuses in New Chapel Hill and Big Sandy and in partnership with Willow Bend Residential Treatment Center. School services at these facilities were formerly provided by Azleway Charter School, which recently lost its charter over performance issues.
Azleway is known for its commitment to helping at-risk children and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve them through Trinity Charter Schools outstanding educational services, said Jacqueline Piar-Thomas, TCS Superintendent. Trinity Charter Schools partnership with Azleway, along with support from Commissioner of Education Michael Williams, will result in a smooth transition for students and faculty with no interruption to their school year. Students will be provided a quality educational program that empowers them to reclaim their lives.
We are excited to announce a partnership to continue our school services with a proven leader in the education field for at-risk kids, said Gary Duke, Azleway CEO. By teaming up with an experienced charter school operator for students with emotional, behavioral and learning challenges, we are continuing the strong tradition of excellent service Azleway is committed to.
Lutheran Social Services of the South (LSS) sponsored the charter for Trinity Charter Schools to help support LSSs residential treatment center (RTC) programs. Officials say no other childrens services agency in Texas has this unique capability. Officials say TCS provides specialized education for troubled youth with severe emotional and behavioral difficulties to help them prepare for adulthood. TCS is currently on-site at LSSs New Life Childrens Center in Canyon Lake, Krause Childrens Center in Katy, and Bokenkamp Childrens Center in Corpus Christi — and in partnership with Pegasus Campus in Lockhart.
TCS is fully accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and has a proven record of helping students advance an average of three grade levels while in their care, according to the news release. Officials say through TCS, students learn appropriate social skills in a safe, structured, therapeutic environment before they transition back into the public school system or the next phase of their lives. In 2013, Trinity Charter Schools scored 100 percent on TEAs review.
