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"Texas State Board of Education: Not Dunderheads"

by Donna Garner

Mon, Sep 29, 2008, 02:27 PM

The October issue of Texas Monthly features a disturbing attempt to malign the Texas State Board of Education members who fought and won the battle to bring addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division back to our Texas elementary schools. Nine of the fifteen SBOE members also voted to adopt new English / Language Arts / Reading standards for K-12 that will require our public schools to teach phonics, grammar, usage, spelling, handwriting, persuasive and expository writing, informational discourse, research skills, and content-rich literature.

For all of the efforts of these nine SBOE members, instead of being applauded by Texas Monthly, the magazine has smeared them by creating a "quiz," cherry-picking quotes out of context, and using these to design questions on the "quiz" that deliberately portray various members in a very negative light. (If you want to see the Texas Monthly quiz, you can view it on the magazine's website; but I certainly would not spend a penny to subsidize this publication.)

Since I taught school for over 33 years, I decided I would put together a quiz of my own; but mine is quite different from the one published by Texas Monthly. Instead of disparaging the backgrounds of these dedicated SBOE members, I have chosen to highlight their many areas of expertise and public service. These nine well-prepared people are certainly not dunderheads!

*In Texas the fifteen-member Board is elected by the voters. This guarantees accessibility and accountability to the voters who put the members in office. The SBOE members receive no financial compensation even though they spend countless hours serving the school children, parents, and educators of our state. Texas SBOE members' decisions have national significance because they impact textbooks, curricula, and programs used not only in Texas but throughout our country.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE

TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS?

9.28.08

1. What SBOE member attended the University of Alabama for two years and then graduated from LSU with a 4.0 GPA?

A. Snoopy

B. Gail Lowe

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

2. Who has earned a Bachelor's in biology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Business Administration from UT-San Antonio?

A. Snoopy

B. Ken Mercer

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

3. Who graduated from the public schools in Dallas, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Methodist University, is certified as an academic language therapist, has a Master of Science in Reading from Texas A&M-Commerce, is a reading specialist for children with dyslexia, and is a licensed real estate broker?

A. Snoopy

B. Geraldine Miller

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

4. Which SBOE member has taught high-school anatomy and physiology, is a licensed practicing attorney in the state of both Missouri and Texas, and has devoted much of her practice to the area of appellate law?

A. Snoopy

B. Cynthia Dunbar

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

5. Who was reared in San Antonio, attended The University of Texas at San Antonio, and is the president/chief executive officer and co-founder of a global financial sales and marketing firm for institutional investment companies?

A. Snoopy

B. Rick Agosto

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

6. Who has served on the "I Have a Dream" Foundation, the National Orton-Dyslexia Society, the Boy's and Girl's Club of Greater Dallas, and the Dallas County Heritage Society?

A. Snoopy

B. Geraldine Miller

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

7. Which SBOE member graduated Summa Cum Laude with an undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education and received her Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce?

A. Snoopy

B. Terri Leo

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

8. Which SBOE member obtained her undergraduate degree in biology and psychology, was admitted to medical school, and graduated with honors from law school where she served as graduate assistant to the Dean and was editor of the school's law review?

A. Snoopy

B. Cynthia Dunbar

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

9. Who received his Eagle Scout award in 1972 and has served on the executive board of the Three Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America?

A. Snoopy

B. David Bradley

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

10. Who is a co-publisher and copy editor for her city's newspaper, is a member of various regional and national newspaper organizations, and is an honorary member of Delta Kappa Gamma?

A. Snoopy

B. Gail Lowe

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

11. Who was awarded the Phi Delta Kappa Scholarship for Educational Administrators (given to an outstanding teacher in the school district), became an administrative intern, and served as an active member of the Council for Exceptional Children and the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired?

A. Snoopy

B. Terri Leo

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

12. Who is a graduate of the largest school district in the state of Texas and was a proud member of the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets?

A. Snoopy

B. David Bradley

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

13. Who has served on the Chamber of Commerce's education committee for the second largest city in Texas and the seventh largest city in the U. S.?

A. Snoopy

B. Rick Agosto

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

14. Who has a Masters of Business Administration in finance and management from St. Mary's University?

A. Snoopy

B. Ken Mercer

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

15. Who helped facilitate the first dyslexia law in Texas and in the U. S. A. (1985) and was also awarded the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas A&M-Commerce?

A. Snoopy

B. Geraldine Miller

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

16. Who has taught a fourth-grade Sunday school class for almost 30 years and has been active in Youth Soccer and Boy Scouts, receiving the District Award of Merit?

A. Snoopy

B. Don McLeroy

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

17.   Who has been a successful businessman in both the insurance business and in real estate development for over twenty years?

A. Snoopy

B. David Bradley

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

18. Who has worked in the school computer lab, served as a reading mentor in the HOSTS program, assisted fifth-grade math students to boost their skills on the TAKS, and has served as a judge for UIL journalism contests?

A. Snoopy

B. Gail Lowe

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

19. Who was founding president of his city's Citizens on Patrol, a neighborhood crime prevention/patrol organization?

A. Snoopy

B. David Bradley

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

20. Who holds a Masters of Science in Science Education with a 4.0 GPA from Texas Woman's University and an undergraduate degree in education from Baylor University?

A. Snoopy

B. Barbara Cargill

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

21. Who has served as a member of her local school district board of trustees and as a member of the district and campus site-based, decision-making committees?

