Windham School District (Texas)
Encyclopedia
The Windham School District (WSD) is a non-geographical school district
that provides educational services to offenders in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
(TDCJ). The district has its headquarters in Building B in the Wynne Unit
in Huntsville
. The school district is a separate and distinct organization from the TDCJ. Windham is one of the largest correctional education systems in the United States, providing educational programs and services in most TDCJ facilities. The Texas Board of Criminal Justice acts as the board of education for the district. The members of the board are appointed by the Governor of Texas
.
, the director of the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC), advocated for the establishment of the district. The Texas Legislature
established the district, which began operation in 1969. The Texas Board of Corrections named the district after James M. Windham, who had been a member of the board for 24 years. The district was the first school system of its size to be established within a statewide prison system.
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
that provides educational services to offenders in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
(TDCJ). The district has its headquarters in Building B in the Wynne Unit
Wynne Unit
The John M. Wynne Unit is a men's prison of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, located in northern Huntsville, Texas, at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 2821 West and Texas State Highway 75 North. The Windham School District has its headquarters in the unit...
in Huntsville
Huntsville, Texas
Huntsville is a city in and the county seat of Walker County, Texas, United States. The population was 35,508 at the 2010 census. It is the center of the Huntsville micropolitan area....
. The school district is a separate and distinct organization from the TDCJ. Windham is one of the largest correctional education systems in the United States, providing educational programs and services in most TDCJ facilities. The Texas Board of Criminal Justice acts as the board of education for the district. The members of the board are appointed by the Governor of Texas
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
.
History
George BetoGeorge Beto
Dr. George John Beto is a former director of the Texas Department of Corrections, a criminal justice expert, a teacher, and a Lutheran minister.Beto was born in Hysham, Montana on January 19, 1916....
, the director of the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC), advocated for the establishment of the district. The Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
established the district, which began operation in 1969. The Texas Board of Corrections named the district after James M. Windham, who had been a member of the board for 24 years. The district was the first school system of its size to be established within a statewide prison system.