Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Linda Ellis.
In the fall of 2010, Dr. Linda Ellis invited local educators to a meeting to discuss the possibility of applying with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for a charter school. On October 8, 2010, the Center for Teaching and Learning was approved by the Texas Secretary of State as a nonprofit corporation with a founding board including Linda Ellis, Treva McKissic, Mary Lou Chollar. Additionally, on February 4, 2011, CTL was approved as a non-profit by the Internal Revenue Service.
Dr. Ellis once again spearheaded a think tank consisting of strong, passionate experts she had known over the last 28 years as an educator, experts from every content area. On January 11, 2011, these experts met at the Montgomery County South Regional Library in The Woodlands and brainstormed on chart paper, using the questions from the TEA Charter Application as a compass, to design our dream school. CTL was born that day on the walls of the library.
The CTL board with Dr. Ellis’ leadership met numerous obstacles with unwavering determination to catapult the construction of this new school, not letting the flame die. Three years later, this winding journey led to the successful opening in the fall of 2014 of the Center for Teaching & Learning as a private school.
In the fall of 2014, CTL leased three classrooms from Congregation Beth Shalom at 5125 Shadowbend Place in The Woodlands where the CTL educational journey with 52 students began. With increased interest in CTL’s philosophy and vision, it became apparent that a new location was needed to accommodate its growth. In the summer of 2015, CTL relocated to Caring Hearts of Faith at 25925 Budde Road, Spring, where CTL opened its doors in the fall of 2015 to 84 students with 14 on the CTL Team.
As CTL’s philosophy and vision continues to gain interest locally, nationally, and internationally, to accommodate this growth and future growth, CTL proudly collaborated with parents, community members, and developers to move into a new facility on four acres at 26131 Kuykendahl Rd. in The Village of Creekside Park in The Woodlands in the summer of 2016. In the spring of 2018, CTL purchased 15 acres near the Village of Panther Creek in The Woodlands where the school will be permanently located in the fall of 2021.
Voyage Houston: Has it been a smooth road?
Dr. Linda Ellis: Our greatest challenge in the past has been to find facilities that are suitable for our growing school. However, with the recent purchase of our own property, we have eliminated this particular challenge.
Voyage Houston: So, as you know, we’re impressed with Center for Teaching & Learning – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
CTL’s strength lies in the expertise of the founding team, expert teachers in every classroom, content specialists, and supportive parents who believe in and support CTL’s mission and vision for their children. This combination allows CTL’s original dream to become a reality by igniting and growing love of learning in every child. Our teachers are certified, experienced, passionate educators who are experts in their fields and child development and who love children, teaching and learning
At CTL we focus on educating the whole child with attention to all of the developmental domains: cognitive, social, emotional, and physical.It is a place where all students can reach their full potential–a vision that may be clouded in a more crowded, tradition-bound, and conventional setting. CTL teachers and staff work with students where they are, differentiating instruction so they won’t just succeed but will advance to new heights of achievement. CTL’s students discover their giftedness and develop habits of mind necessary for a productive, meaningful, and successful life.
CTL students benefit from the following guiding appeals (to learn more visit our website):
- Small School & Class Size
- Multi-age Classrooms
- Positive, Caring Environment Conducive to Learning
- Highly-Qualified, Dedicated Teachers & Leaders
- Inquiry/Project-Based Teaching & Learning
- Differentiated Instruction
- Performance Assessments
- Character Education & Leadership Development
- Parental & Community Involvement
- Professional Development School Model
What makes us most proud is our dedication to the original vision and mission of CTL. We are everything we said we would be. CTL is a school of inquiry that encourages and nurtures children’s innate curiosities and celebrates the uniqueness of every child. Our primary mission is to foster a LOVE of learning by teaching students to follow their curiosity, to think creatively, and to work both independently and collaboratively. CTL celebrates diversity and instills integrity, compassion, and confidence in each student. We work in tandem with parents, families, and community members to ensure that each child receives the tools and nurturing needed to become his or her own unique self and provide an intimate, personalized environment tailored to each student’s needs. Everything we dreamed we would be on chart paper in the library on January 11, 2019, we are–and more. Success means staying true to the vision and mission. At CTL our vision and mission guide every decision we make. We are truly a school that ignites and grows a love of learning in every child
To learn more, visit their website or contact Dr. Ellis to schedule a tour of the campus.
Tuition:
- $12,400 tuition for grade PK
- $13,600 tuition for grades K-9
Contact Info:
- Website: www.centerforteachingandlearning.com
- Phone: 832-474-8214
- Email: lellis@centerforteachingandlearning.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CTL.TheWoodlands/
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