Stephanie Behning, Head Administrator“We have the flexibility to meet the diverse needs of every learner. While some charter schools focus on a single area, our approach embraces the whole child, ensuring students can learn, create, and thrive in ways that speak to their strengths and passions,” says Stephanie Behning, head administrator.
TTCS’s mission and vision center on arts integration and bilingual education, grounded in the principles of STEAM. Students learn that creativity is not limited to traditional art forms but is reflected in every pursuit, from agriculture to technology and from writing to music. By connecting the arts to every area of study, the school nurtures imagination and critical thinking, preparing students to succeed in any path they choose.
Learning at TTCS is guided by a distinctive rotation model. Instead of remaining with one teacher for all subjects, students move between content experts for English language arts, math, Spanish, and science. This structure deepens instruction, allowing teachers to specialize and students to see how subjects intersect.
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We have the flexibility to meet the diverse needs of every learner. While some charter schools focus on a single area, our approach embraces the whole child, ensuring students can learn, create, and thrive in ways that speak to their strengths and passions.
Every quarter, students participate in a demonstration of mastery, a week-long project that brings together knowledge from multiple subjects. In the early part of the year, projects often involve technology-based creations such as videos or digital presentations. Later, students shift to tactile, hands-on projects that might include building models, crafting displays, or creating performances. Each student must explain how their work connects across disciplines and meets academic standards. After the project week, they present and defend their project before peers, teachers, and sometimes families, mirroring a small-scale thesis defense. This experience builds confidence and communication skills, culminating in an eighth-grade capstone that reflects true academic and creative mastery.
The curriculum at TTCS keeps learning joyful and student-centered. Students take ownership of their progress through reflection, planning, and presentation. Lessons are engaging and experiential, connecting classroom learning to real-world ideas. This collaborative approach sustains enthusiasm and reduces behavioral challenges, creating a community of learners who are achieving academically and eager to explore new ideas.
The same philosophy extends to the educators. TTCS seeks teachers who are passionate about their subjects and skilled at sparking creativity. Many are artists, musicians, or craftspeople who bring their creative practice into the classroom. Teachers enjoy significant autonomy, supporting the independence the school fosters in students. This culture promotes strong teacher retention and a welcoming atmosphere.
Family and community connections deepen that culture. Many parents and staff once attended the school, continuing a legacy rooted in arts, curiosity, and care. Families stay actively involved through the PTA, events, and clubs, helping sustain its warm, inclusive spirit. When families or students advocate for new programs, the administration listens and evolves through partnership and trust.
Looking ahead, the school is expanding its early childhood program and strengthening bilingual and project-based pathways, ensuring students grow in knowledge, confidence, empathy, and imagination.
Today, TTCS remains a model where learning is active, students’ voices matter, and the arts remind every child that imagination is not an escape from learning but its greatest expression. As the school moves into the next chapter, it carries forward the clarity that has shaped its past: trust students, elevate creativity, and treat learning as something lived, not delivered.
