May 8, 2024 • 11 mins
Unlock the secrets behind the innovative academic model of Tyler ISD’s Early College High School with me, Mike Landis, as we sit down with Principal Amanda Hortman and examine how this school is transforming the educational landscape in East Texas. Our enlightening discussion peels back the layers of a program that not only grants high school students an associate's degree but also challenges the conventional wisdom around the necessity of a college education in today's job market. Discover the compelling stories of students who, through a blend of academic rigor and practical skills, are redefining what it means to be college-ready.
Moving beyond the classroom, we delve into the selection process that identifies students poised to benefit most from ECHS's unique approach to learning. Through an insightful conversation with Principal Hortman, we uncover the criteria that set the right candidates apart, ensuring that the school's pioneering system continues to thrive. We also shine a light on the enriching experiences awaiting these students, from TJC's extracurricular activities to community service, shaping them into not just scholars, but well-rounded citizens. Tune in for a thought-provoking look at an educational model that's not just expanding its reach but also charting a course for future generations in East Texas.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
LANDESS (00:04):
Tyler ASD's early college high school was recently
ranked the number one highschool in East Texas and in the
top 600 across the country by USNews and World Report.
How'd they do it?
I'm Mike Landis.
The Find Out UT Tyler Radioconnects with ECHS Principal
Amanda Hortman.
How did you do it, Amanda?
HORTMAN (00:23):
Oh, that's a big question.
It wasn't just me.
I'll tell you that this started, like I said earlier, about 10,
maybe 11 years ago, when thedistrict saw that there was a
need for it, because the purposeof an early college high school
in the state of Texas is toprovide college for those who
wouldn't go otherwise.
That's the main purpose.
(00:43):
Of course, there's otherpurposes as well, but when they
saw that need and thepossibility of breaching it with
TJC, they hired someone, msDelsena Frazier, who was my
predecessor, and she actuallybuilt the program from scratch.
LANDESS (00:58):
My goodness.
HORTMAN (00:59):
Yes.
LANDESS (00:59):
And this isn't the first time this program's hit a
number one ranking.
HORTMAN (01:02):
No, it is not no.
No, I don't know for how longit's been number one, but ever
since I've known of it, it hasbeen number one in East Texas.
Wow.
LANDESS (01:10):
Give us a quick rundown on Tyler's Early College High
School how it began and what itdoes.
HORTMAN (01:15):
The way it began was really with the district
realizing that there was a needfor it and hiring Ms Frazier.
Ms Frazier, and what it does isit allows students who may not
be able to pay for college butwant to go to get their
associate's degree from TJC forfree at the same time as their
high school diploma.
So in four years they're ableto do what they usually would do
(01:36):
in six years.
LANDESS (01:38):
Now, a college education and the actual value
in the real world is the subjectof some debate these days.
There are those who submit thatyou don't need a diploma to get
a high-paying job these days acollege diploma.
How do you respond to that?
HORTMAN (01:51):
I definitely think that this program is not for
everyone.
This program is for a specifictype of student that does want
to go to college.
Most of our students end upactually getting two more years
and completing a bachelor's atthe end of the day.
Some don't, some leave off withthe associates, but for the
most part they are aware thatthere are other programs out
(02:13):
there.
We don't hide that.
If you want to do welding, ifyou want to do cosmetology,
that's excellent, and some ofour students even finish the
associates and then go do thosethings.
For instance, we have a lotthat get associates in business
and then they want to also getcosmetology or whatever it may
be, so that they can use bothsimultaneously.
And if they keep up with theTJC Promise, which is something
else we can talk about that toocan be free.
LANDESS (02:33):
Well, the TJC Promise actually works in with the
Patriot Promise because theUniversity of Texas at Tyler
also has a program that fitsright in with TJC, exactly also
has a program that fits right inwith TJC.
HORTMAN (02:43):
Exactly so.
