EducateDallas

Our 2013 Endorsements:

twindham — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:20:54 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EducateDallas Endorses Nancy Bingham, Lew Blackburn, and Eric Cowan for Dallas ISD Board of Trustees

DALLAS, TEXAS (March 12, 2013) –EducateDallas is endorsing candidates Nancy Bingham (District 4), Lew Blackburn (District 5), and Eric Cowan (District 7) for the 2013 Dallas ISD school board elections.

Through a rigorous vetting and interview process conducted by a diverse group of civic leaders and business professionals, EducateDallas sought to endorse the best and brightest candidates to help ensure every Dallas ISD student receives a world-class education. “These candidates have a history of putting the needs of Dallas kids above all else, and the experience necessary to successfully manage an organization as large as Dallas ISD,” said EducateDallas Chairman, Mark Melton.

A former teacher for more than 30 years, Nancy Bingham brings an unparalleled depth of knowledge to the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees. In addition to her commitment to Dallas ISD, Nancy has also been active in numerous other parts of the community, including serving on multiple land use studies and playing a crucial role in improving city services.

“Nancy is an inspiring leader who truly believes that our schools are capable of reaching every Dallas child and opening up a lifetime of opportunity for them. Her personal experiences have instilled in her a passion for education and an infectious belief that these challenges we’re facing are surmountable,” said EducateDallas Board Member, Raul Magdaleno. “I am proud of the way she has represented her community and all of Dallas. She consistently makes data-driven decisions that always put kids first.”

A product of public schools, Lew Blackburn has a lifetime of experience working in education. He understands firsthand the challenges and rewards of being a teacher, and the responsibility that comes with leading a school as its principal. His experience in district governance is invaluable as our school district continues to move forward into a new era of accountability and increased student achievement and performance.

“Lew’s tenure as board president has been filled with progressive reforms and a much-needed movement toward collaboration and cohesion within the board,” said incoming co-chairwoman, Jill Louis. “Lew is committed to increasing student achievement. With Lew, we know that we’re getting a proven leader that is focused on moving the district forward for the benefit of our kids.”

In addition to his experience with budgets and finance in his professional role, Eric Cowan also brings with him a passion for public education and years of experience guiding Dallas ISD through budgetary issues, new human capital policies, and a wide variety of initiatives focused on increasing student achievement.

“Eric is a very thoughtful, deliberate leader who lets his actions speak louder than his words. When you’re looking for school board trustees, it’s so important to find public servants like Eric that always consider what’s best for kids, as opposed to politicians simply looking for a headline,” said Melton. “Eric consistently supports forward-thinking policies that incorporate best practices from other districts and works to thoughtfully push Dallas ISD forward.”

The endorsement process began by inviting all candidates to complete a questionnaire, followed by in-person interviews with the EducateDallas Board of Directors. The Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse all three candidates, believing that their backgrounds and passion for public education make them the most qualified candidates for the Dallas ISD board of trustees.

EducateDallas believes that these candidates will continue to put students first in every decision, and will invest in and value the importance of human capital within the district. To show its support, EducateDallas will make initial contributions in the amount of $5,000 to each candidate’s campaign.

For more information, visit the EducateDallas website at www.EducateDallas.org, or contact Trisha Windham at twindham@educatedallas.org.

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About EducateDallas

EducateDallas is a non-partisan general-purpose political committee dedicated to the mission of working to elect high-quality candidates to the Dallas ISD board of trustees. The Board of Advisors for EducateDallas is comprised of a diverse group of citizens from across the city of Dallas who insist on improving public education for all of our children.

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Now Accepting: 2013 Candidate Questionnares

twindham — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:17:49 +0000

EducateDallas

PRESS RELEASE

Date: January 24, 2013

Contact: Trisha Windham

Direct Line: (682) 429-3127

twindham@educatedallas.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EducateDallas Seeks Applicants for Dallas ISD Board of Trustees Endorsements

DALLAS, TEXAS (January 24, 2013) EducateDallas has posted a candidate questionnaire to its website for those candidates running for a position on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees who are interested in receiving the group’s endorsement. Questionnaires should be completed and returned no later than February 15, 2013. The EducateDallas Board of Advisors will begin interviewing candidates shortly thereafter.

“We want to be certain that each person serving as a trustee for Dallas ISD is the very best person for the job,” said EducateDallas Chairman, Mark Melton. “Ideal candidates should be thoughtful and collaborative leaders that have a singular focus on finding the things Dallas ISD can do that are best for the children it serves” he said.

To be considered for an interview and potential endorsement, complete the candidate questionnaire found online at www.EducateDallas.org. For more information, visit the EducateDallas website or contact Trisha Windham at twindham@educatedallas.org.

