[00:00:02]
GOOD MORNING. I'M DAVID STOLLE, BOARD PRESIDENT AND PRESIDING OFFICER, NOTING THAT A
[1. CALL TO ORDER ]
QUORUM IS PRESENT.I CALLED TO ORDER THIS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE PLANO ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT 8:01 A.M. ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022, AT THIS TIME, I ASK SUPERINTENDENT BONSER TO VERIFY THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT REGARDING THE NOTICE FOR THIS MEETING.
I VERIFIED THAT THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
[2. PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION ]
WE WILL NOW HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS. SUPERINTENDENT BONSER ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS? YES, SIR, WE HAVE ONE CARD, MR. MIKE TURNER.OK, SO IF MR. TURNER, IF YOU'LL MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM BACK THERE.
IN ORDER FOR THE BOARD TO HOLD THIS MEETING IN AN EFFECTIVE MANNER.
SPEAKERS WILL ABIDE BY THE RULES OF BOARD POLICY BED LOCAL, A SPECIAL CALLED MEETINGS BOARD PERMITS PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE BY SUBMITTING A COMMENT CARD IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING.
COMMENT CARDS ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE AND INCOMPLETE COMMENT CARDS MAY NOT BE HONORED.
IF A SPEAKER IS NOT PRESENT WHEN CALLED UPON, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WILL BE FORFEITED.
SHOULD AN INDIVIDUAL FAIL TO ADDRESS THE ITEM LISTED ON THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT CARD, WE'LL STOP THE SPEAKER AND REQUEST THAT THEY MAINTAIN FOCUS ON THE TOPIC LISTED SPEAKERS WHO FAIL TO ADHERE TO THE TOPIC LISTED ON THEIR COMMENT CARD ARE OUT OF ORDER, AND WE'LL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PODIUM.
TODAY'S SPEAKER, WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER AND WE WILL HAVE THAT SPEAKER WILL HAVE THE FULL THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
IF YOU ARE NOT FINISHED SPEAKING AT THE END OF YOUR TIME, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO STOP WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO THE PODIUM, MR. TURNER, IF YOU WILL PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME THE AGENDA ITEM, OF COURSE, WE HAVE ONE AGENDA ITEM RELATING TO YOUR COMMENTS AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU RESIDE IN THE DISTRICT.
AND SO, MR. TURNER, WE WILL HAVE A TIMER GOING.
SECRETARY CHAMBERS WILL KEEP THE TIME AS WELL, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE, SHE CAN GIVE YOU A ONE MINUTE NOTICE WHEN YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT.
ALSO, I HAVE AN OLDER CHILD IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL, SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND THE AGENDA ITEM OF HIRING A NEW SUPER.
SO WHEN YOU'RE MORE CONCERNED WITH BEING RIGHT AND ENTRENCHING YOURSELF, IT'S HARD TO MAKE PROGRESS AND FIND THE BEST SOLUTIONS FOR PROBLEMS. MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY YOU'RE SO INTENT ON HAVING A SOLE CANDIDATE NON PROCESS, PROCESS TO HIRE THE SUPER.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE MADE COMMENTS THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE TRAJECTORY OF THE DISTRICT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S PAINFULLY OBVIOUS TO ANYBODY THAT'S PAYING ATTENTION THAT THE DISTRICT IS IN DECLINE.
AND SO SINCE THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEBATE ABOUT THAT, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SIGNS OF THE DECLINE, SO AT LEAST WE CAN HAVE SOME TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE TRANSPARENCY IS SORELY LACKING IN THE DISTRICT.
SERIOUS ISSUES YOU HAVE THAT REFLECT DECLINE AND DECLINE DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
IF YOU STUDY HISTORY, IT HAPPENS GRADUALLY.
YOU HAVE A DISTRICT WITH MASSIVE TEACHER RETIREMENTS AND DEFECTIONS, EARLY RETIREMENTS, GENERALLY DECLINING MORALE.
OF COURSE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE REASONS FOR THAT.
BUT THE REALITY IS OF TEACHERS, TEACHERS DO NOT MASSIVELY RETIRE AND DEFECT IF THEY'RE IF THEY ARE HAPPY. RELATED TO THAT, YOU HAVE TROUBLE FINDING TEACHERS BECAUSE THE DISTRICT DOESN'T HAVE A... SIR, THE TOPIC IS THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS.
YES AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE REASONS WHY THE TRAJECTORY IS NOT GOOD.
WHY DO YOU ALWAYS INTERRUPT SPEAKERS? BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ON TARGET.
ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE, THEY WORK FOR US.
LET ME SPEAK MY THREE MINUTES.
YOU'RE NOT ON TOPIC SIR. I'M ON TOPIC, THE TOPIC IS THAT YOU THINK THAT THE DISTRICT IS IN SOME GREAT TRAJECTORY.
WE DISAGREE, AND I'M TELLING YOU WHY.
IS THAT NOT GERMANE? IS THAT NOT GERMANE? PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR STATEMENT.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE TOPIC IS A SUPERINTENDENT, SIR.
YOU CAN'T TELL THIS IS AGENDA RELATED TOPIC.
I CAN'T HELP YOU. YOU HAVE TROUBLE FINDING TEACHERS BECAUSE THE DISTRICT IS NOT PERCEIVED ANYMORE AS A VERY GOOD PLACE TO WORK.
THAT'S THE MOST OBVIOUS REASON YOU HAVE A RISING COST PER STUDENT, BECAUSE IN RECENT YEARS, STUDENT POPULATION HAS DROPPED 10 PERCENT, WHILE THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF HAS INCREASED BY TWENTY FIVE PERCENT.
SO YOU'RE GRADUALLY IMPLODING FINANCIALLY.
STUDENT POPULATION IS PARTLY FALLING DUE TO DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS THAT YOU CITE AGING POPULATION, ET CETERA.
BUT THE FACT IS, PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE DISTRICT IN DROVES TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, HOME SCHOOLING, AND DON'T BE IN DENIAL ABOUT THIS.
AT THE RATE THINGS ARE GOING IN A FEW YEARS, THE ONLY PEOPLE GOING TO PLANO ISD WILL BE PEOPLE THAT SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE SCHOOL.
