Three-year investment will strengthen college and career pathways while positioning White Deer ISD as a demonstration site for rural innovation
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White Deer ISD has been awarded $1,637,350 through The Moody Foundation’s M-Pact Fund to expand college and career opportunities for students while creating a comprehensive PreK-20 education model that will serve as a demonstration site for rural school districts across the Texas Panhandle.
The three-year investment will strengthen White Deer ISD’s existing college and career pathways by expanding industry-recognized certifications, increasing dual credit opportunities, enhancing college and career advising, and deepening partnerships with higher education and regional employers. The initiative is designed to ensure every student graduates with a clear pathway to college, technical training, military service, or a high-demand career.
“Every student deserves the opportunity to graduate with purpose, confidence, and a plan for the future, regardless of where they live,” said Duane Limbaugh, Superintendent of White Deer ISD. “This grant allows White Deer ISD to create a seamless pathway from Pre-K through college and career, ensuring our students are prepared to thrive while strengthening the future of our community. We are honored to partner with The Moody Foundation and Collegiate Edu-Nation to demonstrate what is possible for rural education across Texas.”
The initiative builds upon White Deer’s strong foundation of career pathways by expanding opportunities in agriculture, healthcare, family and community services, and skilled trades while integrating career-connected learning beginning in the earliest grades. Students will have greater access to dual credit coursework, industry certifications, project-based learning, and meaningful work-based experiences that connect classroom learning with future careers.
“What excites us most is the opportunity to ensure every White Deer ISD student graduates with a clear path to success,” said Limbaugh. “As a rural district, we’re especially excited to show our students they don’t have to leave their community to achieve extraordinary opportunities.”
The investment will transform existing programs into a fully aligned PreK-20 system by strengthening dual credit opportunities, expanding P-TECH pathways, increasing credential attainment, and providing dedicated college and career guidance throughout a student’s educational journey. The district expects these efforts to increase student engagement, improve College, Career, and Military Readiness outcomes, and strengthen postsecondary success.
A distinguishing feature of the initiative is White Deer ISD’s role as a regional demonstration site. Through the partnership, the district will host peer visits, share best practices, and mentor other rural districts interested in building comprehensive education-to-workforce systems that improve student outcomes and strengthen local economies.
To support the expansion, White Deer ISD will add four new positions focused on student success, including a Dual Credit/CTE Student Liaison, Career and College Counselor, AVID Teacher, and CTE Nurse. These roles will provide students with personalized guidance while expanding access to dual credit coursework and industry-recognized credentials.
“White Deer ISD is demonstrating what is possible when rural communities intentionally connect education, higher education, and workforce partners into one seamless system,” said Chris Coxon, President of Collegiate Edu-Nation. “This investment strengthens opportunities for White Deer students while creating a model that can inspire and benefit rural communities across Texas.”
The initiative will be implemented in partnership with Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN), which will provide leadership coaching, technical assistance, professional development, and implementation support to ensure long-term sustainability. Together, the partners will continue building a scalable rural model that aligns education and workforce systems to increase postsecondary success and strengthen economic vitality throughout the region.
White Deer ISD is one of 13 rural Texas initiatives supported by Collegiate Edu-Nation that received funding through The Moody Foundation’s M-Pact Fund. Collectively, these projects received more than $20.3 million to expand student success, workforce readiness, and economic opportunity across rural Texas.
About White Deer ISD
White Deer ISD serves students in the Texas Panhandle with a mission of creating high expectations through exemplary educational opportunities while cultivating confident, compassionate, and successful leaders. Through innovative collegiate pathways and strong community partnerships, the district is preparing students for lifelong success while strengthening the future of rural Texas.
About Collegiate Edu-Nation
Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) is a Texas-based nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming rural education through innovative school models, college and career pathways, and community-driven partnerships. CEN works alongside school districts, higher education institutions, employers, and community stakeholders to increase postsecondary attainment, strengthen workforce readiness, and expand economic opportunity for students and communities across rural Texas.