About EducateDallas

EducateDallas is a non-partisan general-purpose political committee dedicated to the mission of working to elect high-quality candidates to the Dallas ISD board of trustees. The board of advisors for EducateDallas is comprised of a diverse group of citizens from across the city of Dallas that hope to improve public education for all of our children.

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We have new board members!

twindham — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:07:29 +0000

August 6, 2012

By Trisha Windham, Director

As most of you are aware, EducateDallas’ first chairman, Clint McDonnough, concluded his chairmanship following the most recent election. Clint’s guidance and leadership during our first election cycle was invaluable to all of us and we cannot thank him enough for his unwavering (and continued) support. Also, shortly after the election, board member Jeremy Clark announced that he was moving to Tennessee to take the position of CEO for Tenet’s hospital in Memphis. Jeremy and all of his colleagues at Tenet have been incredibly helpful and supportive of our efforts so, while we were excited for him and his new opportunity, we were very sad to see Jeremy leave Dallas.

As a result of these two vacancies, we had two open seats on our board.

Keeping in our mind our principles and cohesiveness as a board, we thought about who could add value to our tight-knit group and instantly two people sprang to mind. The first to sign on was Terry Conner. Terry and his wife, Anne, are involved in numerous charitable and non-profit organizations around Dallas, proving day-in and day-out that they truly care about Dallas kids. In addition to his charitable service, Terry is also the managing partner at Haynes & Boone and serves on the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Board of Directors. Despite his busy schedule, and his countless other community commitments, Terry has supported EducateDallas since its inception. We were fortunate then to have him as supporter, and even more fortunate now to call him a fellow board member.

The next ask went to Wilton Hollins. Wilton is truly a product of Dallas ISD. He grew up in Oak Cliff and attended the Law Magnet, Skyline High School and South Oak Cliff High School. Having grown up in Dallas and lived in the area during his adult life, Wilton has an incredible perspective on the realities facing our Dallas kids, and the potential our schools have to provide everyone with an opportunity for success. Wilton is now the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources for Global Management and has used that expertise to give back to Dallas ISD by serving as a volunteer on the district’s HR Star Commission. We are so excited to have someone with his expertise and in-depth knowledge of the issues facing our school district to help guide EducateDallas in its endorsement and candidate selection process.

So, with our new members jumping right in, we are charging full speed ahead and continuing our preparation for May 2013. Dallas ISD is on a roll and EducateDallas remains committed to supporting this forward momentum! Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events this fall…

DISD Policies Made Easy!

twindham — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:24:10 +0000

We are so excited about this new tool that makes understanding the DISD School Board Agenda so easy! Policy Pulse is a new website focused on providing the average citizen with the information they need to understand the policies, and then providing them with the tools they need to let their voices be heard. DISD affects us all, so be informed and get involved! Instructions from Policy Pulse team on how to get signed up are below – we hope you’ll take full advantage.

1) Login with Facebook
2) Click on the Agenda Items tab and pick a Division you would like to learn more about (“Business Services”, “Teaching and Learning”,“Chief of Staff”, “School Leadership”)
3) If you want to drill down further, click on a Category in that Division (Financial Services, Procurement Services, etc.)
4) Scroll down to see the Item you want, and click on it
5) Up or Down to vote whether you like an item, click Vote to Pull if you think Board Trustees should discuss it today instead of passing it without a discussion.

6) If you have something to say, say it!

Select Good Idea drop-down under “Submit” if your comment is supportive of the item
Bad Idea if your comment is not in support of the item;
Leave a Question if you want to know more from the broader community.
When done, click Submit

7) Click on the Item Language at the top if you’d like to access the actual legislation and related materials.
8) Rate other people’s Viewpoints using the Up or Down arrows, and click “Next Item” to move on to the next agenda item to do it again!
9) When leaving the site, you’ll be able to provide any Feedback through the app Feedbackify on the right so we can continue to make PolicyPulse better.

We appreciate the encouragement along the way, and feel free to email us anytime to let us know what worked and what didn’t.

Thanks for your work in building a citizen-powered city,

The PolicyPulse Team

New Dallas ISD trustees sworn in

twindham — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:25:43 +0000

Interim Superintendent Alan King and Carla Ranger (right) applauded new trustees Elizabeth Jones (center) and Dan Micciche (not pictured) after the two were sworn in Thursday.

By MATTHEW HAAG

Staff Writer, Dallas Morning News

mhaag@dallasnews.com

Dallas ISD trustee Lew Blackburn was re-elected board president for another year Thursday as two newcomers were sworn in as members.

The new trustees, Dan Micciche and Elizabeth Jones, are joining the school board during a time of transition.

New Superintendent Mike Miles, who officially starts July 1, has promised to shake up the way DISD operates.