AND YOU BETTER HOPE THEY DON'T PASS SCHOOL VOUCHERS.
FROM THE BEST INFORMATION WE CAN GATHER, YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN DEFICIT THIS YEAR.
YOU HAVE ONE TIME FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP YOU, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN DEFICIT NEXT YEAR.
YOU HAVE A CREEPING TOXIC CULTURE IN WHICH DISSENT ISN'T TOLERATED.
RANK AND FILE PEOPLE ARE ALIENATED WHEN THEY'RE HIGHLY PAID ADMINISTRATION AND AFRAID OF RETALIATION. WE, AS CITIZEN ACTIVISTS, HEAR THINGS ALL THE TIME THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO BE ANONYMOUS. EVERYBODY IS AFRAID TO SPEAK.
[00:05:02]
YOU HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT, DEPENDING ON THE SUPER FOR THEIR PENSIONS AND THE BENEFITS. NOBODY WANTS TO DISSENT AND THE RANK AND FILE ARE TOTALLY DISEMPOWERED.THIS TOXIC CULTURE IS MUCH MORE LIKE A BIG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH TONS OF RED TAPE AND LITTLE REGARD FOR TEACHERS WHO ARE TO HOGTIED WITH ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, NOT A SMALLER DISTRICT WHERE TEACHERS ARE EMPOWERED AND GRANTED YOU HAVE 50 THOUSAND STUDENTS.
BUT THIS TREND COULD BE REVERSED.
YOU HAVE A CULTURE IN THE DISTRICT THAT IS INCREASINGLY RESPONSIVE TO THE INFLUENCE OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE VERY POLITICAL, LIKE THE NEA AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND YOU'RE IN AN INCREASINGLY UNRESPONSIVE OR OUT OF TOUCH WITH YOUR OWN COMMUNITY AND THEIR VALUES. SO WE FIND MORE AND MORE INFILTRATION OF THINGS LIKE CRT, SEL AND OVERLY PROGRESSIVE TREATMENT OF CSC ISSUES.
AND FURTHERMORE, YOU DID A SURVEY.
AND YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU, MR. TURNER. YOU HAD THREE MINUTES, SIR.
IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS FROM THE BOARD, WE WILL ADJOURN TO CLOSE SESSION AS AUTHORIZED
[3. CLOSED SESSION]
UNDER TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE.SECTION 551.074, THE TIME IS 8:06 AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ESTABLISH EXPECTATIONS, WE WILL BE BACK AT NINE O'CLOCK TO BEGIN THE NEXT PHASE OF THE MEETING.
THE BOARD IS NOW RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION TODAY IS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, 2022, AND THE
[4. RECONVENE OPEN SESSION ]
TIME IS NINE O'CLOCK A.M.WE HAVE AS A DISCUSSION AN ACTION ITEM, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO NAME THE
[5.1. Consideration and Possible Action to Name the Lone Finalist for the Position of Superintendent]
LONE FINALIST FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT.AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL TAKE ACTION ON THIS ITEM THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES NAMES DR.
THERESA WILLIAMS AS THE LONE FINALIST FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT FOR PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I'M SORRY, DID YOU SAY IT? I DID. I HAVE A MOTION BY DR.
HEATHER WANG AND A SECOND BY DR.
LAWRENCE TYRA ENTHUSIASTICALLY, I THINK THIRDED BY NANCY HUMPHREY THAT THE BOARD NAMES DR. THERESA WILLIAMS AS THE LONE FINALIST FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT FOR PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE? I'M GOING TO START, I HAVE PREPARED SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY.
SO WHEN SARA WAS ABLE TO LURE TERESA AWAY FROM LUBBOCK FOUR YEARS AGO, THE WORLD THAT WE LIVED IN WAS A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE.
TERESA AND SARA WORKED TOGETHER AT THAT TIME IN LOCKSTEP FROM DAY ONE.
YOU COULD TELL THE BOND BETWEEN THE TWO THAT THEY QUICKLY FORMED AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FORM A PLAN AND A STRATEGIC VISION FOR WHERE THEY WANTED TO TAKE THIS DISTRICT, ALL WITHIN THE STRATEGIC PLAN OF THAT THE BOARD HAD DESIGN ALONG WITH STAFF I SHOULD SAY.
AND THEY DID ALL OF THIS WHILE CONTINUING TO MEET THE DAILY CHALLENGES OF THE DISTRICT.
AND AS YOU'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE DAILY CHALLENGES ARE IN QUICKSAND AND THEY COME VERY QUICKLY.
AND THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO, ALMOST TO THE DAY WHEN A PANDEMIC SHUT DOWN OUR LIVES. YET DURING THIS TIME, TERESA AND SARA NEVER LOST FOCUS ON THE ULTIMATE MISSION, WHICH IS EDUCATING CHILDREN.
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IN A LEADER.
IS A PERSON WHO KEEPS CALM WHEN THE STORM COMES AND ROLLS UP THEIR SLEEVES TO MAKE HAY WHEN THE SUN SHINES, AS MY DAD MIGHT SAY.
A PERSON WHO SEES THE BIG PICTURE WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR PAINTING THE BIG PICTURE WHILE MAINTAINING FOCUS ON THE HERE AND NOW.
AND I'VE WATCHED THAT PERSON WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH SARA FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS.
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IN A PERSON TO FILL THIS POSITION IS SOMEONE WHO'S DETERMINED AND DECISIVE YET COMPASSIONATE AND WILLING TO LISTEN.
SOMEONE WHO BRINGS ENERGY AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE TO EACH DAY.
AND AGAIN, I'VE WATCHED THAT PERSON FOR FOUR YEARS.
I LIKE THE WORK THAT THESE TWO HAVE DONE TOGETHER, AND I LIKE, WHERE PLANO ISD IS TODAY WHERE IT IS HEADED IN THE FUTURE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TERESA CONTINUING THAT WORK WHILE ALSO IMPLEMENTING HER OWN VISION. I'M CONFIDENT WE HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME TO TAKE THE REINS AND CONTINUE THE PRE-PANDEMIC PLANS AND RESPOND TO THE POST-PANDEMIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, AND I ENTHUSIASTICALLY OFFER MY SUPPORT OF THE MOTION. WITH THAT, IF MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
WHEN THERESA CAME IN 2018, I WAS VERY EXCITED THAT WE GOT SOMEBODY FROM LUBBOCK ISD BECAUSE SHE WAS PHENOMENALLY OVER THERE.
