TEA recognizes Victoria ISD mental and behavioral health program
Published 7:00 pm Tuesday, December 23, 2025
The Victoria Independent School District (VISD) partnered with the Gulf Bend Center in 2022 to address an increase in mental or behavioral health needs of students. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently recognized the program as part of its Best Practice Spotlight series.
TEA recognized the district’s Bend the Trend program, developed by VISD and the Gulf Bend Center. The program provides support to students and families experiencing early signs of behavioral and mental health needs.
The Bend the Trend program emphasizes eight December 2025 early mental health interventions, focused on students showing early signs of needing support, according to the TEA’s recognition.
The program not only provides support to students experiencing mental and behavioral health needs, but to the teachers who show up for them as well. The support for teachers makes them better equipped to support the students in need.
The program currently serves Chandler Elementary School, Shields Elementary School and Crain Elementary School. The program’s results show how collaboration between parents, teachers and a student support team can influence a student’s path and future academic success.
Since the start of the school year, the district has served 66 students with documented behavioral and emotional challenges, according to the TEA article. The district develops a campus care plan with measurable goals for each identified student.
Loading …Out of the 66 students, 78 percent made growth, met their goal or accomplished both, according to the TEA article. VISD reduced the number of discipline incidents or crises by 78 percent and reduced discipline referrals by 12 percent among the 66 students.
The full TEA article on Bend the Trend can be found on the organization’s website. The VISD and Gulf Bend Center program provides unique support to students in the district that can significantly impact their future in a positive way.
“By proactively identifying these students and building a continuum of support around them and their families, they aim to empower students with healthy coping mechanisms that’ll help them thrive,” according to the TEA article.
Michael Milliorn is a news reporter for the Victoria Advocate. He can be reached at michael.milliorn@vicad.com.