A Call for Social Justice Summer Symposia

During the summer of 2004, the Principalship Program hosted it first two summer Symposia on A Call for Social Justice.

A Call For Social Justice Revisited: July 28, 2004The second session, held at the end of the summer cohort experience, took place in conjunction with our final banquet at the University of Texas Club. Guests included all students in cohorts IV and V, their superintendents, and their UT Principalship Partner mentors. The session was led by two outstanding guest speakers who have gained both national and international attention for their work in assuring equity and acceptance of all students. Dr. Juliet V. Garcia, President of the University of Texas at Brownsville-Texas Southmost College and well known Hispanic educator recognized by Hispanic Business and Texas Hispanic magazines as one of the nation's most influential Hispanics, began the session with inspiring examples of her work in Leading for Equity and Excellence in a PK-16 environment. Following Dr. Garcia, the session featured a video presentation of the forthcoming Miramax documentary, Paperclips, and remarks by Mrs. Linda Hooper, Principal of Whitwell Middle School, Whitwell, Tennessee, and Founder of the internationally known Paperclip Project.

 

Dr. Glenn Nolly; Dr. Darlene Westbrook, Associate Superintendent, Austin ISD; Dr. Juliet Garcia, Keynote Speaker and President, UT-Brownsville; Mrs. Linda Hooper, Principal of Whitwell Middle School, Whitwell, Tennessee, and Founder of the Paperclip Project; Dr. Bill Moore; Dr. Edwin Sharpe; Dr. Norma Cantu, Coodinator for PSEL Programs; and Dr. Robert Donmoyer, visiting lecturer from University of San Diego

 

 

 

Dr. Norma Cantu and Dr. Juliet Garcia with Principalship Program Students from the Rio Grande Valley

 

 

Nelson Coulter (center), Principal of McNeil High School in Round Rock was named a UT Principalship Program Partner of the Year at the Ceremony. Presenting the award were Dr. Glenn Nolly and Dr. Tom Gaul.

 

 

Dr. Yolanda Rocha received the second UT Principalship Program Partner of the Year award at the ceremony. Due to illness, Dr. Rocha was unable to attend and Dr. Pat Forgione, Superintendent for Austin ISD accepted the award on her behalf.

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A Call For Social Justice: June 3, 2004

The first session, held at the beginning of the summer cohort experience, set the stage for the program's commitment to equity and excellence for all students PK-16 and included a panel of nationally known speakers. This powerful session was led by keynote speaker, Dr. George Wright, renowned African American scholar and President of Prairie View A & M University. Other speakers included Dr. Felipe Alanis, Associate Dean of the Division of Continuing and Extended Education and former Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency; Dr. Edwin T. Sharpe, Adjunct Faculty Member in Higher Education and Former Vice Chancellor for Educational System Alignment for the University of Texas System; and Dr. Edmund T. Gordon, Director of the Center for African and African American Studies and Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin.

 

 

Dr. Tom Gaul, Round Rock Superintendent; Dr. Felipe Alanis; Dr. Edwin Sharpe; Dr. George Wright; Dr. Yolanda Rocha, Assistant Superintendent, Austin ISD; Dr. Juanita Garcia, Principalship Program Director; Dr. Waide Robinson, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Round Rock ISD.

 

 

Guest Speakers for the Call for Social Justice Session along with Dr. Juanita Garcia, Principalship Program Director

 

 

Dr. Edmund T. Gordon, Speaker for afternoon session

These sessions both inspired and challenged our students as future educational leaders committed to the notions of equity and excellence and their role in making a positive difference in the lives of all schoolchildren.