SHE DID A REALLY GREAT JOB AND FOR US TO BRING HER OVER WAS A BIG STEP FOR US BECAUSE WE TOOK SOMEONE FROM AN OUTSIDE DISTRICT AND BOUGHT HER IN.
[00:10:01]
AND NOT ONLY DID WE BRING HER IN, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SEE HER FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WHEN SHE CAME HERE IN 2018.AND I READ ALL THE REPLIES, ALL THE SURVEY REPLIES, OVER THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED OF THEM. AND I LISTEN AND I LISTEN TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND I EVEN SPOKE TO THEM ON THE PHONE.
I EVEN MET WITH THEM IN PERSON.
AND THE THING IS THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT TO HAVE NOT JUST ANY SUPERINTENDENT.
I THINK PLANO ISD WANTS TO HAVE THE BEST SUPERINTENDENT, THE BEST SUPERINTENDENT WE CAN GET IN TEXAS, THE BEST SUPERINTENDENT WE CAN GET OUT OF STATE, SO SHE IS, MY OPINION, THE BEST SUPERINTENDENT WE HAVE.
THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO ECHO THE COMMENTS THAT I HEARD PRESIDENT STOLLE AND TRUSTEE POWELL SAY, I THINK THAT HAVING TERESA ON BOARD HERE FOR FOUR YEARS OR ALMOST FOUR YEARS, WE'VE SEEN HER IN ACTION AND WE I CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION.
I HAVE BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH A NATIONAL SEARCH, I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOCAL SEARCH AND I KNOW THE PROCESS AND I KNOW THE PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH IS THE PROPER DUE DILIGENCE AND I AM CONFIDENT IN TERESA'S ABILITIES.
I AM CONFIDENT BECAUSE SHE CAME WITH SO MUCH EXPERIENCE.
SHE STARTED OUT IN GARLAND AS A TEACHER.
SHE MOVED UP THROUGH THE RANKS ALL THE WAY TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL OPERATIONS. SHE HAS A HUMBLENESS ABOUT HER THAT MAKES HER APPROACHABLE TO EVERYONE, AND SHE UNDERSTANDS, SHE'S COMPASSIONATE.
BUT I'M TELLING YOU SHE IS A DECISIVE, INTELLIGENT PERSON AS WELL.
AND THE ONE THING THAT DRIVES DR.
WILLIAMS IS SUCCESS FOR CHILDREN IN THIS DISTRICT AND IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SHE'S VERY ARTICULATE AND VERY INTELLIGENT, AND I JUST AM JUST AMAZED.
HER WORK, OK FOR 20 YEARS IN GARLAND ISD FROM TEACHER ON THROUGH THE CABINET LEVEL, THEN SHE WAS TAKEN VERY STRATEGICALLY TO LUBBOCK AS THE DEPUTY, AND THERE SHE MADE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IN THE LEARNING OF THE SCHOOLS THAT HAD THE MOST WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. I HAVE MY FULL CONFIDENCE IN DR.
OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE.
YEAH, CODY, STARING AT ME, SO I GUESS IT'S IT'S MY TURN.
I WILL SORT OF BUILD UPON WHAT NANCY HAS SAID AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE ELSE'S COMMENTS.
BUT GARLAND AND LUBBOCK, THEIR BIG DISTRICTS AND THEIR COMPLICATED DISTRICTS AND THEIR DISTRICTS THAT HAVE CHALLENGES AND THOSE CHALLENGES ARE SOME OF THEM ARE THE SAME.
AND SO THE TOOLKIT THAT TERESA BRINGS FROM GARLAND AND LUBBOCK, HAVING DEALT WITH CHALLENGES AND OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THOSE DISTRICTS, SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THOSE DISTRICTS, I THINK, IS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THAT SHE'S BRINGING WITH HER THIS FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE FROM BOTH GARLAND AND LUBBOCK.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS PROCESS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
THE COMMUNITY, OF COURSE, KNOWS THAT I'M A SCIENTIST, BUT I ACTUALLY WORK IN VENTURE CAPITAL. AND SO I SPEND A LOT OF MY PROFESSIONAL TIME DOING DILIGENCE, DOING DILIGENCE ON COMPANIES TRYING TO DECIDE WHO GETS A CHECK.
AND SO THIS HAS BEEN A VERY INTERESTING DILIGENCE PROCESS, VERY DIFFERENT THAN MY TEAM AT WORK, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY FELLOW TRUSTEES.
RIGHT, NANCY, DAVID, ANGELA, JERI, WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS BEFORE, AND CODY, HEATHER AND I WHO HAVE NOT.
AND JUST FOR THE GUIDANCE, THE COLLABORATION, WE KEEP EACH OTHER HONEST.
THE SEVEN OF US AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FROM SOMEONE WHO BASICALLY DOES DUE DILIGENCE PROFESSIONALLY.
I APPRECIATE HOW THIS TEAM HAS WORKED.
AND ABOUT TERESA, I MEAN, I'M TALKING TO COMPANIES START UP CEOS EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
I MET WITH A DOZEN ON WEDNESDAY IN HOUSTON LAST WEEK.
AND IF I HAD TO RANK TERESA IN TERMS OF CEO POTENTIAL RIGHT, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY RANK HER IN THE TOP ONE TO TWO PERCENT IN PITCH AND POISE AND COMPETENCE.
JUST EVERY METRIC I CAN THINK OF.
[00:15:02]
AND YOU KNOW, PLANO ISD IS NOT A STARTUP, RIGHT.WE ARE A DISTRICT OF FIFTY SIX THOUSAND LIVES.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF, OUR TEACHERS, OUR ADMINISTRATION.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE SIZE OF A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW, TERESA'S HER MATERIALS, HER PITCH, EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE. SHE WOULD SHE WOULD BE AN AMAZING CEO.
