On Thursday, August 8, CHILDREN AT RISK was proud to host the 2024 Education Summit: Building a Pipeline to a Brighter Future. Generously sponsored by Shell, this virtual summit united educators, community advocates, and thought leaders in a collaborative effort to explore innovative strategies for enhancing the education system and better supporting students across Texas. 

The summit began with an introduction from Rebecca George, Fellow at CHILDREN AT RISK, who welcomed attendees to a day of meaningful discussion and sincerely thanked community partners Texas Family Leadership Council (TXFLC), 8 Million Stories, Early Learning Alliance, Educate Texas, Every Texan, Molina Healthcare, Family to Family Network, and Santa Maria Hostel. Dr. Bob Sanborn, President & CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK, then took the virtual stage alongside Dr. Frazier Wilson, Vice President at Shell USA Company Foundation & Manager of Social Investment, to deliver the opening remarks. 

Dr. Sanborn emphasized the crucial role that collaboration plays in shaping the future of education. He highlighted the urgent need to address the widening disparities in educational outcomes across the state, stressing that only by working together can we build a more equitable and effective education system. Dr. Wilson echoed these sentiments, noting the importance of investing in innovative solutions that ensure all students have access to the opportunities they need to succeed. He spoke passionately about Shell’s commitment to supporting initiatives that drive positive change in education, particularly those that focus on equity, access, and the holistic development of students. 

Dr. Frazier Wilson and Dr. Bob Sanborn join the virtual stage to provide attendees with key facts and hope for the future during the summit’s opening remarks.

Together, Dr. Sanborn and Dr. Wilson set an inspiring tone for the summit, encouraging participants to engage fully in the day’s discussions and to think creatively about how to tackle the challenges facing today’s educational landscape. Their remarks laid the groundwork for a series of panels and presentations that would explore these themes in greater depth, ultimately aiming to chart a course toward a brighter future for all Texas students. 

Ian O’Keefe, Data Fellow for the Center for Social Measurement and Evaluation (CSME) at CHILDREN AT RISK, kicked off the summit with a compelling overview of the current state of public education in Texas. His presentation, rich in data, highlighted the growing disparities in college and career readiness across the state—underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions. 

O’Keefe revealed that Texas public schools have seen a 2% increase in enrollment, now serving over 5.5 million students (about twice the population of Arkansas). However, this growth comes with significant challenges. More than half of these students, around 2.94 million, are at risk of dropping out due to academic struggles, pregnancy, parenthood, or limited English proficiency. These students often rely on after-school programs and specialized support services to stay on track, but the need for these interventions is growing faster than the resources available. 

Economic disparities were another key focus, with O’Keefe noting that 62% of Texas students are now considered economically disadvantaged—a figure significantly higher than the national average of 53.3%. The percentage of emergent bilingual and English learners has also risen to 23%, reflecting a decade-long increase from 17%. Additionally, 13% of students are enrolled in special education programs, highlighting the diverse needs within Texas schools. 

Standardized testing data revealed troubling trends, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. While 46% of students met the standards for 3rd-grade reading in the 2023-2024 school year, this marks a decline following a brief post-pandemic recovery. Even more concerning is the drop in 8th-grade math performance, with only 40% of students meeting state standards—down from 55% pre-pandemic. These findings underscore the widening knowledge gap and the pressing need for comprehensive support to help students catch up. 

The first panel discussion with Andrew Baca,   Dr. Tanya Tate, Ana Wiersema, and Angelica Vega explored barriers and shared how they address existing disparities in college readiness.

Following O’Keefe’s data-driven presentation, the summit transitioned into a series of engaging panel discussions. The first panel, moderated by Andrew Baca, Deputy Director of Programs at Educate Texas, delved into the landscape of college and career readiness pathways while he moderated a discussion on Equity in College & Career Readiness. “The culture of your school will be the sum of millions of micro interactions,” Baca said. 

In this discussion, Dr. Tanya Tate of Lytle ISD, Angelica Vega of South Early College High School, and Ana Wiersema of the Texas School Empowerment Network, shared insights and explored the opportunities and challenges that define this critical aspect of education. 

Dr. Tate highlighted Lytle ISD’s commitment to a P-20 model, which spans from Pre-K through year 20, emphasizing the empowerment of students to take charge of their learning journeys. She spoke passionately about the district’s efforts to provide a wide range of college and career readiness programs, bolstered by partnerships with institutions like St. Philip’s College, ensuring students are well-prepared for both academic and career success. 

Ana Wiersema brought attention to the importance of preparing students to be “future-ready” in an increasingly unpredictable world. She underscored the need for educational systems to balance critical thinking with hands-on experiences, all while grappling with the growing challenge of college affordability. Wiersema advocated for a comprehensive approach to readiness, one that begins early and supports students not just academically but also in their social-emotional development. She further identified the need to increase funding to retain qualified teachers and support school community needs as teachers try to address learning loss.  

