MIDLAND, Texas — The Permian Basin is growing, and with that growth comes workforce needs. Keeping up with those needs starts with local education, which includes Richard Milburn Academy – a public charter school with two locations in West Texas.
“This school gave us another chance to be able to finish our story, right, and then the second piece is that this school prepared us well to be able to step into the workforce," said David Valverde, principal of RMA Midland.
RMA Midland recently moved buildings to a new location on Midland Dr. that looks to better their service.
“We’re able to see where all of our students are coming from -- the different geographical areas and educational boundaries are coming from -- and then so this is more of a centralized location [that] allows those students to get here easier and allows more access to more students," Valverde said.
Valverde said their educational model provides a different pathway for after high school.
“It all ends in students either getting an entry-based certification or being college-read or military-ready – so their college, career or military-ready," Valverde said. "So that’s part of the requirements to being enrolled in our school is that, not only it gives you a pathway to get done with high school sooner and get into the workforce, but it gives a pathway into the next step of their education.”
Kevin Sparks -- state senator for District 31 in Texas -- was recognized for his support of charter schools like RMA Midland during a brief ceremony on Monday morning.
“Each child learns differently, and so the more opportunities and the more diverse the opportunities are for different types of education, the better chance we have of fitting the child with that particular type of instruction," Senator Sparks said.
Instruction that might be unique for many but right for some.
“Having the opportunity to actually integrate into the workforce while you’re finishing your education I think [it] creates great life skills, and that’s really what we’re trying to do – we’re trying to create the whole young person to develop into responsible citizens," Senator Sparks said.