Education

The purpose of TCCB ED is to assist Catholic schools in the state of Texas with 1) continuous school improvement initiatives, 2) accountability with best educational practices, 3) strengthening of mission and identity, and 4) improving academic performance.

The goals of Catholic education in Texas schools are
1) to promote a community of believers, learners, and active doers in the spirit of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church,
2) to provide instructional leadership and maintain effective and efficient programs of studies, and
3) to implement a curriculum that represents a school's mission which is shared by teachers, students, and parents/guardians.

The TCCB Accreditation Commission (TCCB AC) is made up of two bishops, six Catholic school superintendents, and six educational professionals and meets twice each year.

TCCB Accreditation Commission Members

Fred Estrello
Commissioner-At-Large
St. Edward's University

Dr. Rosemary Henry
Superintendent of Schools
Diocese of Corpus Christi

Sr. Kevina Keating, CCVI
Commissioner-At-Large
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Sr. Cynthia Mello, SSD
Superintendent of Schools
Diocese of Brownsville

Dr. Carmen Newstreet
Commissioner-At-Large
University of Dallas

Misty Poe
Superintendent of Schools
Diocese of Austin

Marcia Stevens
Superintendent of Schools
Diocese of Beaumont

Dr. Jacqueline Valadez
Commissioner-At-Large
Archdiocese of San Antonio

Dr. Maria Elena Valdes-Corbeil
Commissioner-At-Large
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Christine Wanjura
Superintendent of Schools
Dioceses of Amarillo and Lubbock

Marti West
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of San Antonio

Episcopal Liaisons

Most Rev. Mario A. Aviles
Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville

Most Rev. James A. Tamayo
Bishop of the Diocese of Laredo

TCCB Director of Education

Lisette Allen
Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department

To ensure students in Texas' Catholic schools reach academic excellence and experience quality faith formation, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department (TCCB ED) provides an accreditation program, which is recognized by the state’s Texas Education Agency (TEA).

The accreditation program focuses on school improvements and accountability. It is intended to strengthen Catholic school mission and identity, and to engage Catholic schools in the ongoing improvement of student academic performance.

Member schools begin the accreditation process with a criteria-based self-study where school leadership examine specific aspects of school life including Catholic Identity, Operational Vitality, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Support Services and Plant and Facilities.

An accreditation team is comprised of educators from other schools who are trained in the accreditation process. During a three-day visit, the accreditation team uses TCCB ED standards to evaluate the school. They complete a Visiting Team Consensus Report (VTCR) which details the strengths and areas that need attention.

The VTCR is assigned to a member of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Accreditation Commission, which consists of two bishops, six commissioners at large, and six current Catholic school superintendents.

The commissioner reviews the school’s self-study and presents the findings of the Visiting Team committee and then to the Commission as a whole.

The school is assigned an accreditation status and receives an Accreditation Status Report. The report defines what needs to be addressed in periods of 90 days, one year and three years.

Each Catholic school is accredited every seven years and provides annual reports for continued school accreditation.

The Catholic schools in Texas, through the TCCB ED, function within a larger community of educators. TCCB-ED has a formal relationship not only with the state of Texas’ TEA, but is also a member of the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission. TEPSAC helps ensure quality in private schools by monitoring and approving organizations that accredit non-public elementary and secondary schools in the state of Texas.