Martin Winchester, TEA deputy commissioner for educator support, sits with Mineola first-grader Anniston Tibbs as she explains her classroom work.

(Monitor photo by Hank Murphy)

This is Mineola’s third year as pilot program in blending learning, which combines traditional teaching techniques with web-based instruction.

Nowhere near does it take the teacher out of the equation, but the teachers are allowed flexibility to assign kids using web-based technology to specific skills they need.”

Jennifer Knipp, director of curriculum and instruction

Martin Winchester, a top official for the Texas Education Agency, stopped in Mineola on Feb. 6 to get a firsthand look at what’s happening in classrooms here to prepare students for life beyond public school.

“These are great days to get out of the office. I love seeing all the great stuff that’s happening in Texas schools. So I can shine that spotlight and tell everyone what’s going on in Mineola,” said Winchester, deputy TEA commissioner for educator support.

Winchester’s visit came fresh after the district had hosted more than 100 visitors from across Texas to showcase its work in blended learning. Superintendents, university professors, Region Service Center staff, administrators, and teachers came to Mineola to visit classrooms and hear from teachers and student panels. 

This is Mineola’s third year as pilot program in blending learning, which combines traditional teaching techniques with web-based instruction.

“Nowhere near does it take the teacher out of the equation, but the teachers are allowed flexibility to assign kids using web-based technology to specific skills they need,” explained Jennifer Knipp, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction. The web-based software can adapt to different skill levels among students. “The state is branching out and looking at blended learning models and how technology and instruction are helping to personalize learning for the kids,” she added.

MISD’s blended learning initiative has already paid dividends. Last August, the district received a $500,000 grant to implement a Math Innovation Zone, which is being applied in kindergarten, third grade and sixth grade.

When Mineola was awarded the grant, “We were told directly that it was from the work we’ve already done with blended learning,” Knipp said.

The grant money is being spent on technology, an instructional coach for teachers, and professional development, she said, noting that the MISD stands to benefit from an additional $100,000 in grant funds in the future.

“This initiative with the blended learning is high on (TEA Commissioner Mike Morath’s) list of priorities,” Winchester said. “We want to see more innovation like I just saw and more student ownership over their own progress.”

After visiting a first-grade classroom, Winchester described it as “highly engaging” and a “very inspiring classroom environment.”

Winchester also said he came to Mineola to thank Supt. Kim Tunnell for her work on the Texas Rural Schools Taskforce a few years back. Tunnell represented Region 7.

“We worked together for about six months to identify the opportunities and challenges facing our 600 rural schools across Texas, and she did an amazing job. The report that came out from that has created a lot of initiatives within the agency trying to streamline (and reduce paperwork), trying to incentivize grants to help teacher recruitment and retention, and I just want to thank Supt. Tunnel for what she did.”