Angelica Vega offered a practical perspective by sharing the successful partnership between South Early College High School and Houston Community College, which allows students to earn dual credit and even complete an associate’s degree. She emphasized the significance of overcoming barriers like Texas Success Initiative (TSI) readiness, ensuring that all students can fully benefit from the opportunities available to them. 

Dr. Martha Salazar Zamora provided an inspiring keynote address for this year’s Education Summit, where she shared best practices that have helped her achieve an overwhelming success as a Superintendent. 

Arguably, the highlight of the summit was the keynote address by Dr. Martha Salazar Zamora, Superintendent of Tomball ISD and Texas Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Zamora’s keynote, titled “Reimagining Education: Pathways to Equity and Inclusion,” offered a visionary perspective on how to create more inclusive and equitable educational environments for every student.  

“Coming out of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we had to reimagine education in a completely different way,” Zamora said. She continued later by saying “”We don’t have students for long, but while we have them we want to instill a love of learning.” 

Drawing from her 38 years in public education, Dr. Zamora shared the transformative initiatives underway in Tomball ISD, including the district’s innovative Early Excellence Academy and the Tomball Innovation Center. She also highlighted the district’s commitment to a robust two-way dual language program and expansive Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that equip students with industry certifications in high-demand fields. 

Dr. Zamora emphasized the importance of addressing the whole child, integrating mental health support, and leveraging technology like artificial intelligence and virtual reality to enhance learning. She concluded with a powerful call to action, urging educators, parents, and community members to advocate for public education and ensure that every student has access to equitable and inclusive pathways. 

In the third panel discussion, Asha George was joined by Mara Gilyard, Coach Johnathane Gaffney, and Jessica Carter for a discussion centered on increasing family engagement in early education spheres.

The summit continued with a panel discussion on parent engagement in early education, moderated by Asha George, Human Resources Professional & CHILDREN AT RISK Board Member. The panel, featuring Dr. Jessica Carter of Parent Teacher Collaborative, Mara Gilyard of Latinos for Education, and Coach Gaffney, a Tier 1/Universal Mental Health supports Coach, explored the critical role parents play in shaping their children’s educational experiences. They addressed challenges such as cultural and language barriers that hinder engagement, particularly in Latino communities, and offered strategies for fostering stronger connections between schools and families. 

“Many families may not be fluent in English and this can limit their ability to communicate with teachers, to show up at meetings, and to fully engage in their child’s education,” said Gilyard. 

“Put courage in – It take courage for families to go into the unknown” said Coach Gaffney furthering Mara’s thought with a recommendation on how to engage families who may not be fluent in English or in navigating an unfamiliar school system. 

Dr. Jessica Carter emphasized that the energy to support schools is there, and it’s time that leaders and advocates capitalized on that to channel a collaborative and sustainable partnership that responds to the unique needs of students and families. 

The final panel, moderated by Diana Del Pilar of CHILDREN AT RISK, focused on strategies for re-engaging students who have fallen behind or dropped out. Panelists Maria Mendez of Collaborative Action for Youth – Youth Voice, Dara Santiago of Vent-E, Marvin Pierre of 8 Million Stories, and Sarah Deckard of VISTAS High Schools discussed the importance of mental health resources, personalized education approaches, and community support in helping students overcome obstacles and achieve their potential. 

Diana del Pilar led the final discussion with Dara Santiago, Maria Mendez, Marvin Pierre, and Sarah Deckard. Panelists provided moving personal testimony and an exploexplored how advocates and school communities can work to create a more inclusive classroom that feels welcoming to even the most disconnected students.

Santiago, as a first-generation student, reflected that she nearly didn’t make it to the level of success she found because she didn’t have the support or guidance that she needed to see the opportunities in front of her. “I faced a lot of challenges in my life even just trying to graduate high school,” she reflected. 

For first-generation or marginalized communities, this story is all too families. Pierre lent his expertise to the conversation, saying “Many of our students, especially our young men [of color], haven’t had a good educational experience.” He emphasized the need to move beyond traditional pathways to re-engage students, especially those who don’t feel like they are heard, or belong, in the classroom. 

C@R’s 2024 Education Summit concluded with a strong emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and advocacy. Participants were encouraged to continue the dialogue, support public education, and work together to create inclusive, transformative educational experiences for all students. As the summit wrapped up, it was clear that the discussions and insights shared would serve as a foundation for ongoing efforts to build a brighter future for Texas students.

CHILDREN AT RISK extends its deepest thanks to Shell USA Company Foundation for their generous sponsorship and to all the partners and participants who made the 2024 Education Summit a success. To learn more about CHILDREN AT RISK and future events, visit childrenatrisk.org.