AND I THINK SHE'S GOING TO BE AN AMAZING CEO FOR THE DISTRICT AND A DISTRICT OF THIS SIZE. AND I'LL JUST ALL SORT OF ONE LAST THOUGHT AND THAT A LOT OF VENTURE CAPITAL GROUPS, WE MAKE A SMALL FIRST INVESTMENT, RIGHT.
YOU MAKE MAYBE A $5 MILLION INVESTMENT FIRST AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO DEPLOY 50 MILLION IN CAPITAL IN THAT COMPANY OVER TIME, RIGHT? SO YOU MAKE A LITTLE INVESTMENT, YOU SEE HOW THE COMPANY DOES AND THEN YOU MAKE A BIGGER INVESTMENT IN THAT COMPANY WHEN THEY'RE DOING WELL, WHEN THEY'RE RISING TO THE TOP.
AND THAT IS A LOT OF THE APPROACH I'VE BROUGHT TO THIS, THAT AGAIN, IT'S LIKE FOUR YEARS OF DILIGENCE, RIGHT? WHEN WE'RE AT CONFERENCES AND WHEN OTHER SCHOOL LEADERS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS TALK TO US TRUSTEES ABOUT OUR PEOPLE OR EVERY INTERACTION WE HAVE AND JUST SEEING TERESA'S VALUES AND HER GRIT.
AND YOU KNOW, OUR BUSINESS IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IS KIDS, AND THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT THAT IS TERESA WILLIAMS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, KIDS.
AND THAT'S YOU CAN'T GET BETTER THAN THAT.
SO IN 2018, I WAS A NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, AND AS A NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WE GET THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF GOING TO A TRAINING THAT'S CALLED CRSS.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT STANDS FOR, BUT IT'S A VERY PRESTIGIOUS TRAINING THAT LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS GET TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
AND IT'S ABOUT BRINGING TOGETHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND REALLY GIVING THEM A WIDE AND DEEP AND REALLY DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GOVERN.
AND OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO HIRE SUPERINTENDENT.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT TRAINING IS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE SEVEN SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES TO BE IN SOLID ALIGNMENT.
AND I WILL HAVE TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE REST OF US.
THAT WE ARE SOLIDLY IN ALIGNMENT.
NOW, THE INTERESTING SIDE NOTE ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AT THIS TRAINING IS THAT I WAS THE ONLY PISD TRUSTEE AND THERE WERE SCORES OF LUBBOCK TRUSTEES THAT WERE THERE AND I KNEW WE HAD JUST HIRED THIS WOMAN FROM LUBBOCK AND I WASN'T ASKING QUESTIONS.
AND ONE DAY THIS LADY DURING THE TRAINING CAME TO ME BECAUSE I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.
AND I KNEW SHE WAS FROM LUBBOCK AND I WAS LIKE, OH GOSH.
AND SHE SAID, I NEED FOR YOU TO KNOW, THAT YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW LUCKY YOU ARE TO SCORE TERESA WILLIAMS, SHE IS MADE FOR PLANO, THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID TO ME.
SHE IS MADE FOR PLANO AND I KNOW THAT SHE WILL THRIVE IN PLANO.
SO I HAVE TO SAY MY BAR WAS PRETTY HIGH, AND I HAVE TO SAY THERESA HAS NOT DISAPPOINTED.
SO I AM THRILLED TO HAVE THAT, AND THEN I ALSO ADD THAT HER PERSONAL STORY IS CLEAR THAT SHE FEELS HER PASSIONS AND UNDERSTANDINGS, THAT ALL STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF THRIVE, WHEN THEY BELIEVE THEY BELONG AND ARE VALUED.
YOU GET, THERESA DOES, GETS THE REALITY THAT LIVES ARE CHANGED EACH TIME A TEACHER TAKES THAT EXTRA MOMENT WITH A STUDENT.
SHE GETS THAT BECAUSE SHE'S THE BENEFICIARY OF THAT EXPERIENCE.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS VOTE.
I ALWAYS SPEAK LAST BECAUSE SO I DON'T HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE WONDERFUL COMMENTS YOU GUYS HAVE MADE. I TOTALLY.
YEAH, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN DR.
THERESA WILLIAMS JUST BY WATCHING HER THESE PAST YEARS FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERYTHING WE HAVE GONE THROUGH.
AND NO MISTAKE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS ROOM FOR GROWTH, OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH IN THIS DISTRICT. AND EVERYBODY, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE ANONYMOUS.
I'M TELLING YOU, IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, I WANT YOU TO COME TO YOUR BOARD MEMBERS, YOUR ADMINISTRATION'S. BECAUSE PARENTS HAVE GOOD IDEAS AND WE DO HAVE PROBLEMS THAT NO ONE IS DENYING THAT. I'M JUST WANT EVERYBODY KNOW THAT.
[00:20:03]
YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE, THERE ARE TWO THINGS IMPRESSED ME MOST ABOUT THERESA.WHEN THINGS LIKE, WHEN IT'S TIME TO BE DECISIVE, TO BE ASSERTIVE, SHE HAS A HEART OF STEEL. THAT'S ONE THING I WAS WORRIED ABOUT.
I WAS LIKE, THERESA HAVE YOU EVER AND I ALWAYS SEE YOU SMILING AND SO PROFESSIONAL.
AND DO YOU EVER GET MAD? DO YOU EVER GET MAD LIKE, YOU KNOW, DO YOU? CAN YOU LIKE, STATE YOUR[INAUDIBLE]? AND I DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM ANYMORE, THAT QUESTION ANYMORE AFTER I TALKING TO PEOPLE.
SHE IS CAPABLE OF MAKING HARD DECISIONS, STAND HER GROUND AND DO WHAT SHE THINKS IS RIGHT THING. AND SHE HAS THAT POWER TO DO THAT, AND SHE ALWAYS COME TO MEETINGS WITH DATA.
AND A PROPOSAL SHE WOULD NEVER GO TO A MEETING UNPREPARED.
AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
AND SHE HAS NO TROUBLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR PROBLEM IS AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE. BUT SHE ALWAYS COME TO YOU AFTER THE MEETING.
