Breaking Down Barriers
With youth behavioral health challenges — anxiety, depression, trauma and ADHD — on the rise, Waco ISD is working to give its students access to professionals who can help them address issues before they get in the way of education and success. “When there’s anxiety, there’s emotional dysregulation — and those two pieces combined are really challenging for students,” Waco ISD Deputy Superintendent Dr. Melissa King-Knowles said. “They are challenging for adults, but when children don’t necessarily have fully developed coping skills, it can be even more challenging. When you don’t feel safe, you’re not going to learn because you don’t have a sense of security to take those risks that learning requires.”