A lot of our students will goright back to TJC and get
another degree or certificateand then they will transfer over
to UT Tyler.
There's lots of different waysthat they can do it, but it's
not that the program is foreveryone, because we don't have
what they would call specialsquote unquote.
There's no music, there's noart, there's no theater, except
(03:05):
through TJC.
So our students that arededicated enough to get this
program completed and do thosethings, they have that
opportunity, but they have toreach out themselves and do it
through TJC.
LANDESS (03:16):
And you also require community service.
HORTMAN (03:18):
We do.
We do community service everyyear and it builds each year
that they're in school with us.
So by their final year theyneed to get 10 hours.
That's also in order to keepthe TJC promise.
LANDESS (03:29):
You're developing some very well-rounded human beings.
I mean beyond just studentsthat are going on to get a
diploma.
While ECHS doesn't offertraditional high school sports
or fine arts, as you pointed out, they can still do this through
TJC.
How does that work exactly?
HORTMAN (03:49):
Anything that TJC offers to their regular students
is also offered to our students.
Because they are TJC students,they actually have to apply to
TJC and they have an ID, theycan do anything.
So, basically, if I were tosign up and be a TJC student
today, there's probably somesports and things that I could
get involved with.
The very same for our students,the problem is it's not always
going to be during the day, sothey might need to drive or have
someone to pick them off to beable to participate in some of
(04:11):
those events, which is also truein a regular high school in all
reality.
The other issue would be themjust having the gumption to go
when a lot of the kids are olderthan them.
LANDESS (04:23):
So how many?
HORTMAN (04:24):
students.
Do you see in a given year howmany students through?
LANDESS (04:25):
our school In the program?
Yes, what?
HORTMAN (04:26):
I can tell you is for next year.
We have 475.
LANDESS (04:30):
Wow that's a lot.
Yes, it is Now.
Do you draw primarily fromTyler or do you have any
agreements with other schooldistricts?
HORTMAN (04:37):
Interestingly enough, we've always primarily pulled
from Tyler schools and that'swhere we do our recruiting and
things of that sort but thisyear we have Over 14 other
schools that have actuallyjoined us kids that are willing
to provide their owntransportation, or their parents
are willing to do so Anywhere,from places like Gorman Bullard,
(04:59):
ISD, ARP, ISD, and then somehomeschool students that have
decided they want to go aheadand give public school a try if
it's at ECHS.
LANDESS (05:08):
Wow, Now I understand that you have a new structure
that's about to open up.
Tell us about that.
HORTMAN (05:13):
It's amazing and we are more than grateful to the
community for providing it forus, because we're currently in
the old Stewart building that,if you've been around here for a
while, you know was built inthe dark ages.
So it definitely it's going toget some renovations've heard
and so whoever is moving inthere will be taken care of.
But I do appreciate thatthey've seen our number one spot
(05:35):
for all of these years anddecided to provide us with a
building that fits the studentsthat we're actually serving.
This building should be able tofit upwards of 650 students so
if growth happens, there is aplace to put them.
Currently, we don't have aplace to even put our full
student body.
They don't fit actuallyanywhere.
LANDESS (05:55):
Oh, my goodness.
HORTMAN (05:56):
So the new location will obviously provide for that.
The structure is just better.
We don't have to go to therestroom outside I'm not saying
that anybody goes on the groundbut they have to pass through a
breezeway, kind of like theRobert E Lee of old.
So it's just you're not asprotected from the weather.
There's a lot of issues inregards to air conditioning and
(06:17):
plumbing and things like that,that in all reality our students
are working very, very hard forthis, harder than a lot of
people probably realize, becausethey may not have the support
that other college goingstudents have at home.
They deserve a better edificeto be honest.
LANDESS (06:33):
Tell us a little bit more about the building.
Where is it?
What are some of the features?
HORTMAN (06:36):
It's right beside what they call the Career and
Technology Center, the CTC, onEarl Campbell Parkway.
