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WELCOME TO, IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON, AND WE HAVE THE BEST SHOW FOR YOU TODAY.
WE HAVE OUR VERY OWN NEW SUPERINTENDENT AT G-P-I-S-D, JORGE ARRADONDO.
YES, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR HAVING ME, UH, HERE TODAY AT THE GRAND PRAIRIE SHOW.
AND WE KNOW YOU'VE JUST BEEN HERE A SHORT TIME, AND YOUR SCHEDULE'S VERY BUSY NOW, BUT EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW WHERE DID HE COME FROM?
LET'S LET US KNOW ABOUT OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
SO GET US STARTED, WOULD YOU? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
UH, ORIGINALLY, UH, BORN IN MONTEREY LEON IN MEXICO.
UH, MY PARENTS, UH, TRAVELED, UH, UH, SEVERAL TIMES TO CALIFORNIA AND, UH, AS WELL AS HERE IN TEXAS, AND THEY SETTLED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AND I GREW UP IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, WHERE I, UH, WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON THREE TIMES, GOT MY BACHELOR'S, MY MASTER'S, AND MY DOCTORATE, UH, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
I'VE REALLY PROUD OF THAT AND, UH, COME FROM VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.
MY FATHER WAS A WELDER, UH, SOMEONE, HIS SELF-TAUGHT WELDER, SOMEONE WHO ONLY ACHIEVED A THIRD OR FOURTH GRADE LEVEL, UH, WHEN, WHEN HE WAS, UH, COMING FROM MEXICO.
BUT, UH, ONE THING THAT MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER BOTH INSTILLED IN ME IS, UH, FOR US TO WORK HARD AND FOR US TO HAVE, UH, UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF AN EDUCATION.
SO IT'S SUCH AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE, UH, TO SERVE.
I WANT TO THANK THE, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF GRAND PRAIRIE, ISD FOR, FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE ABLE TO, UH, DO SOMETHING THAT I, I FEEL IS A CALLING, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE AND BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR TEACHERS AND OUR EDUCATORS TO PROVIDE THAT EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT WE WANT ALL OUR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE.
SO I COME FROM VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.
I STARTED OFF AS A TEACHER AND THEN BECAME AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND A PRINCIPAL, AN AREA SUPERINTENDENT, AND A SUPERINTENDENT IN FAR SAN JUAN ALAMO IN SOUTH TEXAS.
AND, UH, AND NOW VERY, VERY HAPPY AND PROUD, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SERVE HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, ISD, WHICH IS, IS ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING EVERYTHING GRAND.
MAKING EVERYTHING GRAND IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU HAVE WITH YOUR EDUCATION TO MM-HMM
BUT, UM, THAT IS JUST REALLY A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
IN FACT, I'VE ALMOST GOT A LITTLE NICKNAME FOR YOU.
WELL, UH, WE ARE SO GLAD THAT YOU FOUND YOUR WAY TO GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS.
HOW DO YOU, UM, FEEL ABOUT BEING HERE? HOW HAVE YOU BEEN, UH, TREATED AFTER YOU CAME TO GRAND PRAIRIE? EVERYBODY HAS BEEN VERY WELCOMING, UH, AND, UM, VERY FRIENDLY.
UH, I ALSO, UH, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, BE ABLE TO GET TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY BETTER, UH, LIKE, UH, WE WERE SHARING EARLIER.
I HAVE A DAUGHTER AND MY WIFE, UH, WE'RE DOWN HERE AND, UH, MY DAUGHTER LOVES, UH, RUNNING IN THE MORNING, AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I GO OUT AND, AND, AND TAKE HER TO FISH CREEK.
UH, IT'S A NICE LITTLE TRAIL WE HAVE HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, ONE OF THE BEST, UH, TRAILS THAT, UH, THAT I'VE EVER HAD TO EXPERIENCE WITH NICE CREEKS, SHADED AREA.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST BEING ABLE TO, UH, SEE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, DOING POSITIVE WORK, PEOPLE OUT THERE, UH, EITHER PLAYING BASKETBALL OR, OR DIFFERENT TEAMS, UH, SHOWING KIDS, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE.
UM, EVERYBODY HERE HAD BEEN VERY WELCOMING.
I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEND TIME WITH SUPERINTENDENT ELLIS AS SHE HELPED TRANSITION ME, AND GOT, UH, THAT OPPORTUNITY, I GOT THAT OPPORTUNITY REALLY TO GET TO KNOW HER PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO WORK ON.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, PASS ON THE TORCH TO, TO ME, AS I, UH, CONTINUE TO, UH, MOVE, UH, THE DISTRICT WHERE IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE ALL WANT TO GO.
