As students stepped off the buses on Aug. 25 at Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) four special school campuses, they were met with excited administrators who asked dozens of questions. 

“How was your summer?” 

“Did you miss us? Cause we missed you!”  

“Are you ready for a great year?”  

The excitement was palpable. Academic and Behavior Schools (ABS) East and West, Highpoint School and Fortis Academy staff members are all on a mission to uphold Superintendent James Colbert Jr.’s declaration that “HCDE is Varsity.” They’re welcoming additional students, offering new programs and reinforcing successful strategies.  

“We really wanted to get that energy going first thing in the morning, so we had the music playing,” Fortis Academy Principal Travita Godfrey said. “We wanted to get our students moving, dancing and excited to be here.” 

This year, Fortis Academy contracts are free for local independent school districts. Leaders wanted to ensure students facing challenges with alcohol and substance abuse have access to the necessary care. With the change, the campus started the year with a record enrollment of 25 students who will continue their education while receiving counseling and learning coping strategies to manage sobriety.  

Administrators have also partnered with community businesses to offer new electives that teach students about botany and floral design while allowing them to grow their own ingredients for their culinary classes.  

“This class is a creative outlet for our students, a fine arts credit, and a face-to-face opportunity where they learn to interact with others, show off their imagination and express their emotions,” Godfrey said.  

Courtney Waters is entering her fifth year as principal at Highpoint School, and her goal is to continue changing lives, one student at a time. The campus is HCDE’s home of second chances, as students are treated equally despite their past challenges. Educators provide students with structure while showering them with love, and in return, they often successfully reintegrate back to their home campus.   

“The biggest thing I’m hoping for this year is that we continue to break barriers and build lives one kid at a time,” Waters smiled. “That’s our motto, and we live by that change we want to see.” 

ABS West has a similar mission this academic year. Principal Jatata Hutton and his staff took a page from the Superintendent’s playbook and decorated the halls with Varsity-inspired bulletin boards and classrooms.  

“I see myself as a coach,” Hutton laughed. “We got our locker room chants for the kids, teachers have the playbook and we are ready to play when the whistle blows!”  

Campus educators are in their implementation year. They spent the summer identifying areas of improvement and working on an action plan. They are focused on ensuring each student is met with excellence.  

“We’re going to build on everything we started last year, and we have great momentum to do that,” Hutton said. “We want to ensure we give every student the opportunity to succeed. Our staff members believe in these kids and are determined to see each kid leave us better than when they came.” 

Across the 610 Loop at ABS East, campus leaders were thrilled to welcome nearly 80 students after lifting a hold on enrollment.  

“I was elated to see so many new faces,” Principal Mercedes Love said. “We met many of them this summer when the parents brought them up for campus visits, but it was great to see them dressed in school clothes with their backpacks ready to embrace this year. I even met a new student who wants to call me ‘Auntie,’ so I’m excited!” 

Educators are introducing “learning centers” in each classroom, focusing on science, social studies, English and mathematics. The new initiative will be part of daily instruction across behavior and life skills classes to meet students at their academic level.  

“The teachers and educational aides will be working with students at these centers to improve their skills in the classroom, and we hope that will increase their knowledge retention and decrease many of the behavior incidents we have in class,” Love explained. 

As students settle into their new classrooms and prepare for a year of instruction, HCDE’s Special Schools continue to fulfill the division’s mission.   

“We want kids to come to HCDE not just because they are placed here, but because they have a life-changing experience on our campuses,” Waters said.