Q&A: Learn more about Education Service Center Region 10

As the 2024-25 school year begins, Texas Education Service Centers continue to work to provide services to school districts.

ESC Region 10 serves more than 130 school districts, including Richardson, Frisco, McKinney, Celina and Prosper ISDs.

Rachel Frost is the chief communications officer of ESC Region 10. Frost recently answered questions from Impact on the Community by email, explaining the history and services provided by Texas Education Service Centers. She also gave an insight into where the funding for ESCs comes from.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What is an educational service center?

The Texas state legislature created 20 regional educational service centers in 1967 to support schools and create innovative solutions. Under state charter, ESCs are focused on improving student achievement, helping school districts operate more efficiently and economically, and implementing statewide initiatives.

Where does the funding for an ESC come from?

ESCs have no taxing or levying authority, and are funded through grants and service contracts with school districts.

How many school districts, charters and private schools; students; to the staff and teachers of the au district does the region provide service?

Region 10 proudly serves nearly 900,000 students and 115,000 school staff, of whom 60,000 are teachers in more than 130 ISD, charter and private schools in 10 North Texas counties.

How often does Region 10 offer professional development opportunities?

Region 10 offers professional development opportunities almost all day every day. If you visit one of our buildings, you will find rooms filled with educators engaged and actively learning. We also offer professional development in school districts, online through virtual learning as well as hybrid learning opportunities. Last year, we delivered more than 7,000 professional development courses to more than 500,000 participants for a total of nearly 850,000 hours of professional development.

In the past five years, have you noticed any trends in what school districts need?

The COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in March 2020, dramatically changed the needs of public schools to serve their students. Initially, Region 10 focused on supporting teachers and administrators in the transition to virtual environments. As we've moved beyond the immediate crisis, we've seen a trend toward integrating lessons learned from virtual learning into traditional teaching models. This hybrid approach has become increasingly prevalent in professional development for educators.

Beyond the pandemic-related changes, we've noticed several other prominent trends in school district needs:

• Classroom Management and Discipline: There has been a growing demand for strategies to address behavioral challenges, especially as students adjust to in-person learning environments.

• Support for bilingual and non-English speaking students: Districts are seeking more resources and training to effectively serve their diverse and growing student populations.

• Teacher recruitment and retention: This has become a critical area of ​​focus, with districts looking for innovative ways to attract and retain qualified teachers in an increasingly competitive job market.

• Budget Management Training for District Leadership: We have seen a growing need for administrators to develop stronger financial skills to navigate complex funding scenarios and optimize resource allocation.

• School Safety and Security: In light of ongoing concerns about school safety, districts are prioritizing comprehensive security measures and crisis response training.

These trends reflect the evolving challenges facing our school districts. Region 10 continues to adapt our support and resources to meet these changing needs.

Learn More

To learn more about ESC Region 10, visit www.region10.org.