Region 16 Education Service Center History

by Matt Koumalats

The Region 16 Education Service Center has become an essential part of education in the Texas Panhandle.

Covering more than 27,000 square miles, Region 16 has a staff of approximately 340 employees dedicated to helping area students succeed at every level. Now in its 54th year of service, Region 16 has been able to assist area Independent School Districts (ISDs) in navigating the ever-changing educational environment. They do it by providing a number of programs and services tailored specifically for each ISD they serve. That means providing assistance to over 12,000 educators and helping to educate over 85,000 students.

Region 16 also provides a number of options that enable school districts to operate more efficiently and economically. Services like technology assistance, budget management and professional development continue to save area schools an estimated twenty million dollars annually. These savings can go right back to the schools for building improvements, teacher salaries and enriched learning environments for students.

The service center normally offers more than 500 workshops a year covering every subject and aspect of education. If it happens in a classroom, cafeteria, bus or gym, Region 16 is there to find innovative ways to assist school districts. Examples include business manager services, federal program specialist services, technology specialist services, curriculum specialist services, counseling services, nursing services, librarian services and many more. Region 16 ESC is dedicated to helping educators and making students into lifelong learners.

First created in 1966, the Panhandle Educational Services Organization (PESO) was a partnership between West Texas State University and area school superintendents. This group studied the needs of educators in our area and created an organization that would become the model for service centers statewide. They discovered a need for a centralized entity that could allow area ISDs to pool resources and expand on our area’s rich knowledge base.

The State of Texas liked what it saw in the PESO program. One year later, the 1967 Texas Legislature directed the State Board of Education to create and operate 20 regional Education Service Centers (ESCs) across the state. PESO was renamed Region 16 and today services 61 school districts and three charter schools. The Centers are dedicated service organizations, not regulatory arms of the Texas Education Agency, and participation by school districts in services of the centers is voluntary.

Today the ESCs provide school districts an array of services customized specifically for their individual school needs. Region 16 delivers these services in several different ways. In some instances, services are delivered at the ESC campuses at 5800 Bell Street or 1601 S. Cleveland Street in Amarillo. In other cases, ESC representatives provide technical assistance on-site in school districts. Region 16 also provides staff development opportunities for bus drivers, nurses, teachers, administrators, school board members, school librarians and numerous others. School districts may procure many of these services year round. Additional resources for mission critical services are often delivered beyond the initial service to further support school districts.

Region 16 also operates an extensive Head Start program for disadvantaged students in our area. Studies continue to show the importance of an early education. Students in the Region 16 Head Start program get access to incredible teachers and staff who are dedicated to their success. There are currently around 2,000 students enrolled in the Head Start and Early Head Start programs in cities across the Texas Panhandle. These students are getting the tools they will need to foster a love of learning and the social skills necessary to ensure a positive educational experience. Region 16 also serves as the fiscal agent of an Early Childhood Intervention program for special needs children.

Another area that Region 16 shines is its technology assistance programs. Having access to fast and reliable internet connection is crucial in today’s learning environment. The Technology Department at the ESC works tirelessly to make sure area students can get and stay connected. To date, this team has connected almost every ISD in the area with high speed broadband internet, and they visit schools on a regular basis to ensure all their technology needs are met. They even offer Virtual Field Trips that give students a look at the wonders of the world without ever leaving their classroom.

Region 16 is also home to the Panhandle P-16 Council. This group of education and business professionals come together to promote various initiatives aimed at improving education in the area. This Council includes local college and university presidents, area superintendents, business leaders and Region 16 personnel. The P-16 Council has had incredible success with their Why Teach program that encourages high school students to become teachers. The Council also created an award-winning set of information cards that were given to new mothers. These cards promote the importance of an early education and include ways to inspire learning in young children.

The Region 16 Education Service Center is an organization that every Texas Panhandle resident can be proud of. It is an idea first developed here by people dedicated to ensuring a quality education for every student in our area. That idea soon spread across the entire state of Texas. Region 16 continues to improve the lives of countless students and makes certain that local ISDs remain a healthy and cherished part of their communities.