Welcome

Education changes lives! I know this first hand as a migrant farm worker of extreme poverty with illiterate first generation Hispanic parents. Texas public schools provided me the requisite skills to pursue doctoral studies at The George Washington University, a premier tier I institution and now at The University of Texas at El Paso. As an educator and leader I serve the children and community.

My goals are:

1. To remove obstacles that research shows harm children of poverty,
2. To assist language deficient children who are struggling to succeed
3. To instill in our children how great America is and how hard work perseverance will overcome any obstacle.

As a Board member I have maintained an open door policy, been a responsive servant leader, who is visible and active in school and community events. SBOE's goal should be simple “to organize and lead schools so all children are able to perform at the highest levels possible.” This is our greatest commandment. I enjoy engaging in conversations with parents about how to improve learning and the learning environment for students.

Education based research suggests that all schools need to pick up the reform pace and intensify their focus on enabling students to perform at higher levels. As twenty-first generation educators we must rethink how we can educate this generation as many will work in jobs that are yet to be created. Our charter is to provide a “guaranteed and viable curriculum” (Marzano 2003) that teaches our future graduates to be competent innovators, problem solvers and contributing society members.

I am resolved that all students can learn, given a positive learning atmosphere that welcomes exploration and enhances student confidence. I believe that it is an educator’s mission is to teach. Currently policy demands that teachers dedicated most of their time to administrative pursuits that do not directly impact academic achievement --that must change! The administrative and operational dimensions are very important, but they are secondary to the task of creating districts where the emphasis is on academic performance.

To meet the needs identified by school community stakeholders, we must work collaboratively with the Regional Services Centers/districts, and celebrate accomplishments with the children and the community and we will gradually move community support for education and get the general public involved. Additionally, I believe that administration who listens effectively dispels many complaints, bolsters volunteerism, and generates a healthy school climate resulting in positive morale for students, parents and staff. Positive impact in my view begins with our learning and personal commitment to education.

May God Bless You,

Carlos "Charlie" Garza
State Board of Education
District 1