A. Snoopy

B. Gail Lowe

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

22. Who is serving on the SBOE's School Finance/Permanent School Fund Committee that oversees the Permanent School Fund, a $22.2 billion endowment that is the second largest educational endowment in the United States?

A. Snoopy

B. Rick Agosto

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

23. Who has earned numerous awards including the Thanks to Teachers National Excellence Award and the National Audubon Society Award?

A. Snoopy

B. Barbara Cargill

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

24. Who was a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army, was a member of his school district's board of trustees, and was appointed chair of the Texas State Board of Education by the Governor?

A. Snoopy

B. Don McLeroy

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

25. Who is the recipient of three separate American Jurisprudence Awards in the areas of Property Law and Trial Practice?

A. Snoopy

B. Cynthia Dunbar

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

26. Who has been certified as a Professional Project Manager, served as a member of the Texas House (member of Higher Education Committee and State Transportation Committee), and was named by the San Antonio Police Officers' Association as Legislator of the Year?

A. Snoopy

B. Ken Mercer

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

27. Who was nominated for both the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science/Mathematics Teaching and the Science Teachers' Association of Texas Outstanding Teacher Award?

A. Snoopy

B. Barbara Cargill

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

28. Who was first elected to the SBOE in 1996 and was re-elected in 2000, 2002, and 2004?

A. Snoopy

B. David Bradley

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

29.   Who earned her undergraduate degrees in both elementary and special education, has taught in three different public school systems, and is a certified expert in the teaching of visually impaired and special needs students?

A. Snoopy

B. Terri Leo

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

30. Who holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Doctor of Dental Science degree from The University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston?

A. Snoopy

B. Don McLeroy

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

31. Who has taught in the reading laboratory of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children and in the Highland Park Presbyterian Hillier School for Dyslexia?

A. Snoopy

B. Geraldine Miller

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

32. Who visits schools during the school year to offer special science programs to children and also founded and directs a children's science program that has operated since 1995, attracting 1,200 children each summer who participate in creative/hands-on learning?

A. Snoopy

B. Barbara Cargill

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

33. Who has volunteered in elementary and middle school classrooms every week for 14 years, helping to teach struggling students?

A. Snoopy

B. Gail Lowe

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

34. Who has worked in the field of science education for over 20 years; taught biology in two metroplex public school districts; sponsored the drill team, cheerleaders, senior class; instructed students in SAT prep; and was a team counselor for at-risk students?

A. Snoopy

B. Barbara Cargill

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

35. Who serves as an advisor to the Governor as a member of the Texas Homeland Security Council?

A. Snoopy

B. Ken Mercer

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

36. Who was admitted to do post-graduate studies on Constitutionalism conducted at Hertford College, Oxford University?

A. Snoopy

B. Cynthia Dunbar

C. Superman

D. Superwoman

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Comments (3) add comment

...
written by Jason K , September 30, 2008

Didn't the sboe basically vote against the teachers who were crafting new standards and went with some conservative's plan instead?

Time for some research on my part I guess.

...
written by Donna Garner , September 30, 2008

Jason, the three and a half year process to rewrite the English / Language Arts / Reading standards (TEKS) ended on May 23, 2008. A group of eleven very liberal organizations with national ties (the Coalition as they called themselves) fought the nine SBOE members all the way to continue with the status quo. The members of the Coalition were the people who testified at most of the hearings, and nearly all of them had big-time vested interests in products, programs, and consultancies from which they had made big bucks for a decade. These vendor products were the very products that have helped to dumb down our schools over the last ten years: whole language, invented spelling, holistic scoring, no emphasis on correct grammar/usage/spelling/handwriting, personal narrative writing that emphasizes multiculturalism/victimization, and a lack of emphasis on the traditional classics. The Coalition was so desperate to keep their money-making machine in place that they managed to switch the draft documents, shopped their version among its members, and did other unethical and probably illegal activities. Because there were so many different drafts of these long and complicated ELAR standards, the Coalition managed to get their hands on the official draft written by the organization to whom taxpayer dollars had been paid (StandardsWork had been chosen by the SBOE to write the official draft), and "doctored" it up with their Coalition wording. Thankfully at the last minute in the May 2008 SBOE meeting, the nine SBOE members figured out that the documents had been switched; and they exposed the whole debacle. The final ELAR standards that were adopted by the nine are new and improved over the standards that have been in place in Texas for ten years. We have the nine SBOE members to thank for putting our public schools on the path that I described in the introduction to my "quiz" article. The Coalition and its "arms" (e.g., Texas Monthly, Texas Freedom Network, etc.) are furious with the actions of the SBOE nine, and the intent is to smear these members publicly so that they do not get re-elected in November and/or lose their authority to affect change. The SBOE nine are definitely rocking the boat of the education establishment, and we are going to see some great changes in our Texas public schools in the years to come.

...
written by John K , October 01, 2008

Please spare us your ignorance. To even put that someone was a School Board member as some kind of great resume item clearly shows you don't have much of a clue. Probably everyone reading this knows at least of a couple of school board members who can barely spell their own names, much less grasp the educational issues facing our state.
The problem we are facing is a group of right wing dunderheads who have signed on to an anti-education agenda that will continue to destroy public education in Texas. Which is exactly their goal. Do their own kids go to public schools? Do they even support public schools? No.

They are embarrassing Texas with their focus on creationism and other religion-based messages. Texans need to stand up for GOOD public education and vote these 9 out before they do even more damage.

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