AND THIS YEAR'S THEME IS ELEVATE.
AND SO YOU MIGHT SEE THIS HERE AT MY TAG HERE.
UH, TOMORROW WE HAVE OUR CONVOCATION IN GRAND PRAIRIE, ISD, WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE ALL OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, BE ABLE TO COME IN THE TEXAS TRUST, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR STUDENTS SHOWCASE, UH, SOME OF THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND IT'S JUST BEEN A GREAT, UH, TIME HELPING PLAN.
EVERYBODY'S EXCITED ABOUT THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
ALL OUR TEACHERS ARE BACK TODAY, AND SO OUR PRINCIPALS HAVE GREETED THEM AND, UH, ALLOWING THEM TO, UH, BE ABLE TO, UH, CONNECT WITH THEM.
BUT TOMORROW IS OUR BIG, UH, SPLASH THAT WE MAKE.
AND, UH, WE REALLY GET EVERYBODY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE DO, WHICH IS REALLY, UH, PROVIDE THAT EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT WE WANT FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS.
SO, JUST AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE, EVERYBODY HAS WELCOMED ME, UH, VERY FRIENDLY, AND, AND I'M EXCITED AND, AND, AND THRILLED TO, TO LOOKING FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS HAPPENING HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
I'VE BEEN TO CONVOCATION BEFORE, AND THAT IS VERY
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EXCITING AND MOTIVATING.I WON'T BE ABLE TO COME TO THAT, THIS ONE, BUT MAYBE I'LL GET TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
UH, ALSO, I WAS JUST THINKING, I'VE BEEN HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE AND SEEN DIFFERENT SUPERINTENDENTS COME AND GO, AND THEY ALL LEAVE THEIR SPECIAL MARK ON GRAND PRAIRIE, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE IN MIND FOR GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BRING TO THE TABLE.
UH, I, I HAVE THE HONOR, UH, OF BEING ABLE TO COME IN, UH, AFTER MUCH WORK, FOUNDATION WORK HAS BEEN LAID HERE.
MANY GREAT, UH, LEADERS HAVE LED BEFORE ME AND, UH, LAID GREAT FOUNDATION.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE, UH, HAS, UH, EXPECTATIONS FROM, UH, ISDS, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY PREPARING OUR STUDENTS TO BE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY.
UH, WHEN YOU SERVE OVER, UH, CLOSE TO 70, OVER 70% OF OUR STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A CALLING FOR US YES.
TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATION SO THAT THEY COULD BE READY WHEN THEY GRADUATE, UH, TO GO INTO THE CAREER FIELDS, UH, SUCH AS EDUCATION IF THEY WANT TO, OR ELECTRICAL WORK, WELDING WORK, UH, WANT TO, UH, ATTEND A A FOUR YEAR DEGREE PROGRAM.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THOSE ARE VERY POSSIBLE, THAT STUDENTS ARE DREAMING ABOUT THESE POSSIBILITIES, AND WE HELP 'EM BECOME A REALITY.
UH, THAT'S MY VISION, UH, TO BE ABLE TO ELEVATE OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OTHERS.
UH, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE, WHAT THE POWER OF EDUCATION CAN PROVIDE THESE STUDENTS IN TERMS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, VERY SIMILAR TO MY BACKGROUND THAT COME FROM VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, BUT IT WAS EDUCATION.
IT WAS THOSE TEACHERS THAT BELIEVED IN ME, UH, THAT HELPED PUT ME IN A TRAJECTORY, UH, TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND TO BE ABLE TO NOW BE ABLE TO SAY THAT, UH, MY KIDS ARE NOW, UH, I HAVE THREE KIDS.
UH, TWO OF THEM ARE, UH, ONE IS ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, AND MY OTHER SON IS ATTENDING TEXAS A AND M.
AND THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE TEACHERS BELIEVED IN ME, AND WE WERE ABLE TO NOW, UH, CONTINUE THAT, UH, TO PROVIDE THAT TO THE NEXT GENERATION.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY VISION, THAT'S MY EXPECTATION OF MYSELF, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, CHANGE THEIR, THEIR EXPERIENCES.
AND WE KNOW THAT EDUCATION CAN DO THAT FOR THEM.
AND AS YOU SAID, SOME OF THEM NEED A LITTLE HELP, A LITTLE EXTRA HELP.
MAYBE WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND SUCH AS THAT.
