Our Founder
Tarla Crumb
The founder, Tarla Crumb an Iowan by birth, has had a heart and passion for young people that goes back to her own youth. She has been active in the field of executive leadership, education and training, and community development for over 35 years, focusing on special education, non-traditional school start-ups, and curriculum development. Work in this area has been for both traditional and non-traditional school districts, private schools and the local educational service centers. Tarla is a proud graduate of Fisk University, Tennessee State University and University of Tennessee (Nashville).
In 2014, she activated her faith and stepped outside of her box deciding it was time to make a difference! Seeking to expand educational opportunities in ways that are life-changing for young people and transforming for everyone became a personal mantra and is reflected in her deep belief in children, family, and community. The magnitude of educational inequity and its consequences has been instrumental in the birth of The Lone Star Schools. In all facets, she strives to act with high standards and urgency.
Tarla believes, it is not sufficient to just be a leader, it is imperative to be focused on the development of leaders for educational excellence and equity to be realized. To this end she works in purposeful, strategic, and resourceful ways, defines broadly what is within her control to solve, and learns and improves constantly. Operating with a sense of possibility, perseverance in the face of challenges, ensuring alignment between actions and beliefs, and assuming personal responsibility for results is her daily routine. Tarla values and cares about the team, operates with a generosity of spirit, while having fun in the process of working with the team. To maximize the collective impact, she inspires, challenges, and supports each team member to be their best and sustain their team’s effort.
It goes without saying, Tarla values the perspective and credibility that individuals who share the racial and economic backgrounds of the young people and families with whom they work can bring the organization long-term effort for change. Tarla values the strengths, experiences, and perspectives of others, and recognizes limitations. She is committed to partnering effectively with families, schools, and communities to ensure that the work advances the broader good for all The Lone Star Schools’ participants.
Our Mission:
The Lone Star Schools is a youth development agency that provides services and leadership to meet the emerging needs of young people and their families, in our community.
Our Vision:
All Harris and surrounding counties youth and families are thriving and productive, creating diverse and successful communities.
Together, we can make Harris and surrounding counties a place youth to grow up great!
At The Lone Star Schools:
- It is our goal that all young people have what all young people need. We utilize the central programmatic philosophy of “Positive Youth Development” – a holistic approach based on the belief that all young people need a wide range of “assets” in their lives if they are to have positive, fulfilling lives.
- Our academic, social and emotional development services, responds to the unmet needs of the young people. Our services include academic assistance, life skills education, social skill development, recreational and athletic activities, cultural and artistic activities, parental support, crisis intervention, mentoring, case management, and individual, group, and family counseling.
- We are concerned about all young people, not only about those who participate in our services. We aspire to provide leadership for partnerships, support, and advocacy for all who care about young people.
- We embrace change as a constant in youth services. As needed we meet the needs of all genres of youth (“hippy/urban kids”, social isolates, gang members, immigrant families, and others). From time to time we have provided services for high school, middle school, and elementary school students.
- We have worked in various city-wide at-risk urban communities.
- We are defined by who we serve – young people – not only by the services we provide.
- Our core concern is each whole young person.
- We believe that young people are best served when they have healthy families at the center of their lives. Parents also need our support.
- We are community-based. Helping young people to build positive relationship (with a rich array of family, peers, adults, and institutions form the fabric of the larger, diverse communities to which we are responsible) lies at the heart of all we do.