LIKE, AM I TOO HARSH? WHEN IT COMES TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE, TERESA HAS A HEART.
HOW DO I SAY, A SOFT HEART IS NOT, YOU KNOW, IN THESE QUALITIES, IS MUCH NEEDED, ARE MUCH NEEDED IN THIS POSITION.
AND I, YOU KNOW, FACING THIS, WE DIDN'T TAKE THIS LIGHTLY, LIKE DR.
TYLER JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, WE TOOK OUR TIME, WE TOOK THE HARD WAY.
WE DID THE REFERENCES INTERVIEW LASTED LIKE FIVE HOURS.
YOU COULD NEVER DO THAT WITH THE EXTERNAL CANDIDATE BECAUSE SHE'S HERE.
AND SHE SHE ALSO HAD THE EXPERIENCE BEHIND HER.
SO WE COULD, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY LET THE INTERVIEWS.
THERE'S NO NOT ONE QUESTIONS ASKED IF YOU WANT TO ASK HER.
SO I DO BELIEVE WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND I DO I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN VOTING FOR HER TO BE OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, OVER THE WEEKEND, AFTER ALL THIS WORK, I THINK I NEED A BREAK.
SO I WENT TO I WENT TO A, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS GROW UP HERE.
SO I'M ALWAYS LIKE AROUND CAMPUS AND WATCHING SHOWS.
SO I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A SHOW SINCE MY KIDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOT IN IT ANYMORE, BUT I DECIDED TO GO OVER THE WEEKEND.
I WATCHED THE FEW SHOWS PRODUCED BY OUR DISTRICT WITH BEAUTIFUL KIDS PERFORMING ON STAGE . PARENTS, DIRECTORS, IT'S AMAZING YOU KNOW, I WENT BACK TO THE PERFORMANCES AT ONE IS AT SHEPTON, ONE IS AT PLANO WEST, ONE IS HENDRICK, I MEAN, HONESTLY, I SEE KIDS AND TEACHERS, PARENTS WORKING TOGETHER.
JUST LIKE WHEN MY KIDS WENT TO SCHOOL IN THOSE, YOU KNOW, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND I SAW TEACHERS THANKING THE PARENTS FOR SHARING THEIR KIDS WITH THEM AND THE KIDS AND PARENTS THANKING THE TEACHERS FOR BEING THERE FOR THEM.
SO I TELL MYSELF, I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT.
BEG YOUR PARENTS, BE OUR PARTNERS, WE WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT YOUR KIDS ARE DOING IN SCHOOL, NOT JUST WHAT YOU SEE ON TV SOMEWHERE IN UTAH.
MAYBE WE NEED TO BE LIKE BUILD A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS. AND IN THE END, I WANT THERE'S SOME HIS FAVORITE SONG FROM NEWSIES.
I SAW THAT ON SATURDAY, AT HENDRICK.
NO, NO, NO, SHEPTON HIGH SCHOOL AND I WANT TO READ IT TO YOU BECAUSE I CAN'T SING JUST TO, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS SPECIAL DAY.
IT SAYS, NOW IS THE TIME TO SEIZE THE DAY, STARE DOWN THE ODDS AND SEIZE THE DAY, MINUTE BY MINUTE. THAT'S HOW YOU WIN IT.
BUT LET US SEIZE THE DAY FOR TERESA WILLIAMS.
[00:25:01]
YEAH, THANK YOU.ONE LAST COMMENT. SO I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT JUST IN TERMS OF PROCESS.
I THINK MY FELLOW TRUSTEES HAVE KIND OF ROUNDED OUT A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS, SO THAT'LL SAVE A LOT OF TIME FOR ME TO TALK, WHICH I'M SURE EVERYBODY WILL APPRECIATE.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD AND YOU KNOW, I READ ABOUT A THOUSAND OF THE 3600 COMMENTS.
I DID NOT READ THEM ALL BECAUSE THOUSANDS A LOT AND YOU GET THE GIST.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT WAS AN EXTERNAL SEARCH, AND I FEEL LIKE WE VOTED AND CONDUCTED AN INTERNAL SEARCH AND WE GOT AN EXTERNAL CANDIDATE THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR FOUR YEARS, TRAINING AND DOING THE JOB AND PROVING WHAT THEY CAN DO, WHERE THEY'VE BEEN, WHERE THEY'VE COME FROM AND WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S BEEN SAID IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS BY THE OTHER TRUSTEES, BUT THIS DOES NOT FEEL LIKE AN INTERNAL CANDIDATE BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THIS CANDIDATE'S CAREER HAS NOT BEEN IN PLANO ISD.
AND SO THEY BRING A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT, AND THEY'VE BEEN PROVIDING THAT FOR FOUR YEARS AND THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE AWARE OF IN TERMS OF HOW WE VIEW THINGS.
BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE, I'LL PUT IT TO YOU THIS WAY, WHEN YOU MOVE TO TEXAS, NOBODY'S GOING TO CALL YOU A TEXAN RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, I'M A NATIVE, I'M A TEXAN. WHEN YOU'VE LIVED HERE, MAYBE HALF YOUR LIFE FOR MORE YEARS THAN AFTER AND SAY ALL RIGHT, MAYBE YOU CAN CALL YOURSELF A TEXAN NOW.
DR. WILLIAMS HAS PROVEN HERSELF TO BE PLANO ISD PROUD, AND SHE IS PART OF THE PLANO ISD TEAM, BUT SHE'S NOT BORN AND RAISED HERE.
SHE IS DEFINITELY WHAT I WOULD CALL AN EXTERNAL CANDIDATE IN THAT SENSE.
I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE.
I PERSONALLY DID NOT FEEL THIS WAS RUSHED.
I FELT THAT WE WENT THROUGH THE MILESTONES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, LEGALLY AND WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND MORE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BENEFIT WOULD BE TO MORE TIME WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT CANDIDATE AND YOU'RE ALREADY THERE.
YOU KNOW, SOME WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHY WOULDN'T YOU SPEND THE MONEY ON THE EXTERNAL CANDIDATE? AND IT'S NOT TO ME, IT'S NOT ABOUT SAVING MONEY.
