Waco Independent School District’s preliminary STAAR data shows some gains and setbacks at campuses with failing ratings.
Raquel Villatoro
Raquel Villatoro covers education issues for the Bridge. A first-generation Salvadoran-American, Raquel previously worked at the Tyler Morning Telegraph, where she covered health care issues, the first medical school in East Texas, immigration and Latino communities. Raquel also reported on RSV rates in Northeast Texas and highlighted community efforts to showcase Latino culture in Tyler. In addition, Raquel previously interned at The Acadiana Advocate in Lafayette, Louisiana in 2022. Raquel holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and history from the University of North Texas.
Posted inEducation
New Waco ISD principals bring experience turning around failing schools, working at Title 1 schools
Waco Independent School District appoints four new principals at Tennyson Middle School and Bell’s Hill, West Avenue and Brook Avenue elementary schools.
Posted inEducation
Waco ISD is sitting on $32 million from a school sale. Some see a war chest for hiring top teachers.
Waco ISD Board President Angelo Ochoa wants to create an endowment for incentivizing the best teachers.
Posted inEducation
Music educator returns to her roots as Midway’s fine arts director
Jennifer Martin learned how to be a music educator at Midway ISD. Now she’s coming back with experience gained in larger school districts and as president of Texas Music Educators Association.
Posted inEducation
Busy Midway teens seek “brain reset” in hikes with new club
How a teen’s vision for finding solace in nature led to the formation of the Midway High School Hiking Club.
Posted inEducation
Setting a course for teaching: First teens graduate from Waco ISD Future Educators Academy
The academy’s first graduating class has been embedded in elementary school classrooms and taken college-level education courses, with several receiving associate degrees.
Posted inEducation
Former Rapoport leader will replace Isabel Lozano as Kendrick principal
Former Rapoport Academy administrator Barbara Page will fill the top spot at Kendrick starting this summer.
Posted inEducation
Divide grows on Waco ISD board as ousted president lashes out
The process to fill a vacant seat has split the board for months. Tensions came to a head Thursday when Jose Vidaña took to social media to criticize other board members for replacing him as board president.
Posted inEducation
“We’re on the right track now”: Connally ISD’s new leaders and community face life under state control
After years of academic struggles, massive change is underway at the district this month, with new leadership and consolidated campuses.
Posted inEducation
Generations of students and educators give Speegleville Elementary a bittersweet sendoff
“Nostalgic and bittersweet for sure, knowing this place isn’t going to be educating people as the way that I was fortunate enough to is kind of saddening,” former student Matthew Mounce said.