WHAT DO WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THAT? YEAH.
THIS SATURDAY AT SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, STARTING AT NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, UH, WE HAVE MANY GREAT PARTNERS, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PARTNERS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THAT EFFORT.
UH, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE SUPPLIES AND BACKPACKS AT SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH, AND STARTING, IT'S GONNA BE FROM NINE TO 12, SO WE WELCOME THEM TO COME.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED YET, UH, THERE ARE, WE STILL HAVE LIMITED SEATINGS SEATS AVAILABLE IN, IN GRAND PRAIRIE, ISD.
SO JOIN, COME VISIT A SCHOOL AND, AND GET REGISTERED, AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE READY TO GO.
ON THE 13TH IS OUR FIRST DAY WHEN WE WELCOME OUR STUDENTS, AND IF THEY DO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE, UH, BACKPACK MM-HMM
UH, DO THEY NEED TO REGISTER OR DO THEY JUST SHOW UP? YEP.
THEY NEED TO BE REGISTERED STUDENTS.
THEY NEED TO BE REGISTERED STUDENTS IN GRAND PRAIRIE, ISD.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED, THIS IS THE GREAT TIME TO REGISTER.
ALL OUR CAMPUSES ARE NOW OPEN, AND YOU CAN GO BY AND VISIT, AND SOMEONE WILL, UH, GREET YOU AND WELCOME YOU AND, UH, HELP YOU GET YOUR ENROLLMENT, UH, INFORMATION IN, AND AT THE SAME TIME, UH, GIVE YOU OTHER INFORMATION THAT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT TO GET TO BE READY FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
AND THE BACKPACKS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE CLEAR.
WELL, WE KNOW SAFETY ABOVE ALL ELSE.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAFE.
AND ONE OF THE MEASURES THAT WE'RE TAKING, THESE ARE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF SAFETY MEASURES THAT WE'RE TAKING AS A DISTRICT, IS, UH, BY ENSURING THAT WE HAVE, UH, STUDENTS, UH, COME TO SCHOOL WITH A BACKPACK THAT'S CLEAR, UH, MESH, UH, THAT INFORMATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE IN TERMS OF, UH, I GET PARENTS FROM TIME TO TIME WILL ASK ME, WELL, DOES THIS BACKPACK AND ALL THAT INFORMATION'S ON OUR ONLINE, ON OUR WEBSITE? AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, JUST FEEL FREE TO CALL THE SCHOOL, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT, UH, YOU GET THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
AND WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UH, PARENTS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US.
THEY'RE OUR, THEIR CHILD'S FIRST AND THE MOST IMPORTANT TEACHER.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THAT INFORMATION SO THAT IT CAN REINFORCE THE SAME EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE KIDS FEEL SAFE AND THEY FEEL WELCOME WHEN THEY COME TO OUR SCHOOL.
AND NOW WE HAVE AN OFFICER IN NEARLY EVERY SCHOOL.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
WE HAVE AN OFFICER IN ALL OUR CAMPUSES.
UH, WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, AND, UH, THEY DO, UH, TRAINING.
THEY PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE EQUIPPED AND READY TO RESPOND IN, IN THE NEED OF A CRISIS.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, THEY'RE THERE TO GREET AND WELCOME, UH, OUR, OUR PARENTS AND OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FEEL SAFE
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AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE, PROVIDE THOSE EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES.YOU CAN DO THAT WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S, UH, SOMEONE THERE THAT'S ENSURING THAT WE'RE GONNA ALL BE SAFE, AND IN, IN CASE OF A CRISIS, THEY'LL BE READY TO RESPOND.
THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND, UH, AND THEY WELCOME US, AND THEY'RE VERY FRIENDLY OFFICERS WITH MANY, UH, YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
AND SO I FEEL, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS, PUTS GRAND PRAIRIE, ISD, UH, ABOVE OTHERS, UH, ISDS BECAUSE WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY AND, UH, WE'RE VERY QUICKLY, UH, ABLE TO RESPOND IN, IN ANY SITUATION AS, AS WE KNOW THOSE, UH, HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, NEARBY.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE'RE READY AS WELL.
I LOVE HAVING THE OFFICERS THERE, AND SOME OF THEM ARE RETIRED OFFICERS MM-HMM
AND, UH, I JUST THINK THAT'S SUCH A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR THE KIDS TO GET TO KNOW THEM, TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP AND TRUST.
THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEIR FUTURE AS WELL.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, I'M, I'M PRETTY, I HAPPY ABOUT AND PROUD TO SAY THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE, ARE APPROACHABLE.
