History of

BETH & HORACE STUBBLEFIELD LEARNING CENTER

 
In 1991, the Texas Board of Education adopted rules under which a school district could outline a private or community-based organization to provide education for students who have dropped out of school or are at-risk of dropping out of school.  This new rationale for learning was implemented in Angelina County through a countywide non-traditional campus for high school students under the direction of the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board (an advisory board of county superintendents and area business/industry executives). Thus, the BETH AND HORACE STUBBLEFIELD LEARNING CENTER was created and initiated through the superintendent of Hudson ISD, Mrs. Mary Ann Whiteker and the first director of the campus, Mrs. Sallye Darmstadter. This unique education center was named in loving memory of two Angelina County citizens, Beth & Horace Stubblefield, who were involved in the greater Lufkin community and education activities for over forty years. 

The Learning Center began its formal operation in 1996 serving students of Central, Diboll, Hudson, Lufkin, and Zavalla ISDs. The fiscal agent of the operation is Hudson ISD with each of the other districts contributing a proportional budgetary allotment based upon the district’s ADA (average daily attendance). Additional funding and support has come from a large group of charitable foundations and private donors since inception including, but not limited to the T.L.L Temple Foundation, E.L. Kurth Jr. Charitable Foundation, Simon & Louise Henderson Foundation, Bettye & Murphy George Foundation, and various private donors. 

The mission of the Learning Center has always been to reach students who needed a second chance. Helping students acheive their diploma has created positive momentum for thousands of youth in the Angelina County region. This mission has been a success and to a level mentioned by some in the community as “reaching more youth than the local churches.” As of the fall semester of 2021, there have been 1,915 graduates to receive their high school diploma, and 6,688 summer school students served to recieve credits. 

What is Stubblefielf Learning Center? Who does it serve?