“The board has quite a bit to do in the near term and in the coming years,” Jones said at Thursday’s board meeting. “I look forward to working with all of my fellow trustees to create a world-class district.”

Click Here for Full Story

Dallas ISD elections: Micciche ousts Parrott; Nutall, Jones score victories

twindham — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:33:02 +0000

By TAWNELL D. HOBBS

Staff Writer, Dallas Morning News

Published: 12 May 2012 10:50 PM

Dallas school trustee Bruce Parrott was ousted from his seat in Saturday’s election, while trustee Bernadette Nutall easily beat out her opponent for a second term.

The board also will get another new member, Elizabeth Jones, a visiting business professor at the University of Texas at Dallas management school. She beat out three other candidates for the District 1 seat in northwest Dallas that is being vacated by trustee Edwin Flores, who decided not to seek a third term.

Click Here for Entire Article

From our good friend, Byron Sanders…

twindham — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:48:23 +0000

…on the importance of giving our students HOPE and permission to SUCCEED.

We loved his message and just had to share – hope you enjoy!

Board Member Rev. Britt’s Remarks on Poverty and Education

twindham — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:11:53 +0000

From the CitySquare’s 17th Annual Urban Ministries Prayer Breakfast & Public Forum….

Deep in the country, long, long ago, an old man plowing his hard scrabble field found a mirror. He and his wife lived in an area so isolated, so remote they were strangers to modern conveniences. Things like mirrors and photographs were things with which they were only vaguely familiar.

The old man picked up mirror and was aghast! “Why it’s a picture of my old pappy!” He wiped away tears from his eyes after a quick glance and said, “Yep, that’s him! Well I’ll be…” He put it in his pocket, took it home and put it under his bed, to later show his wife. Then he went to clean up and get ready for his once a week trip into to town.

While the old man was gone, she was cleaning the bedroom and found the mirror cleaning under the bed. She looked at it and threw it down on the bed in disgust. “So! That’s the old hag he’s been fooling around with in town every week!”

Taking a serious look at ourselves when it comes to education and poverty is just as subjective an exercise as this old country couple’s look into a mirror – we see what we remember, or we have our worst fears confirmed.

Some of us can remember our own brush with poverty early in our lives and proudly proclaim our survival. Others of us know that the persistent struggles we have to educate children says something dark and unbecoming about us.

Chris Hedges, in a column written last year wrote, “A nation that destroys its systems of education, degrades its public information, guts its public libraries and turns its airwaves into vehicles for cheap, mindless amusement becomes deaf, dumb and blind. It prizes test scores above critical thinking and literacy. It celebrates rote vocational training and the singular, amoral skill of making money. It churns out stunted human products, lacking the capacity and vocabulary to challenge the assumptions and structures of the corporate state. It funnels them into a caste system of drones and systems managers. It transforms a democratic state into a feudal system of corporate masters and serfs.”

That thought, and what poverty looks like in DISD portend alarming consequences for public education.

According to the Center for Public Policy Priorities, a household of three is ‘officially’ poor, if the make less than $17, 200 a year. Eighty-six per cent of DISD students are considered poor with more than 88% of DISD students are on free or reduced lunch. The lack of economic development and strategic neighborhood redevelopment in some of our poorest neighborhoods, has led to the under-population of schools in those communities. So much so it has led to the heretofore unthinkable decision by DISD to close a number of them.

In an age of smart phones, iPads and laptops, draconian budget cuts have our schools inching toward technology, with the chilling prospect of leaving poor and minority children further victimized by an even greater achievement gap.

The drop-out rate among children from poor families is a staggering 64%. Even worse, among minority children, the ones who reside in neighborhoods characterized by poverty, recent studies show that across the state of Texas, minority students, particularly black students, are disproportionately subject to the type of disciplinary actions that put them on a track to encounters with the criminal justice system, constituting a school to prison pipeline that further frustrates our most well intentioned efforts.

Our public education system, as currently constituted, is consigning countless children to lost wages, prison time and diminished productivity – and in robbing them, we are robbing ourselves.

According to a Dallas Morning News editorial, not only are those who drop out of school subject to earn 35% – 43% lower wages, but they cost the country $260 billion in lost taxable income and productivity.

When you hear anyone say we cannot afford to educate all of our children, remember these figures and realize that we cannot afford NOT to educate them.

We all win, when we educate children; but system that fails our children, means that we all pay.

There has been a fair cottage industry in blaming educators, politicians, parents, business leaders and even children for the failings of public education. The fact is we are all to blame.

Especially when we know what works…

When it comes to education, we know that caring adults at home and in the extended environment work; we know that healthy children learn better than unhealthy children; we know that children with a nutritious diet are more alert than those who eat high in fatty carbohydrates; we know that enrichment that enhances what children learn during the school day works and that summers in which children participate in enrichment through creative, active learning works – not simply athletic activity; we know that safe neighborhoods work; we know that neighborhoods in which children see human examples that inspire them to aspire to greater achievement works; we know that challenging children with exposure to great literature, art and music works; we know that hands on learning works.

