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Regional ESC's support districts in lean times When John Petree decided to change careers after years as a high school principal, he didn’t look further than the nearby regional education service center (ESC) for his new job. Petree was familiar with its programs, having taken advantage of several as an educator, and he didn’t hesitate when presented with the opportunity to be on the other side as an ESC employee. “I jumped on it,” says Petree, who now serves as Region 18 associate executive director in Midland. “Most service center employees are former district employees. That’s our recruiting pool. The centers have a lot to offer school districts.” Regional education service centers — commonly known by the acronyms RESC, ESC or SC — have been around for more than four decades. The centers, which serve public schools and charter schools, are charged with assisting districts in improving student performance, operating more efficiently and implementing state initiatives. Petree’s positive stance on ESCs is shared widely by school district personnel, according to a recent University of Texas study that gauged the satisfaction levels of districts with ESC programs, trainings, technical assistance, administrative support and products. In the survey of 1,271 superintendents and charter school administrators, overall responses fell between 4.52 and 4.73 on a five-point scale, with five being the most satisfied. CONTINUE READING
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