Most people probably know it asbeing between the CTC and
Truevine.
LANDESS (06:47):
Okay.
HORTMAN (06:48):
Yeah, so it's done.
It fits the amount of studentsthat I just told you.
It is remarkably up-to-date,more so, actually.
It's beautiful.
It has capacity for everythingthat we need.
It even has a storm shelterthat will fit.
I've heard 600 people.
LANDESS (07:06):
Single-story, multi-story?
No, it's two-story.
HORTMAN (07:08):
It's two-story Tons of storage, which we are lacking at
this point as well.
It's state-of-the-art, withouta doubt.
It's also close to the CTC, incase we ever had any crossover
there down the road.
It has been something that'sbeen talked about for those
students that finish up earlyand might want to also get a
certificate.
LANDESS (07:28):
Oh, interesting.
Other than receiving a highranking from a national
publication number 84 in thestate of Texas, what are you
most proud of in your time atEarly College High School?
HORTMAN (07:38):
What I'm most proud of is that we have a school where
the kids that go there may nothave felt like they fit anywhere
else, but at ECHS they're athome and I think the majority of
our students would say that itis very difficult.
So they become close knit withthe teachers and with each other
.
They basically are like littlecohorts and they spend a lot of
(08:01):
time together.
So there's a lot of fighting,but there's also a lot of making
out, but in general.
I think that that is the neatestthing about our campus.
Also, there's a lot of freedombecause we're teaching them to
become college students, sothey're not so restricted that
like they might be at one of theother high schools.
It makes them feel proud ofthemselves and they tend to act
(08:22):
accordingly.
LANDESS (08:23):
As Tyler continues to grow, do you think that someday
we may see an early college highschool north campus, north
campus, south campus, westcampus.
HORTMAN (08:33):
That is an interesting question that I've never been
asked before or thought about.
I'd have to say I'm not sure.
In East Texas I Sports isreally important.
Band is really important to alot of people, which I
completely understand.
This program puts that aside.
It truly does.
You have to decide thatacademics is how you want to
(08:56):
pursue your goals in life.
So if the culture changes tothat point, possibly right now,
I feel blessed that we've justcontinued to grow like we have.
Right now, I feel blessed thatwe've just continued to grow
like we have.
LANDESS (09:07):
Maybe someday.
What hasn't the program donethat you're working to see that
it does accomplish over the nextfew years?
HORTMAN (09:15):
That's a good question.
Well, the whole goal is for ourstudents that start as freshmen
to also graduate as seniors.
We have a very good percentagethat do that.
Somewhere around 75% of ourstarting freshmen end up
actually graduating as seniors,which is why we have that
ranking.
It's an excellent percentage,but of course, I'd like 100.
I want them all to make it.
(09:36):
There are things outside of ourcontrol that do keep students
from actually succeeding andfinishing with that associate's
degree, but I think that thereare some things in our control
and that's what I try to work onevery day.
LANDESS (09:49):
For a parent or a student listening to this
interview tell us what one hasto do to be a part of Tyler
ISD's early college high school.
HORTMAN (09:57):
Well, they have to wait a minute now because the
application process opens up inJanuary, like all the magnet
schools in Tyler ISD, so theywould just jump on our website
At that point in time.
The application pops up first,so they wouldn't be able to miss
it.
Once they've done that, theyfill out the application.
It doesn't take too terriblylong.
They'll have to get a couple ofreferences from either a
(10:19):
teacher or someone that theyknow, and then they'll be called
in for an interview.
We interview them.
It's about a two-hour processof interviewing.
Because interview we interviewthem.
It's about a two-hour processof interviewing because we do
have to get the right fit forour program, which is not the
kids that have all A's, but it'salso not the kid that is not
going to attend school.
We have to make sure that thosethings line up, and after that
(10:41):
we will let them know in earlyMarch whether or not they got in
or not.