UH, THEY LOOK TOWARD, UH, TALK, BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR STUDENTS JUST AS MUCH AS OUR TEACHERS DO.
SO, UH, WHEN THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE NOT JUST, UH, UH, CONCERNED IN TERMS OF PRIORITY FOR SAFETY, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE, UH, STUDENTS FEEL WELCOME AND THAT THEY'RE BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIPS AND THEY'RE JUST ANOTHER ADULT THERE THAT'S ALSO, UH, GREETING THEM AND, UH, PUTTING THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I, I KNOW GETTING STARTED WITH, WITH SCHOOL IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE SUPPLIES, AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM NEED UNIFORMS, ET CETERA.
AND, UH, WE HAVE KIDS INCORPORATED IN KIDS IN NEED OF CLOTHING THAT STEPS UP AND PARTNERS WITH THE CITY.
NANCY BRIDGES AND SONYA WORK IN IDENTIFYING THE KIDS WHO NEED HELP ALONG WITH THE COUNSELORS.
AND ALSO, I WAS SO PLEASED THAT YOU GOT TO COME TO OUR LIFELINE FREEDOM LUNCHEON AND BE INTRODUCED TO, UH, THAT GROUP THERE, BECAUSE LIFELINE IS A GREAT PARTNER FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WELL, AS FAR AS THE HOMELESS, UH, GETTING TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS KIDS.
UH, PARTNERS REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT PARTNERS HERE IN GRAND PRIX.
I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PARTNERS BECAUSE WE KNOW, UH, SOMETIMES THERE'S GONNA BE SOME OBSTACLES, SOME CHALLENGES THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE GOING TO FACE, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA ALLOW THAT, UM, UH, TO BE AN OBSTACLE FOR THEM.
WE'RE GONNA COME IN AND HELP THEM AND PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT, THAT SUPPORT THAT'S MUCH NEEDED.
UH, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT PROVIDES STABILITY TO OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO STAY FOCUSED ON THEIR ACADEMICS AND GET THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, UH, SO THAT THEY COULD FEEL THAT EVEN THOUGH THEIR PARENTS MAY BE GOING THROUGH SOME STRUGGLES AND SOME CHALLENGES, UH, THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, WE STILL CARE ABOUT YOU.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE INVESTED RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UH, NOT LOSING OUT ON THE STUDENT'S EDUCATION.
AND THEN THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT, UH, IN TERMS OF THIS IS, UH, TWOFOLD, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT, WE NOW THEN HAVE A EVEN GREATER EDUCATED POPULACE HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE AND A SAFER, UH, COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, I'M JUST SO, UH, THANKFUL AND, AND, AND PROUD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE SUCH GREAT PARTNERSHIPS FOR ANY FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT MAY BE FEELING ANY STRUGGLE, UH, OR, OR CHALLENGES ECONOMICALLY.
WE DO HAVE RESOURCES, UH, WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE BUILT.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE TOO MANY TO LIST, I JUST MENTIONED THOSE TWO.
MANY WHO CONTRIBUTE, UH, BUSINESSES MM-HMM
AND SPEAKING OF BUSINESSES, WE ALSO HAVE INTERNSHIPS, UH, WHERE OUR STUDENTS, UH, THEIR JUNIOR OR SENIOR YEAR GET TO, UH, GET INVOLVED IN INTERNSHIPS AND GET TO WORK WITH REAL CAREERS AND, UH, EXERCISE WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM OUT IN THE BUSINESS WORLD.
AND I HAVE, UH, BEEN AMAZED AT HOW, UH, BUSINESS PARTNERS CONSTANTLY SAY HOW GREAT OUR STUDENTS ARE.
AND, UH, MANY TIMES THEY THINK THEY'RE ALREADY COLLEGE GRADUATES AND THEY'RE JUST, UH, ATTENDING IN NINTH OR 10TH OR 11TH GRADE OR 12TH GRADE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR HARDWORKING TEACHERS AND HOW WE PREPARE THEM, UH, FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.
AND I LOVE THAT GRAND PRAIRIE IS A SCHOOL OF CHOICE.
WE HAVE CHOICES, AND PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE METROPLEX TO SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS, DON'T THEY? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
UH, WE ARE A DISTRICT OF CHOICE.
THAT MEANS REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE, UH, YOU CAN, UH, APPLY TO ANY ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS.
