History
Windham School District (WSD) provides academic and vocational
education to eligible offenders incarcerated within the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Windham
operates in the Correctional Institutional Division. The district, which began
operation in 1969, was established by the Texas Legislature and was named by
the Texas Board of Corrections for the late James M. Windham, a 24-year member
of the Board. It is the first education system of such scope to be established
within a statewide prison system. Classes are conducted in prison units across
the state.
Philosophy
Adults in the United
States face the challenges of life in an
ever-changing technological age. Successfully coping with these challenges requires
adults to employ educational processes that are the basic tools of human growth
and development. Incarcerated adults, as a group, lack the basic educational
tools needed to adjust successfully to the economic, sociological and cultural
dimensions of today's society. Confined persons need to develop the academic
skills that will allow them to process knowledge and information. They need
vocational competencies that will enable them to contribute to a productive
society. They need the social skills that will provide them with
self-confidence and the ability to interact successfully with their fellow man.
Mission
The mission of the Windham
School District is to
provide appropriate educational programming and services to meet the needs of
the eligible offender population in TDCJ and reduce recidivism by assisting
offenders in becoming responsible, productive members of their communities.
Goals
- To reduce recidivism.
- To reduce the cost of
confinement or imprisonment.
- To increase the success of
former offenders in obtaining and maintaining employment.
- To provide an incentive for
offenders to behave in positive ways during confinement or imprisonment.
General
Windham School District provides appropriate
educational programs to meet the needs of the eligible offender population,
thus reducing recidivism by assisting offenders in becoming productive members
of society. Studies show that education and employment reduce recidivism and
save tax dollars. According to a study conducted by the Texas Criminal Justice
Policy Council (CJPC) in 2000, offenders with higher levels of education have
lower recidivism rates, and releasees who are employed have a lower recidivism
rate than those not employed.
Many of the offenders in the TDCJ lack the educational background
and basic skills necessary for attaining employment upon release. The typical Windham student functions
below the sixth grade level.
According to a related study (“Survey of Texas Employers
2002” by L. Jean Walker, Ph.D.), employers have difficulty hiring
employees because applicants lack specific job skills. Employers also stress
the importance of employability skills such as teamwork, problem solving, and
dependability. Windham’s
academic and vocational programs are designed to provide offenders with the
skills they need to obtain employment upon release.
Windham provides a variety of
academic classes and Career and Technical Education (CTE) to offenders
incarcerated in the TDCJ. In addition to WSD programs, the Continuing Education
program offers offenders the opportunity to participate in college courses, and
recreational activities.
WSD operates schools on 90 sites serving TDCJ. Most literacy
program participants attended classes 15 hours per week, and most of those
participating in CTE programs attended 30 hours per week.
Organization
The Texas Board of Criminal Justice (TBCJ) serves as the school
board for Windham
School District. The
authority to administer, organize, manage, and supervise the daily operations
of WSD is delegated by the TBCJ to the Superintendent, who may further delegate
this authority to staff as appropriate. Reporting to the Superintendent are the
Public Information Officer, the Administrator for Human Resources, and Division
Directors.
Delegation of authority from the TBCJ to the Superintendent
includes:
- Employing and terminating
staff as necessary for efficient operations.
- Developing, implementing,
maintaining and updating policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Organizing the district to
improve operations.
- Overseeing fiscal management.
The Superintendent is responsible for implementing measures to
evaluate the effectiveness of WSD programs, maintaining relations with the TBCJ
and the TDCJ, and interacting with state offender family organizations. The
Superintendent also serves as the governmental liaison for the District and is
responsible for all contacts with the Governor's office, the Legislature, and
other state agencies.
The Windham Public Information Officer is responsible for press
releases, media relations, and providing current news to Windham staff. The PIO provides photographs for
WSD publications, updates the website calendar and bulletin board, and provides
supervision for production of the offender newspaper, The Echo. The PIO coordinates WSD’s Lane Murray
Excellence in Teaching Initiative to recognize exemplary instructors, and also
oversees the district’s administrative participation in the annual State
Employee Charitable Campaign.
2011-2012 Funding and Budget Schedule
2010-2011 Funding and Budget Schedule
2009-2010 Special Education ARRA/Stimulus
Grant
Contact Information
Physical Address:
Windham School
District
P.O. Box 40
804 Bldg. B, FM 2821 West
Huntsville, TX
77320