LANDESS (10:46):
Any final thoughts you'd like to share before we
finish up?
HORTMAN (10:49):
I think I would really just like for everybody
listening to know that this isanother option and it's a valid,
viable option for students thatmay be more academically minded
, and that it's not putting downany other type of high school,
but just offering more options,as I said, because I think that
is something that would be goodfor East Texas to have.
LANDESS (11:09):
Thanks for listening as UT Tyler Radio connects with
Amanda Hortman, principal ofTyler's Early College High
School.
For UT Tyler Radio News, I'mMike Landis.
Tyler ASD's early college high school was recently
ranked the number one highschool in East Texas and in the
top 600 across the country by USNews and World Report.
How'd they do it?
I'm Mike Landis.
The Find Out UT Tyler Radioconnects with ECHS Principal
Amanda Hortman.
How did you do it, Amanda?
HORTMAN (00:23):
Oh, that's a big question.
It wasn't just me.
I'll tell you that this started, like I said earlier, about 10,
maybe 11 years ago, when thedistrict saw that there was a
need for it, because the purposeof an early college high school
in the state of Texas is toprovide college for those who
wouldn't go otherwise.
That's the main purpose.
(00:43):
Of course, there's otherpurposes as well, but when they
saw that need and thepossibility of breaching it with
TJC, they hired someone, msDelsena Frazier, who was my
predecessor, and she actuallybuilt the program from scratch.
LANDESS (00:58):
My goodness.
HORTMAN (00:59):
Yes.
LANDESS (00:59):
And this isn't the first time this program's hit a
number one ranking.
HORTMAN (01:02):
No, it is not no.
No, I don't know for how longit's been number one, but ever
since I've known of it, it hasbeen number one in East Texas.
Wow.
LANDESS (01:10):
Give us a quick rundown on Tyler's Early College High
School how it began and what itdoes.
HORTMAN (01:15):
The way it began was really with the district
realizing that there was a needfor it and hiring Ms Frazier.
Ms Frazier, and what it does isit allows students who may not
be able to pay for college butwant to go to get their
associate's degree from TJC forfree at the same time as their
high school diploma.
So in four years they're ableto do what they usually would do
(01:36):
in six years.
LANDESS (01:38):
Now, a college education and the actual value
in the real world is the subjectof some debate these days.
There are those who submit thatyou don't need a diploma to get
a high-paying job these days acollege diploma.
How do you respond to that?
HORTMAN (01:51):
I definitely think that this program is not for
everyone.
This program is for a specifictype of student that does want
to go to college.
Most of our students end upactually getting two more years
and completing a bachelor's atthe end of the day.
Some don't, some leave off withthe associates, but for the
most part they are aware thatthere are other programs out
(02:13):
there.
We don't hide that.
If you want to do welding, ifyou want to do cosmetology,
that's excellent, and some ofour students even finish the
associates and then go do thosethings.
For instance, we have a lotthat get associates in business
and then they want to also getcosmetology or whatever it may
be, so that they can use bothsimultaneously.
And if they keep up with theTJC Promise, which is something
else we can talk about that toocan be free.
LANDESS (02:33):
Well, the TJC Promise actually works in with the
Patriot Promise because theUniversity of Texas at Tyler
also has a program that fitsright in with TJC, exactly also
has a program that fits right inwith TJC.
HORTMAN (02:43):
Exactly so.
A lot of our students will goright back to TJC and get
another degree or certificateand then they will transfer over
to UT Tyler.
There's lots of different waysthat they can do it, but it's
not that the program is foreveryone, because we don't have
what they would call specialsquote unquote.
There's no music, there's noart, there's no theater, except
(03:05):
through TJC.
So our students that arededicated enough to get this
program completed and do thosethings, they have that
opportunity, but they have toreach out themselves and do it
through TJC.
LANDESS (03:16):
And you also require community service.
HORTMAN (03:18):
We do.
We do community service everyyear and it builds each year
that they're in school with us.
