The Fort Worth Independent School District has been named a top-three finalist for the 2024 Summies Mega District of the Year award.
The award celebrates excellence in bilingual education across the district. Specifically, the award reflects educators’ efforts and successful student performance among districts using the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) scores, innovative usage of Summit K12 resources, and creative implementation strategies for supporting emergent bilingual students.
“Our recognition is a testament to our collective focus on providing opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability to listen, speak, read, and write. Summit K12 is one aspect of our Emergent Bilingual Department plan to ensure we meet our established goals,” Emergent Bilingual Programs Executive Director Dr. Marie Mendoza said. “We believe all students are capable of high levels of success, and our team is determined to make this a reality.”
Fort Worth ISD was recognized as a finalist and a standout among the state’s 650 school districts. In addition to Fort Worth ISD, the International Newcomer Academy in Fort Worth has been named a finalist for ‘Campus of the Year.’
“We did it! INA was awarded the High School Summies Campus of the Year at the 2024 TABE Conference,” the campus wrote on Facebook on October 20. “We were in competition with 4,000 other campuses across Texas! We could not have won this award without our amazing students and staff, and our supportive parents!”
Fort Worth ISD will be celebrated at the 2024 TABE Awards Ceremony and Conference, which will be held on November 19 in San Antonio.
“The Summies Awards celebrate excellence in education and are specifically designed to honor districts that are excelling in supporting emergent bilingual students,” the district said in a statement. “While only one district will win the Mega District of the Year award, being named a finalist in this highly competitive field is an incredible achievement.”