UH, I'VE HEARD, UH, MANY, UH, STORIES WHERE PEOPLE WILL DRIVE 30, 40 MINUTES, UH, JUST TO COME TO ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS, UH, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT THEY ARE GETTING, THAT THEY WON'T GET IN OTHER PLACES.
AND SO THEY'RE REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO, UH, OFFER THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ALL OUR STUDENTS, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE, TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND GRAND PRAIRIE, ISD YOU HAVE THE FINE
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ARTS ACADEMY, YOU HAVE DUB SECOND TO NONE.AND OF COURSE, DUBISKI, UH, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGIATE AND, UH, MANY OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, BUT WE'RE REALLY BIG ON EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
UH, WE'RE GONNA SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS NOT JUST DURING THE DAY, BUT ALSO AFTER SCHOOL AND BEFORE SCHOOL.
AND SO, UH, WE, WE LIKE TO BE SECOND TO NONE WHEN IT COMES TO EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND THE FINE ARTS.
NOW, WE KNOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES ALL OVER THE STATE AND PROBABLY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AS FAR AS THE CHOICES THAT PEOPLE HAVE AS FAR AS, UH, OTHER SCHOOLS THAT THEY COULD CHOOSE MM-HMM
BUT WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES? I KNOW, HAVE WE HAD TO CLOSE SCHOOLS BECAUSE OUR SHRINKING POPUL OF STUDENTS? OR WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? YEAH.
WE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING, UH, THAT EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT WE WANT FOR ALL STUDENTS.
AND MANY TIMES, UH, BECAUSE OF CAPACITY, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL THE RESOURCES.
SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS COMBINE SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, WE COMBINED OUR YOUNG MEN'S AND YOUNG WOMEN'S SCHOOL TOGETHER SO THAT THOSE STUDENTS CAN BE ABLE TO, UH, HAVE THOSE EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS THAT WE KNOW ARE IMPORTANT FOR THEM.
UH, INSTEAD OF HAVING, WE SAW THAT ENROLLMENT WAS GOING DOWN AND INSTEAD OF TRYING TO, UH, REWORK THAT, WE SAID, WHY DON'T WE, UH, BRING THOSE PROGRAMS TOGETHER? AND SO, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UH, PROVIDE THESE PROGRAMMING, UH, THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHEAT OUR STUDENTS, BUT RATHER PROVIDE THOSE EXTRA SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES THAT WE KNOW ARE IMPORTANT.
AND SO, IN SOME CASES, WE HAVE CONSOLIDATED SOME SCHOOLS AND, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL THAT THEY CAN GO TO, BUT IF THERE'S ANOTHER SCHOOL OF CHOICE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO TO, WE HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE AS WELL.
SO, UH, THE OTHER PIECE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I SHARE WITH EVERYBODY IS, UH, SOMETHING, UH, THE, THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT IS THE BOWL.
I'M HEARING A LOT OF INFORMATION, UH, HOW HISTORIC THE BOWL IS AND HOW MANY GREAT GAMES WE'VE HAD.
WELL, WE REDID THE TURF FIELD THERE, AND, UH, IT'S REALLY NICE.
IT'S, IT'S READY FOR, UH, THE FIRST FOOTBALL GAME.
AND I WANT TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE, UH, TO COME OUT AND, UH, GO OUT TO AND VISIT THE, UH, GOPHER WARRIOR BOWL THAT WE HAVE.
THAT IS SUCH, THAT'S AN ICONIC, UH, PLACE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND, UH, ACTUALLY, MY DAD WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD WHEN THEY VOTED TO DO THAT, AND MM-HMM
IMPLEMENTED AND BUILT THAT, SO THAT'S A SPECIAL THING FOR ME AS WELL.
AND OF COURSE, BEING A GOPHER MM-HMM
UM, I, I SPENT SOME TIME IN THE GOPHER BOWL.
NOW, BACK TO THE KIDS AGAIN AND HELPING THEM, AND I KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT IS INTERESTED IN EVERY CHILD MM-HMM
AND I HEARD THAT YOU MOVED YOUR RESOURCE CENTER, ALL THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES WHERE THEY CAN BE IN ONE LOCATION.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
UH, JUST GOT THROUGH VISITING THAT LOCATION ON, UH, THURSDAY OF LAST WEEK.
UH, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A ONE STOP SHOP FOR REGISTRATION IF THEY NEED TO GET TESTED FOR, UH, UH, LANGUAGE TESTING.
