Equity Center Radio

You can email your questions about school finance and equity for answer on the air to ECRadio@EquityCenter.org.

Our guest today is Martin Pena, Executive Director of the South Texas Association (STAS) of Schools. Wayne Pierce, Executive Director of the Equity Center, talks to Martin about STAS and its mission. After serving in the public school system for 40 years, including as a superintendent for 17 years with Point Isabel ISD and 6 years with Los Fresnos ISD, Martin formed the association in 2000 with the belief that schools in South Texas had unique needs and needed to be uniquely represented. What started as a group of school district leaders from Region 1 grew into an effort by districts across South Texas to keep legislators who represent those schools fully informed about the needs of member districts and how specific legislation would impact schools in South Texas. As one of the areas with the most population growth and lowest funding levels, South Texas is fortunate to have STAS as they fight for adequate and equitable funding for their children.

Martin Pena

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To find out more about the Equity Center and the important work that it performs for the school children of Texas and its member school districts, please click on www.equitycenter.org.
 

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You can email your questions about school finance and equity for answer on the air to ECRadio@EquityCenter.org.

Today’s podcast features two school board trustees from Aledo Independent School District. Aledo ISD is located about 20 miles west of Ft. Worth with a student population of roughly 4,500 ADA. Wayne’s interview with Bobby Rigues & Jay Stringer reveals their unique and inspiring grassroots efforts to reach out to the local community and the state to gain support for overhauling the current inequitable and inefficient school finance system. By getting individuals and board members all across the state behind a common message to make education a priority, they want to work with the legislature and state leaders and influence state policy. The Equity Center applauds their leadership and agrees that an overhaul is necessary and long overdue. You can read their resolution and more about their project at www.schoolpriority.com.

Bobby J. Rigues

Jay Stringer

In 1988, Bobby J. Rigues gave up the duties of teaching and coaching high school students for the pursuit of self-employment. Over the years, the memories of being a positive influence to the students that crossed his path grew with value. In 2004, Bobby rekindled his passion for student education from a different position. Today, into his 7th year as an Aledo ISD Board Trustee, he currently holds the position as Vice President.

Jay Stringer’s interest in the Texas Public School System began in 1989 with the realization of the vital role the local community plays in the success or failure of the education we provide to our children. Jay has served as an Aledo ISD trustee since 2009. He is a business owner and the proud parent of two children attending public schools.

You can subscribe to our weekly show by pressing the RSS button here or hear the broadcast by pushing the button below:

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To find out more about the Equity Center and the important work that it performs for the school children of Texas and its member school districts, please click on www.equitycenter.org.
 

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You can email your questions about school finance and equity for answer on the air to ECRadio@EquityCenter.org.

Wayne Pierce interviews two students from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Amber Lynn Diaz and Chris Everett, who are studying to earn their Doctor of Education degrees at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, under the auspices of Drs. Austin Vasek, the Director of Graduate Programs, and Marlene Zipperlen, the Dean of the College of Education, at Mary Hardin-Baylor, who also join him today in the broadcast booth.

Mary Hardin-Baylor’s College of Education offers students in its Doctor of Education degree in Leadership in Educational Administration (LEAD) a means of obtaining an advanced degree in a unique three year program. Educational leaders and practitioners in the LEAD doctoral degree program visit and study in, during the summer months, in order, for each of the three years in the program, Austin, Texas, learning about how state governments’ work in relation to public education; Washington, D.C., studying the federal government’s impact on public education; and, finally, in The Netherlands, comparing their techniques of governance and philosophies of educational financing to our system. The experience provides each doctoral student with knowledge of the world of education in a different environment than the one with which they are most familiar . The Institutes are one of the unique aspects of the design of this particular doctoral program. Through the opportunity to travel to The Netherlands, where they are supervised by Mr. van Hezel, doctoral students are immersed in another culture, organization, and ideas.

Educational administrators and board members, our public officials and others interested in the United States public education structure need a world view, as culture, society, and learning become increasingly complex and interrelated.

On today’s program, hosted by Wayne Pierce, our guests explain this distinctive doctoral program. Interesting and informative, to say the least. We are sure that this different perspective on public education and a dissimilar system of its delivery will enthrall the listener.

Mr. Everett is currently completing his 11th year as a public school educator. Raised in the booming metropolis of Salado, Texas, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology/Biology from Sam Houston State University. After completing 22 hours of masters degree work in Sport Management at Texas A&M University, he changed paths and completed his Masters of Education in Educational Administration at Tarleton State University. He has served as a teacher of Science, PE, and Health from grades 6 to 12, as well as a coach for football, basketball and track. For the past 4 years, he has been an administrator in the Alvarado Independent School District and is currently the principal of the Intermediate School.

Ms. Diaz received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming and her Masters of Education degree from Texas A&M Central Texas. Over the last 9 years she has been working as an English Language Learners teacher in Killeen ISD, where she is responsible for providing instruction to Limited English Proficient students. She is also a professional development consultant for Region l2, providing training for educators to become ESL certified; and, as if this were not enough, works as a Graduate Assistant at Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Drs. Austin Vasek & Marlene Zipperlen

Chris Everett

Amber Lynn Diaz

Dr. Austin Vasek was educated in the Waco Public Schools. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Texas Tech University; his Master of Education degree from Tarleton State University; and his Doctor of Education degree from Baylor University. Dr. Vasek worked 18 years in the P-12 education environment as teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and director of curriculum & instruction.

Dr. Marlene Zipperlen received her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; her Master of Science degree from Baylor University; and her Doctor of Education degree from Baylor University. Dr. Zipperlen worked 37 years in the P-12 education environment as teacher, coach, counselor, principal, and Superintendent.

You can subscribe to our weekly show by pressing the RSS button here or hear the broadcast by pushing the button below:

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To find out more about the Equity Center and the important work that it performs for the school children of Texas and its member school districts, please click on www.equitycenter.org.
 

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