Texas OnCourse Academy Puts Paper in Your Hand

Fellow Selena Barrera Scott uses handouts during a training at UT Austin.

We're offering financial rewards to educators completing the Texas OnCourse Academy for their first time, through June 2019. Eligible educators include Texas school counselors/advisers and teachers who directly advise students on college and career preparation or exploration.

But we hope you’ll complete the Texas OnCourse Academy for so, so many reasons! We asked our Texas OnCourse leader fellows to provide some insight on what they love about this online professional development tool. Their answers have a theme: our regional experts love the pragmatic handouts they can use with students and families! Some specific examples you can use in your own office or classroom:

“I’ve loved using the handouts that describe different endorsements. When we have students waiting to see their counselor, it’s really nice to have something in front of them they can look over.”

—Lynn Harnett, Corpus Christi ISD

“Learning more about the differences in the military recruiting process was very helpful to me when talking to students! There is a one-pager that has the enlistment requirements for all branches that is so easy to hand out to students and have displayed.”

—Dannette Young, Comal ISD

“I’m a visual person and I like to blow up the one-pagers into posters (TSIA/ACT vs. SAT, etc). I walk the students around my room so they can either take pictures or just understand what I’m talking about.”

—Natalie Martinez-Nylen, Clear Creek ISD

“The infographic charts that lay out differences between topics are extremely useful with students and parents. (SAT vs. ACT, types of college applications, types of college credits, etc.) They provide immediate and clear answers to the ongoing question of 'what’s the difference between _______?'”

—Charlotte Ward, Lubbock ISD

“I use the Questbridge infographic with my 10th graders after we get their PSAT scores back. It helps give some of them a target and focus.”

—Sonya Gilb, Dallas ISD

“I turn the handouts/graphics into posters and put them in our hallways.”

—Shana Pate Jackson, Northwest ISD

“The Minimum AFQT Scores page is a great resource for students considering military service and reviewing ASVAB scores. The ACT/SAT comparison page is part of the packet my juniors receive when we discuss testing.”

—Alease Copelin, Center ISD