IF THEY NEED TO GET RESOURCES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, UH, UH, IF THEY HAVE, UH, OTHER RESOURCES THAT THEY MAY NEED, UH, SUCH AS CLOTHING OR SUPPLIES, WE HAVE ALL THOSE, UH, ALL THAT IN, UH, IN ONE STOP SHOP.
AND, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO, UH, GO THERE AND, UH, IT'S, IT IS NO LONGER A CAMPUS, BUT IT IS A PLACE WHERE OUR PARENTS CAN COME AND, UH, BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT ONE STOP SHOP FOR ANY INFORMATION OR RESOURCES THAT THEY MAY NEED.
I THINK THAT IS SO SMART, BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE IT AS EASY AS WE CAN FOR THEM TO GET REGISTERED, TO GET EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO.
NO, WE ARE JUST VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT PROPERTY THERE AND, UH, BE ABLE TO CONVERT THAT INTO, UH, TO BRING OTHER DEPARTMENTS ALL IN ONE, ONE PLACE UNDER ONE ROOF.
WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT YOUR HANDS FULL.
YOU'RE MEETING ALL OF YOUR NEW TEACHERS.
YOU'RE GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH YOUR STAFF.
UH, YOU'RE GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY MM-HMM
AND, UH, THE STUDENTS OF COURSE.
WHAT, WHAT A EXCITING FUTURE YOU HAVE JUST IN THIS FIRST YEAR? YEAH.
NO, WE, WE HAVE, I, I HAVE A, A, A PACKED SCHEDULE.
UH, BUT I, IT, IT'S A SCHEDULE THAT I, I I, I THRIVE.
UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, BEING ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE, BEING ABLE TO LISTEN TO SEE WHAT MAKES GRAND PRAIRIE, ISD SO SPECIAL.
UH, IDENTIFYING WAYS ON HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET BETTER.
UH, THAT'S ALWAYS, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE FAMILIES THAT CAME OUT, UH, TO SEE ME AT MY MEET AND GREET.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO MEET MORE FAMILIES, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, CONNECTING WITH MORE PARTNERS.
AND OF COURSE, TOMORROW IS OUR BIG, BIG, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SEE ALL OUR EMPLOYEES UNDER ONE ROOF.
AS WE CELEBRATE AND SHOWCASE ALL
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THE GREAT THINGS THAT MAKE GRAND PRAIRIE, UH, SO SPECIAL.AND SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING.
AND, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, UH, SEEING OUR STUDENTS ON THAT FIRST DAY, UH, AS THEY COME SMILING, READY TO GO.
AND WE KNOW YOU'RE, UH, JAM PACKED SCHEDULE AND IT'S LONG HOURS, AND WE KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE A VERY SUPPORTIVE WIFE.
I'M VERY THANKFUL OF MY WIFE, UH, VERONICA.
UH, SHE IS, UH, THE, THE CORNER TO, TO OUR HOUSEHOLD.
AND, UH, SHE'S BEEN DOING GREAT.
UH, SHE ATTENDS SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH YES.
AND SO, UH, IT, IT HAS BEEN, UH, SHE HAS BEEN VERY PLEASED AND VERY HAPPY AND, UH, FOR DURING THIS TRANSITION.
AND, UH, WE BOTH ARE, UH, COULDN'T BE MORE THANKFUL, UH, FOR EVERYBODY THAT HAS REALLY WELCOMED US HERE.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE AND MORE EVENTS, INCLUDING, UH, BEING ABLE TO GO OUT THIS FRIDAY AND SEE THE TEXAS RANGERS.
UH, IT'S GONNA BE GRAND PRAIRIE NIGHT THIS FRIDAY.
AND SO, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OUT THERE AND READING FOR THE TEXAS RANGERS AS WELL.
AND HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT, GREAT EVENT AS WELL.
WELL, IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU ON HERE AND TO LET YOU GET ACQUAINTED WITH OUR VIEWERS AND, UH, LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU MM-HMM
AND ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY.
YOU HAVE BEEN SO, UH, AMAZINGLY, UH, GRACEFUL WITH ME AND, AND WELCOMING ME HERE.
AND, UH, ANYTIME I CAN COME OUTTA HERE AND CONNECT WITH YOU AND THE AUDIENCE HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, I'M DEFINITELY, UH, ALL FOR IT.
WE HOPE YOU HAVE JUST THE BEST YEAR EVER, AND WE THANK, WE'RE THANKFUL THAT YOUR WIFE AND UH, DAUGHTER ARE ALL SETTLED IN AS WELL.
THANK YOU AGAIN, AND GOD BLESS YOU AND HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS WELL.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON, REMINDING YOU IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.