EVEN WITH THE BUDGET DEFICIT, WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
WE HAVE FUND BALANCE. WE COULD AFFORD TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU DON'T DO THAT IF YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THAT.
AND GOING ON THE CEO ROUTE, IF YOU'RE A CORPORATE BOARD OF SEVEN AND THREE WANT A CANDIDATE OR DON'T WANT A CANDIDATE AND FOUR DO DO YOU THINK THAT CEO IS GOING TO WANT TO TAKE THAT JOB? PROBABLY NOT IF THEY'RE FIGHTING A BOARD LIKE THAT.
SO WE HAVE A CANDIDATE THAT THE SEVEN OF US, PRESUMABLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MINUTES WILL AGREE ON.
THERE'S PROBABLY NOT SOMEBODY OUT THERE THAT ALL OF US COULD GET BEHIND AND BELIEVE IN TOGETHER. BUT WE HAVE THE FORTUNE THAT AND THE LUCK THAT WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY NOW AND OTHER DISTRICTS. THERE'S OVER 12 DISTRICTS LOCALLY THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SUPERINTENDENTS, 60 IN THE STATE, OVER 60.
AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE A MONTH OLD.
SO THAT COULD BE MORE OR LESS NOW.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS. AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD PROBABLY LIKE TO INTERVIEW OUR CANDIDATE AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THE SUPERINTENDENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE BOARD IS ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIRE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
YOU WANT IT TO BE SOMEBODY THAT REFLECTS THE MISSION, VISION AND GOALS OF THE BOARD.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PRAISE SAID TODAY, BUT ALSO KNOW AS MUCH AS WE PRAISE AND ARE APPRECIATIVE AND ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE ALSO ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW US WELL AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE THE FEET TO THE FIRE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
BUT ACCOUNTABILITY LEADS TO EXPECTATIONS AND NORMS AND IMPROVEMENT, AND THESE ARE ALL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES.
AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, AND I FEEL LIKE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND THAT'S A THAT'S A RELATIONSHIP THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FORM WITH AN OUTSIDE CANDIDATE THAT DOESN'T KNOW US, THAT HASN'T EXPERIENCED THINGS WITH US.
AND THERE'S MANY CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, AS OTHER TRUSTEES HAVE SAID, THAT ARE PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS AND DISTRICT CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE IN SMALL GROUP OR LESS THAN THREE AND OR PERSONAL WHERE WE KNOW THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY MIGHT NOT.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THE COMMUNITY IS.
YOU KNOW, WE THE PEOPLE, THE COMMUNITY VOTED FOR EACH TRUSTEE AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT UP HERE. WE WERE ELECTED AND WITH THE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE AND OUR EXPERTISE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, EXERCISE THE WILL OF THE BOARD AND EACH INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEE IS GOING TO HAVE A VOTE.
AND WE ASK THAT THE COMMUNITY, IF NOT TRUST, AT LEAST HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE TO THE DECISION
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WE MAKE. AND SO THAT'S THAT'S HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS.IT'S A PROMISE OF A PROCESS, NOT AN OUTCOME.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THAT HERE TODAY.
SO ASIDE FROM THAT, YEAH, I THINK THAT HIT IT.
LET'S DO IT, DAVID. OK, THAT'S IT ON COMMENTS.
SO IT IS NOW TIME FOR US TO VOTE, AGAIN I'M GOING TO RESTATE I HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE BY DR. HEATHER WANG, A SECOND BY DR.
LAUREN TYRA, THIRD FROM NANCY HUMPHREY THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES NAMES DR.
THERESA WILLIAMS AS THE LONE FINALIST FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT FOR PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, IT IS TIME TO VOTE ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] OK, SO WE NOW WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL VOTE, I'M GOING TO TURN THE MIC OVER TO SARA, WHO HAS A FEW COMMENTS, AND THEN I BELIEVE TERESA ALSO HAS A FEW COMMENTS.
READY? IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH DR.
THERESA WILLIAMS FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
I DID SHAMELESSLY STEAL HER NOT ONLY FROM LUBBOCK, BUT FROM ANOTHER AREA DISTRICT WHO WAS ALSO INTERESTED IN HER AT THE SAME TIME.
THAT PERSON WAS MY SUPERINTENDENT MENTOR, AND WE ARE STILL RECOVERING IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP.
DR. WILLIAMS IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO SUCCESSFULLY LEAD PLANO ISD.
HER PASSION FOR PUTTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FIRST AND FOREMOST, COUPLED WITH HER DEEP COMMITMENT IN SUPPORTING STAFF IN THIS WORK, EXEMPLIFIES HER LEADERSHIP STYLE, WHICH IS STUDENT FOCUSED AND OUTCOMES DRIVEN.
WHEN THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT C00 POSITION BECAME VACANT FOUR YEARS AGO, DR.
WILLIAMS WAS SERVING IN A SIMILAR CAPACITY, AS YOU'VE HEARD IN LUBBOCK ISD, WHERE SHE SUCCESSFULLY LED SCHOOL TURNAROUND EFFORTS WITH A FOCUS ON THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS.
A VISION FOR CTE PROGRAMS AS A WAY TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR BOTH COLLEGE AND CAREER AND A TALENT FOR BUILDING SYSTEMS. AND DR.
WILLIAMS BELIEVES THAT STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IS FOUNDATIONAL TO THE WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY THAT A GRADUATE SHOULD POSSESS.
DR. WILLIAMS BROUGHT A WELCOME ENERGY AND EXPERTISE TO THE PLANO ISD TEAM.
HER EXTENSIVE OUTSIDE EXPERIENCE AND HER MORE RECENT PLANO ISD EXPERIENCE WILL BENEFIT THE DISTRICT WITH INNOVATIVE AND INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING AND A SMOOTH LEADERSHIP TRANSITION.
WITH THE EXEMPLARY TEAM OF TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS AND STAFF, INCLUDING THE CABINET ACROSS THIS DISTRICT AND THE INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND INSPIRATIONAL STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORT AND VALUE OF PLANO ISD EDUCATION FOR ITS CHILDREN, PLANO ISD UNDER DR. WILLIAMS LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND THRIVE.