The real question is not just who do we blame, but when do we stop doing the things that we plainly see are not working and begin to do the things we know work.

When I was a pastor, I had as a member, a young lady who grew up in the church and became a teacher in south Dallas. She’s now an administrator in another district. I visited her in her classroom when she got her first assignment. It was after school and she was telling me how frustrated she was. She talked about how the children came to school, their lack of discipline, their lack of preparation and focus.

When she finished, I said to her, ‘Vickie, whatever the answer to all of those problems are, I know this – these parents aren’t sending you their worst children and keeping the good ones at home for themselves. These are the only children they’ve got. You have to find a way to teach them.’

We must educate them all. We cannot climb the ladder of success for ourselves and our families and then pull the ladder up after us because too hard to provide the same opportunity for another generation.

Today, we have with us a panel of concerned citizens who seek to influence the process and politics of public education. They are not educators – we will get some of that in our breakout sessions. But our guests represent the opportunities for the civic, philanthropic and political engagement necessary to undergird the work of our school system with type of support that recognizes that every sector of our city must have skin in the game in the fight against poverty and for an educational system that benefits us all.

And to follow me, the mayor of our city, who has connected the dots between the critical importance of great schools and the revitalization of poor neighborhoods. Mayor Mike Rawlings’ ‘growSouth’ strategy is a promising strategy that ties the wholeness of our poorest communities to education as well as economic development and housing.

I had the privilege of getting to know and watch him before he became mayor, as he led Dallas in the construction of the Bridge. But most importantly, I saw him as he helped lead the rest of the city see that homelessness was not just a problem for people living on the streets and under bridges; Mayor Rawlings, then our Homeless Czar, got the word out that homelessness is not a condition that Dallas should tolerate for any of its citizens.

At CitySquare, we are not only proud to call him ‘Mayor’ we are also proud to call him friend. Welcome Mayor Mike Rawlings.

Alliance-AFT embarasses itself with endorsement of Damarcus Offord for trustee

twindham — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:43:31 +0000

Tod Robberson / Dallas Morning News Editorial Writer

trobberson@dallasnews.com

I am shocked at Alliance AFT, the teachers union. In theory, this is a group dedicated to the education of our children. Rena Honea, the president, seems to be a smart person. But I have to question hers and her organization’s judgment regarding their endorsement of Damarcus Offord for the District 9 seat on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees. What are they thinking? Do they really have the interests of Dallas students and teachers in mind? Have they done even the slightest bit of research about this very young man?

Read the rest of the editorial here: http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/04/alliance-aft-em.html

A Change for District 3…

twindham — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:44:39 +0000

By Patti Clapp, EducateDallas Board Member

The EducateDallas Board of Advisors met with Dan Micciche last Monday to discuss his thoughts on Dallas ISD and particularly District 3. We were all struck by Dan’s genuineness and kindness. This is a guy that has achieved great professional success, but is as humble as you can imagine. A guy that has never been one to just a write a check or serve on a board, but rather someone who rolls up his sleeves and gets to work on the problem.

With Dan, we discussed a wide variety of topics, including accountability and the Dallas ISD administration. We enjoyed hearing his thoughts on the complex bureaucracy that the administration has created, and his plans for how to clean it up. He talked about the school partnership he spearheaded and has led for seven years with his coworkers and Fannin Elementary, one of the highest poverty schools in the district. He talked about the great teachers in Dallas ISD – many of whom he worked with at Fannin– and how unsupported and demoralized they have been by the district, how they have been inundated by endless paperwork, and yet how they persevere despite all of it. But most of all, Dan talked about kids. He talked about how he was a first generation college graduate, a product of public schools, and a true believer that if our school district lets even one student fall through cracks, we haven’t done our job. He was also adamant that the business community needs to provide more support to our schools.

When asked about District 3, Dan’s quiet demeanor slipped away as he showed some real frustration. He talked about how, according to TEA, eight of Dallas’ “worst schools” are in District 3. Dan was very clear on how unacceptable he finds that reality to be. He assured us that to him, “progress” would mean getting the kids in District 3 better schools and a better education. It would mean empowering teachers and principals and allowing them to have the freedom to be the professionals that they are.

We also saw how motivated and energetic Dan is. He has achieved his own personal success and now he’s ready to give back in an even bigger way. He has the time, the energy, and the knowledge to be an agent of change, and a contributing member to a team focused on real improvements for the district. If you want to see real changes in Dallas ISD – increased support for teachers, higher achievement for students, and a decrease in administration bureaucracy – District 3, you have your candidate.