Arlington School & Family Magazine October 2016

Seguin High School Persistency and the President If there’s one thing you can call Seguin High School Principal Sam Nix, it’s persistent. Nix started his one-man mission to get President Barak Obama to acknowledge Seguin teachers with perfect attendance three years ago. He wanted to celebrate those teachers at the highest level possible while also improving teacher attendance. At the end of 2013 and 2014, Nix sent one letter and one email to the White House requesting that acknowledgment –with no response. Nix also reached out to Texas State Representative Chris Turner, who provided resolutions to Seguin teachers with perfect attendance. Turner’s support has continued, as he has personally presented resolutions to those teachers from the Texas House of Representatives each of the last three years. Nix also provides gift cards, acknowledges teachers in the Seguin faculty newsletter and writes letters to the spouse and kids of the faculty with perfect attendance as a way to say thank you. “It is a sacrifice to the educator’s family to be present at work everyday, and this does not include the time teachers put in at extracurricular activities,” Nix said. Not deterred by the lack of response by the president, Nix doubled his efforts in April 2015. He and secretary Sulema Aguinaga emailed and mailed a letter everyday of the last six weeks to the White House requesting acknowledgment. Their persistence paid off this summer when the White House responded with letters addressed to each teacher at Seguin with perfect attendance for the 2015-2016 school year. Mr. Nix’s letter follows: Dear Mr. President, There are few professions more honorable than that of the professional educator. Teaching requires more than just dissemination of information; it demands the skill to convey content in a relevant way combined with the passion to reach the hearts and minds of often unmotivated and distracted students. Teaching is a demanding and sometimes thankless profession. It can take a toll on both the body and the mind. Teachers who selflessly refuse to use the days that they have been given to be absent so as to ensure that students never miss out on an opportunity to learn from the most qualified asset in the school, their teacher, should be recognized and celebrated. As the Principal of Juan Seguin High School in the Arlington Independent School District, I understand the dedication and commitment that it takes to inspire, motivate and educate our youth. I am asking you to join me in celebrating my teachers with perfect attendance. Our last faculty meeting will be held on Friday, June 3, 2016. Please consider sending an official memorandum in appreciation of their service. The following teachers have perfect attendance for the 2015-2016 school year: • Jayson Carraway • Tamie Colston • Sade Gomez • Katelyn Jamieson • Mike Jenkins • Robert Krecklow • Meghann Morrow • Jon Nielsen • Cathy Ownby • Wesley Ownby • Michael Prescott • Marla Wilkins Sincerely, Sam Nix Principal 12 Arlington School & Family • John Miller

Arlington School & Family Magazine October 2016 | Page 14