So by their final year theyneed to get 10 hours.
That's also in order to keepthe TJC promise.
LANDESS (03:29):
You're developing some very well-rounded human beings.
I mean beyond just studentsthat are going on to get a
diploma.
While ECHS doesn't offertraditional high school sports
or fine arts, as you pointed out, they can still do this through
TJC.
How does that work exactly?
HORTMAN (03:49):
Anything that TJC offers to their regular students
is also offered to our students.
Because they are TJC students,they actually have to apply to
TJC and they have an ID, theycan do anything.
So, basically, if I were tosign up and be a TJC student
today, there's probably somesports and things that I could
get involved with.
The very same for our students,the problem is it's not always
going to be during the day, sothey might need to drive or have
someone to pick them off to beable to participate in some of
(04:11):
those events, which is also truein a regular high school in all
reality.
The other issue would be themjust having the gumption to go
when a lot of the kids are olderthan them.
LANDESS (04:23):
So how many?
HORTMAN (04:24):
students.
Do you see in a given year howmany students through?
LANDESS (04:25):
our school In the program?
Yes, what?
HORTMAN (04:26):
I can tell you is for next year.
We have 475.
LANDESS (04:30):
Wow that's a lot.
Yes, it is Now.
Do you draw primarily fromTyler or do you have any
agreements with other schooldistricts?
HORTMAN (04:37):
Interestingly enough, we've always primarily pulled
from Tyler schools and that'swhere we do our recruiting and
things of that sort but thisyear we have Over 14 other
schools that have actuallyjoined us kids that are willing
to provide their owntransportation, or their parents
are willing to do so Anywhere,from places like Gorman Bullard,
(04:59):
ISD, ARP, ISD, and then somehomeschool students that have
decided they want to go aheadand give public school a try if
it's at ECHS.
LANDESS (05:08):
Wow, Now I understand that you have a new structure
that's about to open up.
Tell us about that.
HORTMAN (05:13):
It's amazing and we are more than grateful to the
community for providing it forus, because we're currently in
the old Stewart building that,if you've been around here for a
while, you know was built inthe dark ages.
So it definitely it's going toget some renovations've heard
and so whoever is moving inthere will be taken care of.
But I do appreciate thatthey've seen our number one spot
(05:35):
for all of these years anddecided to provide us with a
building that fits the studentsthat we're actually serving.
This building should be able tofit upwards of 650 students so
if growth happens, there is aplace to put them.
Currently, we don't have aplace to even put our full
student body.
They don't fit actuallyanywhere.
LANDESS (05:55):
Oh, my goodness.
HORTMAN (05:56):
So the new location will obviously provide for that.
The structure is just better.
We don't have to go to therestroom outside I'm not saying
that anybody goes on the groundbut they have to pass through a
breezeway, kind of like theRobert E Lee of old.
So it's just you're not asprotected from the weather.
There's a lot of issues inregards to air conditioning and
(06:17):
plumbing and things like that,that in all reality our students
are working very, very hard forthis, harder than a lot of
people probably realize, becausethey may not have the support
that other college goingstudents have at home.
They deserve a better edificeto be honest.
LANDESS (06:33):
Tell us a little bit more about the building.
Where is it?
What are some of the features?
HORTMAN (06:36):
It's right beside what they call the Career and
Technology Center, the CTC, onEarl Campbell Parkway.
Most people probably know it asbeing between the CTC and
Truevine.
LANDESS (06:47):
Okay.
HORTMAN (06:48):
Yeah, so it's done.
It fits the amount of studentsthat I just told you.
It is remarkably up-to-date,more so, actually.
It's beautiful.
It has capacity for everythingthat we need.
It even has a storm shelterthat will fit.
I've heard 600 people.
LANDESS (07:06):
Single-story, multi-story?
No, it's two-story.
HORTMAN (07:08):
It's two-story Tons of storage, which we are lacking at
this point as well.
