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With AppreciAtion
By Jamie Wilson , Ed . D . Superintendent of Schools
Thank you for sharing such a positive reaction and reception for our inaugural issue of our new magazine , Denton ISD : Our Impact in Your Community . Many of you have contacted us with story ideas , people and graduates you wish to see featured . We love hearing from you and the idea of telling the success stories of our students and staff through such a userfriendly format .
Each January , the Texas Association of School Boards encourages communities to educate patrons about their local board of school trustees . Our seven trustees elected by the citizens of Denton ISD serve 2� , ��� of the five million students in Texas public schools . They voluntarily participate in long meetings , attend performances , review budgets and plan for development all the while keeping what is in the best interest of ALL students in their hearts .
We appreciate their generous sharing of time and energy on behalf of our community ’ s young people . Our school district has a reputation for being very innovative and progressive , and that is due to their leadership . Their support of our students and staff benefits our entire community , and I hope you will join me in thanking them at every opportunity .
In this edition , you will learn about a new program at Ryan High School , BLAST , which seeks to enhance the academic and leadership skills of a group of students who lack either the confidence or opportunity to step forward . Our district is one of the few in the country to pilot the program and students and parents are already seeing results in their abilities .
We also feature Warren Tichenor , a former ambassador for the United Nations who recently made a very generous donation to the Denton High School Jazz Band . Although he did not graduate from Denton High , he attended our school system for seven years and considers Denton his hometown .
Our district is the first to partner with Texas Woman ’ s University through the “ Pioneer Promise . � The program guarantees admission to our high school graduates who finish in the top �� percent of their junior class . It also arms each high school principal with a $ 2,000 renewable scholarship ( worth up to $ 8,000 total ) that will be awarded to a graduate starting in the fall of 2016 – keeping our best and brightest in Denton County .
During this fall semester , all three of our comprehensive high school ’ s varsity football teams advanced to the playoffs . It was the first time in our district ’ s history that all three advanced , and Denton County was represented by more teams than any other in the state . I want to thank our bands , cheerleaders , dance / drill teams , spirit organizations and fans for their support . Most people assume that extending an athletic season means work for only the players and coaches , but it also adds performances and practices for our auxiliary groups as well . Yet in watching their performances at these playoff games , you could clearly tell all students had additional fun !
It was an exciting first semester for all of us in and out of the classroom , and we ’ re happy to share many of these moments with you in these pages . Thank you for your support and thank you for being a part of our Denton ISD community .