My desire to give back to that from which I have benefited greatly is the motivating force for my interest in doing what so many, who have a legitimate interest in the well being of our children, have called upon me to do. As such, I have entered the race for HISD Trustee District II to serve the residents of District II, the HISD community and ultimately the city of Houston. My specific objective is to promote the establishment of an educational environment that gives the students the best opportunity to maximize their personal development. Personal development goes beyond pure intellect and knowledge growth. It encompasses emotional intelligence, which is a greater predictor of societal success than measures of intelligence quotients.
Learning is more easily facilitated and ultimately more beneficial when curiosity, self-confidence, self-control, relating to others and moral thinking are integral elements in development. Getting our students to want to learn is an important part of getting them to learn. Principals and parents must form partnerships to promote focus on continuous improvement in personal development. I tend to position myself on issues as a function of the relative ability to make these personal development factors manifest in our students.
When major issues exist that significantly compromise the quality of parental and community support, it is highly likely that the mechanisms to properly foster continuous improvement in student personal development will be woefully lacking. It is a natural response to desire additional funding and to a large extent the funding is needed. The need for funds in such an environment is rarely questioned as the major issue. However, the appropriate distribution and utilization of required and desired funds tends to be the topic of most debate.
Confidence that resources are placed in the area of greatest need to achieve the desired outcome is the major hurdle to be cleared between those seeking the funds to provide support and those needing the funds. This delicate balance needed to clear this hurdle is best achieved when consensus is sought as a building block to developing an offering rather than to be pursued after the offering is developed.
A school district with declining enrollment, impoverished residents and substantive economic differences faces a very uphill climb for success, particularly when success is measured relative to other districts with fewer challenges. I believe new and novel approaches utilizing fresh ideas and new age information management techniques must be embraced in the public education arena to bring out the significant untapped potential in our students.
As an individual educated in HISD with a collection of successful experiences that lend themselves well to aiding the plight of our students, I believe that I will bring to the Board fresh ideas, experience based decision making and an ability to represent our district at a whole new level.
Actions and Areas of Focus on Behalf of the Students of District II
• Develop New and Innovative Ways to Address Tomorrows Pending Realities
• Focus on Student Personal Development
• Strive for Continuous Academic and Positive Life Accomplishments
• Build the Will and Self-Confidence to Excel
• Enlist Community Contributors to Reinforce the Capability to Achieve
• Accentuate the True Value of Pursuing Opportunities That Provide Choices
Political ad paid for by the Charles McCloud for School Board Campaign.
Felix D. Cook Campaign Treasurer
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