It's state-of-the-art, withouta doubt.
It's also close to the CTC, incase we ever had any crossover
there down the road.
It has been something that'sbeen talked about for those
students that finish up earlyand might want to also get a
certificate.
LANDESS (07:28):
Oh, interesting.
Other than receiving a highranking from a national
publication number 84 in thestate of Texas, what are you
most proud of in your time atEarly College High School?
HORTMAN (07:38):
What I'm most proud of is that we have a school where
the kids that go there may nothave felt like they fit anywhere
else, but at ECHS they're athome and I think the majority of
our students would say that itis very difficult.
So they become close knit withthe teachers and with each other
.
They basically are like littlecohorts and they spend a lot of
(08:01):
time together.
So there's a lot of fighting,but there's also a lot of making
out, but in general.
I think that that is the neatestthing about our campus.
Also, there's a lot of freedombecause we're teaching them to
become college students, sothey're not so restricted that
like they might be at one of theother high schools.
It makes them feel proud ofthemselves and they tend to act
(08:22):
accordingly.
LANDESS (08:23):
As Tyler continues to grow, do you think that someday
we may see an early college highschool north campus, north
campus, south campus, westcampus.
HORTMAN (08:33):
That is an interesting question that I've never been
asked before or thought about.
I'd have to say I'm not sure.
In East Texas I Sports isreally important.
Band is really important to alot of people, which I
completely understand.
This program puts that aside.
It truly does.
You have to decide thatacademics is how you want to
(08:56):
pursue your goals in life.
So if the culture changes tothat point, possibly right now,
I feel blessed that we've justcontinued to grow like we have.
Right now, I feel blessed thatwe've just continued to grow
like we have.
LANDESS (09:07):
Maybe someday.
What hasn't the program donethat you're working to see that
it does accomplish over the nextfew years?
HORTMAN (09:15):
That's a good question.
Well, the whole goal is for ourstudents that start as freshmen
to also graduate as seniors.
We have a very good percentagethat do that.
Somewhere around 75% of ourstarting freshmen end up
actually graduating as seniors,which is why we have that
ranking.
It's an excellent percentage,but of course, I'd like 100.
I want them all to make it.
(09:36):
There are things outside of ourcontrol that do keep students
from actually succeeding andfinishing with that associate's
degree, but I think that thereare some things in our control
and that's what I try to work onevery day.
LANDESS (09:49):
For a parent or a student listening to this
interview tell us what one hasto do to be a part of Tyler
ISD's early college high school.
HORTMAN (09:57):
Well, they have to wait a minute now because the
application process opens up inJanuary, like all the magnet
schools in Tyler ISD, so theywould just jump on our website
At that point in time.
The application pops up first,so they wouldn't be able to miss
it.
Once they've done that, theyfill out the application.
It doesn't take too terriblylong.
They'll have to get a couple ofreferences from either a
(10:19):
teacher or someone that theyknow, and then they'll be called
in for an interview.
We interview them.
It's about a two-hour processof interviewing.
Because interview we interviewthem.
It's about a two-hour processof interviewing because we do
have to get the right fit forour program, which is not the
kids that have all A's, but it'salso not the kid that is not
going to attend school.
We have to make sure that thosethings line up, and after that
(10:41):
we will let them know in earlyMarch whether or not they got in
or not.
LANDESS (10:46):
Any final thoughts you'd like to share before we
finish up?
HORTMAN (10:49):
I think I would really just like for everybody
listening to know that this isanother option and it's a valid,
viable option for students thatmay be more academically minded
, and that it's not putting downany other type of high school,
but just offering more options,as I said, because I think that
is something that would be goodfor East Texas to have.
LANDESS (11:09):
Thanks for listening as UT Tyler Radio connects with
Amanda Hortman, principal ofTyler's Early College High
School.
For UT Tyler Radio News, I'mMike Landis.
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!