Strengthening Our Nation

As I reflect on Independence Day and all that it means to our country, I want to say "thank you" to our military men and women for strengthening and securing our nation - you give us the gift of freedom everyday.

I also want to say "thank you" to our nation's public educators for strengthening our future – our children.

To the C-FB ISD staff - Thank you for embracing our district’s vision of preparing all students to be college-ready. It is evident that you believe in our vision and have passed that belief onto our students.

John F. Kennedy once said, "Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation."

In the 2008-2009 school year, C-FB ISD will endeavor determinedly to develop the limitless abilities of C-FB ISD students and ultimately, strengthen our nation.

Extraordinary Accomplishments

C-FB ISD is an innovative leader in learning. Our innovation and leadership result in great success for students. During this past school year, we have made giant leaps. We have seen increased student achievement; we finished bond construction projects; and we initiated new instructional programs. I am so, so proud of our many accomplishments!

• The Texas Public Policy Foundation honored R. L. Turner as a High Performing Math and Science High School. Only 18 schools in Texas were named “shining examples of places where students are achieving success in math and science." WOW!
• The Texas Public Policy Foundation honored Creekview as a High Performing Math High School. Only twenty-eight schools in Texas received this honor. Great, great, great!
• The Texas Business and Education Coalition announced that six C-FB ISD schools had earned recognition on the 2007 TBEC Honor Roll. The TBEC Honor Roll is the most prestigious award for sustained, academic excellence in Texas. The schools named were Blalack, Kent, McCoy, McKamy, Rainwater, and Country Place. Awesome job!
• Texas Monthly Magazine published its list of the Best Public Schools in Texas. C-FB ISD had 14 schools make the list - an increase from eight schools on the list in 2006. Schools making the list are: Blanton, Good, Kent, Landry, McCoy, McKamy, Blalack, Barbara Bush, Vivian Field, Long, Polk, Creekview, Smith, and Ranchview. Way to go!
• Our district earned national recognition for controlling pests safely and efficiently from the IPM Institute of North America. We are one of only two districts in Texas and one of only 33 districts in the nation to receive the Integrated Pest Management Star certification. Congratulations Team!
• Most importantly, preliminary results from the Texas Education Agency show that C-FB ISD will be a Recognized School District. Yea!

My heart fills with pride every time a teacher, student or campus receives accolades. I am blessed to work in a district with such wonderful professionals, families and community members.

Parenting – A Team Effort

Yesterday (which was Father’s Day) as I reflected on fatherhood, I remembered a quote by Thomas L. Friedman in his book, The World is Flat. He wrote

The only way we are going to keep our standard of living rising is to build a society that produces people who can keep inventing the future. But as knowledge hurtles forward, inventing the future becomes a harder and harder task – one that takes more of the right education, the right infrastructure, the right ambition, the right leadership, the right parenting. We need to get our whole country focused around meeting this challenge. The future won’t wait for us, and if we don’t invent it, someone else will (2005).

I believe Friedman gives us a clear picture of our role – as educators and parents. We are to be a team – one united force – who collaborates to educate each child. Together, we can make a difference in our world – one child at a time.

Friedman talks about the “right parenting.” I know that I don’t have all the answers. I made mistakes as a parent, but I do know that when parents share ideas as well as struggles, and help each other then everyone benefits. I would encourage you to join your local PTA when school starts, participate in a parenting class offered by the district, join a parenting book club, or find a group of friends that you can confide in, share with and support through your parenting challenges (or “opportunities” as I like to call them.)

The district is here to support you. You can reach our Parent Education Office at 972-968-6500.

Blogging

I have decided to try my hand at blogging (again- there were a few technical glitches during my first attempt.).

I have wanted a way to communicate differently with you – the parents, staff, students and community of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District. I have been looking for a way to connect on a new level with the C-FB family. My fascination for technology led me to blogging and it seemed to be the perfect fit.

So here I am blogging to you. I’ve never blogged before, but I’m willing to try this new technology.

This is my first, official posting. With this blog comes an open dialogue – as much as you can via the Internet. I hope that you will join me in cyberspace and chat. I hope to share with you my thoughts about our district, our accomplishments, our struggles, and most importantly…I want to give you a glimpse into the lives of the C-FB family – our teachers, students, and staff.

Please share your comments with me. Know that I will read and respond to them. (Remember to read the blog comment policy!) I look forward to connecting with each of you in this new way.

Hope to chat with you soon,
Annette