Rise and Shine, Park Cities (2-11-11)
1. For the second year in a row, we have a contested municipal election in the Park Cities. Amy Titus announced yesterday that she is seeking the seat on the Highland Park ISD Board of Trustees that John Bunten is vacating. On Jan. 31, Sam Dalton made the same announcement. The race is on! We’ll have more details about each candidate in next week’s paper. (FYI, the other seat that will appear on the ballot is occupied by Joe Taylor, and he told his fellow trustees Tuesday that he intends to keep it.)
2. On Sunday evening, the Highland Park school district’s Parent Education Committee will host a screening of Race to Nowhere, a documentary that analyzes “the dark side of America’s achievement culture.” The screening at Studio Movie Grill will be followed by a panel discussion among HPISD counselors. You can purchase tickets here.
3. Talmage Boston’s most recent column was about the Jesters program at Highland Park United Methodist Church, which provides a creative outlet to adults with special needs. This troupe of actors has been rehearsing for weeks, and they’ll stage their show, Dave and His Circle of Friends, this weekend.
#3 Very cool.
PLEASE all HPISD parents and anyone else who is interested in the state of education (and the next generation) in our country GO TO SEE RACE TO NOWHERE!!! Make a point to see this pivotal doc, and take your children (teens)!! You will not be sorry!
So glad that Amy Titus has entered the race for HPISD School Board trustee. As you ponder the candidates for this critically important position, the following attributes (courtesy of the San Marcos Chamber Of Commerce) may help you determine your choice:
An Effective School Board Trustee Should:
• Be a visionary, goal-directed, and willing to take risks. Be willing to set and have experience setting policy priorities.
• Have proven and appropriate organizational, fiscal and leadership skills suitable for the size and complexity of the school district.
• Demonstrate commitment to equity and access to quality education and world-class standards of achievement for all students.
• Demonstrate the ability to build consensus and to achieve collaborative outcomes.
• Value diversity and equity as criteria for decision-making.
• Be willing to set an example and establish accountability at all levels for achievement of all students, by understanding how to identify relevant data and use it appropriately.
• Practice good and efficient governance, understanding the role of policy-maker versus administrator.
• Represent the population served by our district and be a strong advocate for public education.
• Understand the need for alignment from early childhood through college and career success and across education providers to create a continuum of success for students.
• Exhibit personal qualities that embody a positive role model for our children and our community.
@MK. Sam Dalton meets those criteria as well. Two people want the job, which is great. The voters will decide.