AS A PERSON, AND I KNOW HER BETTER THAN ANYONE IN THIS ROOM, YOU COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE.
HER HUSBAND AND FAMILY ARE HERE, OK, PROFESSIONALLY, YOU CANNOT ASK FOR A MORE CARING, COMPASSIONATE AND PEOPLE FIRST LEADER.
DR. WILLIAMS PUTS OTHERS BEFORE HERSELF CONTINUOUSLY AND WORKS TIRELESSLY TO LEAD AND SUPPORT EVERYONE AROUND HER.
TO DR. WILLIAMS, I PROMISE MY SUPPORT THROUGH THIS TRANSITION IN LEADERSHIP AND FEEL SO THANKFUL THAT I WILL HAND OVER MY DREAM JOB IN MY HOMETOWN INTO HER CARE.
I KNOW THAT SHE WILL PUT STUDENTS FIRST AT THE CENTER OF HER DECISIONS, AND WE'LL DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR TEACHERS, OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR ENTIRE STAFF AND THE PLANO ISD COMMUNITY, AND I TRUST THAT SHE WILL NURTURE, LOVE AND CARE FOR EVERY CHILD AND
[00:35:06]
EMPLOYEE AND COMMUNITY FAMILY THAT WE HAVE.AND SHE WILL MAKE YOU PLANO ISD PROUD.
DOCTOR WILLIAMS, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT STOLLE, TRUSTEES, AND IF YOU ALL KNOW ME, ALL OF THIS IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
SO THAT'S A LONG TIME, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S KIND WORDS.
BUT FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AND FIRST, IT'S THINKING THIS OUTSTANDING BOARD FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO OUR DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS DURING THE CHALLENGING TIMES THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH. YOU ALL HAVE AND CONTINUE TO PUT OUR CHILDREN AT THE HEART OF YOUR DECISIONS AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IN YOUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS, IN YOUR WORK THAT IS CONSISTENTLY ALIGNED TO THE BELIEFS, MISSION AND VISION THAT YOU ESTABLISH FOR OUR DISTRICT.
I PROUDLY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY ACCEPT THIS DESIGNATION AS LONE FINALIST.
I CANNOT THINK OF A HIGHER HONOR THAN YOU ENTRUSTING ME WITH THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS YOUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE AND YOUR TRUST IN ME AND MY LEADERSHIP.
I WILL WORK TIRELESSLY TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INTEGRITY, COMMITMENT TO ENSURE AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS AND PLANO ISD.
I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO SHARE A PART OF MY STORY SO THAT YOU ALL CAN GET TO UNDERSTAND ME A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND HOW MY JOURNEY SHAPES MY VISION FOR THE STUDENTS AND PLANO AND FOR OUR DISTRICT.
SCHOOL WAS NOT ALWAYS A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
TRUST ME, THERE'S PROBABLY SEVERAL OF MY TEACHERS THAT WOULD BE SHOCKED TO SEE ME SITTING HERE TODAY. BUT ONE CARING TEACHER CHANGED ALL OF THAT FOR ME.
HE WAS MY HIGH SCHOOL AG TEACHER.
AND HE TOOK THE TIME TO CARE AND INVEST IN ME, AND HE FOREVER CHANGED MY LIFE AND SET ME ON MY OWN PATH TO BECOME A TEACHER MYSELF.
AND THAT IS WHAT EVERY STUDENT DESERVES A SAFE AND WELCOMING SCHOOL, A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES TO LINK STUDENTS TO THEIR FUTURE WITH CARING, SUPPORTING, LOVING, NURTURING TEACHERS LIKE MR. SHOE. IF THERE'S ONE MESSAGE THAT YOU TAKE AWAY FROM ME TODAY, I WANT IT TO BE THIS.
I WANT ALL STUDENTS AND PLANO ISD TO BE ENGAGED, EMPOWERED AND ELEVATED TO REACH THEIR UNIQUE POTENTIAL THE SAME WAY THAT I WAS.
AND THAT MEANS ENGAGING STUDENTS.
BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, EXPERIENCES AND PROGRAMING THAT WILL DEVELOP THEIR INTEREST, TALENTS, SENSE OF BELONGING.
EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO BE CRITICAL THINKERS, COLLABORATORS, PROBLEM SOLVERS AND ENGINEERS OF NEW IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS SO THAT THEY ARE FUTURE READY AND ELEVATING AND INSPIRING STUDENTS TO THEIR FUTURE THROUGH RELEVANT, RIGOROUS, INNOVATIVE PRACTICES.
AS I TRANSITION INTO THE ROLE OF SUPERINTENDENT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES WILL BE FIRST TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE ALWAYS AT THE HEART OF OUR DECISIONS TO HONOR THE PAST AND BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.
EMBRACE, GROW AND CARE FOR STUDENTS, STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY.
POSITIVELY ENGAGE OTHERS, COLLABORATE, PROVIDE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY TO LISTEN, TO BE PRESENT AND TO BE VISIBLE.
PROMOTE TEAMWORK ALIGNED TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS, INSPIRE A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE THROUGH REFLECTIVE PRACTICES AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS.
AND FINALLY, TO RECOGNIZE AND APPLAUD OUR SUCCESSES BIG AND SMALL.
I KNOW THERE'S BIG WORK AHEAD OF US AND THERE'S THE POTENTIAL FOR UNFORESEEN CHALLENGES LIKE WE'VE HAD THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
BUT I AM DAY ONE READY, READY TO STEP IN THIS ROLE WITH STRONG, CONSISTENT AND FOCUSED LEADERSHIP THAT WILL PROVIDE STABILITY AND CONTINUITY WHILE MOVING US FORWARD TO TACKLE OUR CURRENT AND OUR FUTURE WORK.
OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE PAST AND THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR DISTRICT. I KNOW AND UNDERSTAND OUR NEEDS WHERE WE NEED TO GO TO ENSURE PROMISE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND SUCCESSFUL STUDENT OUTCOMES.
