News Summary
River Bend Elementary School in College Station has been designated as a 2025 School Transforming Learning by the Principals’ Institute. This honor is awarded to only 14 schools statewide and recognizes innovative educational practices. The school is also selected as a Promising Practices Professional Learning Community, emphasizing its dedication to student engagement and collaborative learning. Principal Heather Sherman is highlighted for her leadership as the district approaches upcoming changes in school administration.
College Station, Texas – River Bend Elementary School has been recognized as a 2025 School Transforming Learning by the Principals’ Institute, becoming one of just 14 schools statewide to earn this prestigious designation. This accolade highlights the school’s innovative practices focused on enhancing educational experiences through student engagement and personalized learning.
This recognition is part of the 14th annual program that celebrates schools across Texas for their transformative approaches to education. River Bend Elementary has been acknowledged for its commitment to fostering student voices, implementing personalized learning strategies, and breaking away from traditional educational frameworks.
In addition to the transformative learning award, River Bend Elementary was also selected as a Promising Practices Professional Learning Community at Work by Solution Tree. This award recognizes the school’s adherence to the “PLC at Work process,” which centers around a focused approach to learning, a collaborative culture among staff, and a results-oriented mindset.
One prominent initiative at River Bend Elementary is its annual STEAM night event, which engages both students and their families in activities centered on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The event not only emphasizes learning in these critical areas but also provides a welcoming atmosphere by offering free pizza to attendees, further strengthening the school community bond.
Principal Heather Sherman has expressed pride in the dedication of the staff at River Bend to ensure student success. Under her and the staff’s guidance, the implementation of PLC concepts over the past couple of years has led to a notable increase in student achievement.
Recognized Promising Practices schools contribute to the wider educational community by sharing their implementation strategies and performance metrics on the platform AllThingsPLC.info. This initiative enables other schools to learn from successful practices and elevate their own educational methodologies.
Looking ahead, the College Station Independent School District’s board is set to take action on May 17 regarding the appointment of Heather Sherman as the new principal of River Bend Elementary. This appointment follows the planned departure of the current principal, Robyn Jones. Sherman has served as the assistant principal at River Bend since 2019 and brings a wealth of experience from her previous teaching and administrative roles.
Additionally, there is a recommendation for Kevin Starnes to be appointed as the district’s new athletic director. Starnes would be taking over for Buddy Reed, who is retiring. He comes to this new position with a solid background in athletic administration from Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District.
In summary, River Bend Elementary’s recent accolades and leadership changes are indicative of a robust commitment to educational transformation and community engagement. The school’s success in implementing progressive learning strategies positions it as a model for other schools aiming to foster a dynamic and inclusive learning environment.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- KBTX News: College Station Elementary School Awarded
- Wikipedia: Education in Texas
- KBTX News: River Bend Elementary STEAM Night
- Google Search: STEAM Education
- KBTX News: Treat Day Recognition at River Bend Elementary
- Google Scholar: School Transformation
- WTAW News: College Station ISD Superintendent Recommendations
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Educational Leadership
- NWCA News: 2025 All-American Award Recipients
- Google News: School Achievement Award
Author: STAFF HERE COLLEGE WRITER
The COLLEGE STATION STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECollegeStation.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in College Station, Brazos County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo, Chilifest, and Aggie Muster. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Brazos Valley, plus leading businesses in education, biotechnology, and retail that power the local economy such as Texas A&M University, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and H-E-B. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
