Texas A+ Challenge
Public Schools partnered with A+ to build capacity
Educators have strengthened skills & knowledge through A+ programs
Students served by stronger teachers & school leaders
OUR MISSION
Texas A+ Challenge is an Education Initiative of Children at Risk, dedicated to educators to ensure every child in Texas receives an equitable and high-quality education.
At Texas A+, we empower educators by providing a supportive and focused environment to identify strengths and areas for growth. Together, we co-create measurable goals, and develop strategic action plans to guide participants toward success. Our approach combines proven instructional and leadership coaching practices with comprehensive professional development, planning, and preparation. We are committed to fostering excellence in education through personalized one-on-one and collaborative approach. (Replace section that says we know what works in classrooms)
Our WORK
On Campus
On-site coaching, professional learning, & more.
Customized support for real academic growth.
Professional Learning
Professional learning workshops that help teachers, coaches & specialists drive gains through research-supported best practices.
Institutes
Working groups that create space for networking & problem-solving with peers from around Texas.
TESTIMONIALS
“My A+ coaches are my trusted source for highly-knowledgeable and relevant PD and coaching that I would not be able to provide otherwise and the sole instructional leader on my campus. They understand my vision, and they work well with my teachers, some of whom they have been supporting for multiple years.“
– Samyra Rogers, Principal
“You’ve NEVER experienced effective coaching from a third party until you’ve worked with A+ Challenge. Everyone grows with the coaching and is empowered to succeed after the coaching concludes. The A+ relationship endures – not because the growth is only possible when the coaching is happening, but because teachers have grown to a new place and seek out answers/collaborations to advocate for themselves in the areas they are now able to identify for their students with the content/curriculum.”
-Erin Chavez, Principal
“This coaching experience has made me feel cared for and supported to be able to access and implement new knowledge, participate in deep reflection and learning, and to be comfortable taking risks as a new instructional coach.”
-Raymond Mason, Instructional Specialist
Our Team
Susannah Young
Associate Director PK-12 Education & Academic Performance Coach (Literacy)
James Dirden
Academic Performance Coach (Mathematics)
Erica Milson
Academic Performance Coach (Literacy)
Erin McDaniel
Academic Performance Coach (Mathematics)
Jen Mascheck
Director of Academic Performance Coaches & Academic Performance Coach (Mathematics)
Diana Del Pilar
Chief Academic Performance Officer, Texas A+ Challenge
CONTACT TEXAS A+ CHALLENGE
Our Latest Pk-12 EDUCATION Research & Resources
The Power of Immigrants that Texas Does Not Seem to Want to Understand
By Linda Corchado & Bob Sanborn The data is clear. A third of Texas’ nearly 8 million children are immigrants or the children of immigrants. In our cities, like Houston, the number is about half of our children. If children are our future then our path forward...
CHILDREN AT RISK Hosts The Future of Children Summit
The 2023 Future of Children Summit was introduced by Dr Robert Sanborn, President & CEO at CHILDREN AT RISK with Welcome Remarks The summit was broken down into seven sections that lasted 11 minutes followed by a brief Q&A led by Dr Bob and the speaker....
CHILDREN AT RISK and Texas Family Leadership Council Host Second Annual Motherhood Summit
Last month, the Texas Family Leadership Council and CHILDREN AT RISK hosted the second annual Motherhood Summit. The summit explored some of the most pressing issues facing Texas mothers and how these issues affect not just themselves, but their children and families...
Growing Up In Houston: Assessing the Quality of Life of Our Children
Data must be the catalyst for any conversation regarding the well-being of our children. However, data alone is not sufficient. We must also overlay context to better understand the complexities of the many issues facing our children. Growing Up in Houston aims to do just that.
CHILDREN AT RISK and Texas Family Leadership Council Host Third Annual State of Black Children in Texas
On Thursday, February 16, the Texas Family Leadership Council and CHILDREN AT RISK hosted the third annual State of Black Children in Texas summit. The summit explored the challenges Black children face growing up in Texas and how to best support them at all stages of...
C@R Testifies to Senate Finance Committee on Education
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Supporting Opportunity Youth for an Inclusive Economy
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Education in Transition: Reshaping America’s Schools in a Post-Pandemic World
Reshaping America’s Schools in a Post-Pandemic World
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COVID-19 changed our public education landscape nearly overnight. Thousands of Texas schools and nearly 5.5 million students faced a school year like never before. Schools had to quickly develop tools andresources that would support the pivot to a virtual classroom...
OP-ED: More Accountability for School Vouchers
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