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I BRING ALMOST THREE DECADES OF PROVEN LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES TO GUIDE THIS DISTRICT'S FUTURE. AND AGAIN, I COME DAY ONE READY, DAY ONE, READY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY.AS DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN EVERY FACET OF THE ORGANIZATION AND IN COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS AMAZING TEAM AND SOME OF OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM OUT THERE. I KNOW THAT WE WILL SUSTAIN THE GREAT WORK THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.
WE'LL BUILD UPON A FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUED PROGRESS IN ORDER TO UPHOLD THE HIGH STANDARDS THAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS AND OUR CHILDREN DESERVE.
WE ALL KNOW PLANO ISD IS WELL KNOWN ACROSS NOT JUST OUR REGION OR OUR STATE, BUT ACROSS THE NATION, AS IT'S KNOWN AS THE DISTRICT OF EXCELLENCE.
AND WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS LEADERS WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US TO PAVE THE WAY.
AND SOME OF THOSE LEADERS ARE IN THE ROOM WITH US TODAY.
I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR YOU, FOR YOUR BOLD AND FEARLESS LEADERSHIP.
I ADMIRE AND APPRECIATE THE CARE AND LOVE AND COMPASSION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THE PLANO ISD FAMILY. YOU ARE AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER, A MENTOR FRIEND, AND I WILL HAVE SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL. SO THANK YOU.
NOW ONE GETS TO WHERE THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN, AND FOR ME, IT HAS TAKEN A VILLAGE AS A HISPANIC FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE.
PUBLIC EDUCATION WAS A GREAT EQUALIZER IN MY LIFE.
HOWEVER, I'M ALSO HERE TODAY BECAUSE I HAD SOME OUTSTANDING LEADERS THAT HELPED SHAPE ME, MY LEADERSHIP AND WHO I AM.
THEY'VE INSPIRED ME AND MENTORED ME OVER THE YEARS.
SOME OF THEM ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF MY JOURNEY. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THESE FOLKS FOR BEING A PART OF THIS SPECIAL DAY TODAY.
MR. ANDY COLEMAN IS MY FIRST PRINCIPAL.
BROWN, MR. JOHN WASHINGTON, DR.
MORRISON AND NOT PRESENT TODAY, BUT WATCHING ONLINE, DR.
TO MY FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE AND THOSE WATCHING ONLINE, YOU'VE ALL BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MY LIFE, I'VE LEARNED ALONGSIDE YOU AND WITH YOU, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE ALL OF YOU IN MY LIFE AND THANK YOU FOR ENCOURAGING ME OVER THE YEARS.
TO MY PLANO ISD FAMILY OF SIXTY FIVE HUNDRED TEAM MEMBERS.
I'M EXCITED AND HONORED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU WITH CONTINUITY OF LEADERSHIP THAT IS COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE DEDICATED TO CARING, POWERED BY LEARNING AND PLANO ISD PROUD. WE WILL CARRY ON THE GREAT WORK THAT IS MADE PLANO ISD, A PREMIER DISTRICT WHILE EMBRACING NEW CHALLENGES AND NEW WORK TO ENSURE THIS LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE LIVES ON.
WE'LL EMBRACE THE FUTURE WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS, A GROWTH MINDSET AND A GREAT PASSION FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TAKE ANOTHER MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE MY FAMILY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND SUPPORT.
WITH ME TODAY IS MY COLLEGE SWEETHEART.
HERE HE IS MY ROCK, MY BEST FRIEND, MY PARTNER FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, TODD.
THANK YOU. OUR TWO WONDERFUL BOYS, OUR OLDEST SON, HAYDEN, AND OUR YOUNGEST SON, NOLAN.
I CAME TO THIS WORK AND LEAD WITH THE HEART OF A PARENT, AND MY SONS INSPIRE ME EVERY SINGLE DAY TO PROMOTE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION THAT I WOULD WANT FOR MY OWN CHILDREN.
AND ALSO WITH ME HERE TODAY IS MY OLDER BROTHER, MY BIG BROTHER, ADAM, MY SISTER IN LAW, ANGELA AND MY SISTER LISA AND BROTHER IN LAW WAYNE.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE TODAY WHO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE AND PARTNER WITH PLANO ISD, I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH EACH OF YOU AND COLLABORATING IN PARTNERSHIP TO EXEMPLIFY A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY AND EXCELLENCE.
TO THE FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF PLANO ISD, WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE ROOM OR WATCHING ONLINE, I WANT TO EARN YOUR TRUST.
[00:45:04]
THROUGH COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP, OUR MOST IMPORTANT COMMON THREAD IS OUR STUDENTS.OUR COLLECTIVE PURPOSE, THEY ARE OUR WHY.
AND WE WILL ULTIMATELY BRING PLANO ISD VISION AND MISSION TO LIFE THROUGH SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS.
LIKE I SAID, I WEAR MANY HATS, BUT I WEAR MY PARENT HAT EVERY DAY TO WORK, AND THAT IS WHAT DRIVES MY SENSE OF URGENCY.
THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS THAT I HAVE, IT ENSURES MY CARE FOR OTHERS IGNITES MY PASSION FOR STUDENT GROWTH AND TENACITY FOR OVERALL SUCCESS.
AND I CANNOT THINK OF A GREATER OPPORTUNITY.
AND I EMBRACE THIS WITH GREAT HONOR TO SERVE AS YOUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT TO MAP AND LEAD OUR FUTURE FORWARD. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
OK, SO BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE LAST TIME, CONGRATULATIONS, THE HARD WORK BEGINS, THE REALLY HARD WORK BEGINS RIGHT NOW.
HARD ENOUGH, AS IS, I DO WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO'VE COME OUT TODAY, STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE COME OUT, FAMILY, FORMER TRUSTEES WHO HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH TERESA, AS WELL AS FOUR FORMER CABINET MEMBERS WHO CAME OUT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND SHARING THE SPECIAL DAY WITH US.
AFTER WE ADJOURN I INVITE TERESA AND HER FAMILY TO THE FRONT FOR PHOTOS, AS WELL AS TO INVITE THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT BONSER TO THE FLOOR FOR PHOTOS.
AND THEN I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO PROBABLY MIGRATE OUT INTO THE FOYER.
SO IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO TERESA, GIVE US FIVE MINUTES FOR PICTURES AND SHE'LL BE OUT THERE.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.