The Closer You Get . . . The Better They Look!
There are great things happening in and for public schools all across Texas!  We're collecting positive news about school districts, their staff, and students, as well as supporters of public education.  If you have good news from your district that you'd like to share, please send it to us! We are also collecting resources to help you locate and share good news about public schools with your staff and communities.

Share Your Good News!

March 2008

• Fort Hood's Adopt-A-School program receives national award
  Fort Hood's Adopt-A-School program received national recognition as a 2008 National Civic Star Award winner. The Fort Hood-KISD program was one of 24 public school programs honored for pioneering innovative school-community partnerships nationwide, according to a news release. The American Association of School Administrators and Sodexho Inc. sponsor the awards.

May 2007

• 2007 HEB Excellence in Education Awards Announced; Richardson and Fort Sam Houston are District Winners
  Thirty-nine statewide finalists, including teachers, principals, and school districts, were recognized May 7 during the Sixth Annual HEB Excellence in Education Awards Celebration. The event held at the Barton Creek Resort in Austin, culminated with the presentation of $380,000 in cash awards to the winning educators and their schools. The program, established by Charles Butt, HEB Chairman and CEO, six years ago has provided more than $2.5 million to almost 800 educators and 150 schools and districts since its inception.

April 2007

• Apr. 4 -- Northside named national finalist for 2007 Broad Prize for Urban Education
  Northside ISD (ESC 20) has been named one of five finalists for the 2007 Broad Prize for Urban Education, a prestigious national award given annually to school districts that have made the greatest improvements in student achievement while closing gaps among ethnic groups and high and low-income students.  The winner of The Broad (pronounced "brode") Prize, which will be announced Sept. 18 at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., will receive $500,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors. Each of the four finalist districts will receive $125,000 in scholarships. [Full Story]
  

November 2006

• Nov. 18 -- Texan selected as 2007 Rhodes Scholar
  Timothy F. Simmons, a graduate of Cedar Park High School, Cedar Park ISD, was one of 32 students chosen as 2007 Rhodes Scholars.  Rhodes Scholarships provide all expenses for two or three years of study at the University of Oxford in England. The oldest and best known award for international study, the Rhodes Scholarships were created in 1902 by the Will of Cecil Rhodes, British philanthropist and African colonial pioneer. The first class of American Rhodes Scholars entered Oxford in 1904; Simmons' class will enter Oxford in October 2007.

October 2006

• West Oso ISD was selected as 2006 Outstanding School Board by the Texas Association of School Administrators at the annual TASB/TASA Convention in Houston
• Danny King, superintendent, Hidalgo ISD, was selected Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards at the annual TASB/TASA Convention in Houston.

September 2006

• Rockwall ISD is awarded the Meritorious Budget Award by the Association of School Business Officials.
• Highland Park, Leander, and San Antonio ISDs are awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Association of School Business Officals

Find additional "good news" at these pro-public-education sites!

Friends of Texas Public Schools
"Friends is the voice of reason and support for Texas public schools. We strive to balance the overwhelmingly negative public school debate with optimistic, factual accounts of success in our schools. By lifting up our public schools as places of triumph and achievement, we hope to restore Texans' faith in our public school system. It is our honor, our pleasure, and our mission to salute the success of Texas public schools."

Our Schools, Our Stars
Texas Education Agency's site to recognize and announce positive news related to the public schools in Texas.