01/15/2024
First, I want to thank everyone for putting their trust in me for the past twelve years as your school board trustee, but after careful consideration, I have decided to forego running for re-election. It is time for another individual to carry the torch and to take La Porte ISD to new heights.
During the past twelve years, I am proud of the fact that I have advocated for and witnessed a substantial increase in our use of technology, including the broadcasting of our board meetings for better transparency, and social media presence to showcase the wonderful things happening in our classrooms.
When I was on the board, there was an initial idea, when Heritage Elementary was built, that it would be home to a “hall of honor” to recognize our most successful alumni. It never got off the ground. After reviewing countless hall of honor by-laws from other districts and with the help of Dr. Linda Wadleigh, Terri Cook, Adam Holland, Chris Gilbert, and Lloyd Graham, we have one here in La Porte as well now, showcased at Bulldog Centre for the public to see, now going on seven years strong, a program that continues to be fine-tuned with each successful year and will continue on to honor our most successful alumni, staff, and citizens.
Our student accountability scores are up, and new programs are being introduced to better meet the needs of students. Teacher and staff compensations are up, and despite challenges inflicted upon us by the state, we have managed to cultivate over the last twelve years a healthy fund balance to address teacher and staff needs and student programs.
During my time as Board President, we managed to deal with the aftermath of COVID, address learning loss and mental health, deal with several board vacancies and ending with the largest public approval of a bond measure for La Porte ISD (with no tax rate increase) in more than twenty years—all while keeping our team of eight intact and focused.
After years of urging, Baker is now being looked at as well, so that its future will better meet the needs of students today. In 2022, I had the honor of being elected by my peers in the region to serve on the Legislative Advisory Council to advocate for public education, which continues to need strong warriors to advocate on the behalf of the selfless men and women who devote their lives to the education of our children.
The board I leave is well-equipped to deal with the challenges ahead, and having campaigned for at some point in time or played a part in appointing each member currently serving, this is one exceptional board that I know will do whatever it takes to take La Porte ISD to a new level.
Of all the achievements accomplished in the past twelve years, there is one that I believe is the most important, one that many of the accomplishments would not have seen fruition were it not for him, was casting the vote to hire Dr. Walter Jackson, who I believe is the greatest superintendent in La Porte ISD history and among the greatest, if not the greatest, in the state of Texas. I am so privileged to have served as Board President while Dr. Jackson was at the helm.
While one chapter closes, another opens. While I take a respite from public office in the coming months, just know, so long as I live and breathe in La Porte, I will be involved at some level, whether continuing to write for the newspaper, or if circumstances and the public allow, public service again. Thank you and God bless you all!
