The Whole Experience of a Mesquite ISD Education

At Mesquite ISD, we strive to develop the whole child. Besides our strong scholastic offerings, we offer much more to help each student reach his or her full potential. For example, our highly revered fine arts programs are going strong here whereas they are shrinking at many school districts across the nation.

Building on this ‘whole child’ philosophy, we constantly push student participation in extracurricular activities on our campuses. We believe this can increase student development and success while adding to school enjoyment. Accordingly, we offer a wide variety of activities to appeal to a full spectrum of student interests and aptitudes.

The impacts of extracurricular activities range from simple to sublime. Some clubs or activities give a student confidence and a peer group to relate to at school every day, while some allow leadership development for a future career. Regardless, our teachers and counselors can help recommend good options for all students, as we want everyone to enjoy the whole MISD experience.

From your perspective, how can involvement in school activities enhance a student’s education?

MISD’s Athletic Department OffersGreat Football Program and Much More

Been to a high school football playoff game? Needless to say, it’s an exciting season for Mesquite ISD’s program. We’ve even fared well enough to garner news media coverage: http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/sports/Mesquite-Hosts-Several-Playoff-Games/180641691

If you’re like me, you take pride in our football program’s success and in our athletic program as a whole. We had four teams reach the football playoffs this year, and three teams made it that far last year.

Also in 2011-12, consider these impressive statistics for the other sports offered to our students. Mesquite ISD produced:

• Three MISD high school volleyball playoff teams.
• Five high school cross country teams that competed in the regional meet, with our North Mesquite girls’ team becoming district champions.
• Six high school basketball playoff teams, including boys’ and girls’ teams.
• Seven high school soccer playoff teams, including boys’ and girls’ teams, with West Mesquite High School boys’ and Poteet High School girls’ earning district championship levels.
• Two high school district tennis champions.
• Seven high school regional golf qualifiers.
• Three high school baseball playoff teams, with Mesquite High School becoming district champions.
• Three high school softball playoff teams, with John Horn ending as district champions.
• Ten state track qualifiers.
• Forty high school swimmers qualifying for regional swim meet.
• Seventy-three student/athletes receiving athletic scholarships.

Congratulations to all our athletes, their parents who support them and of course to our coaches and athletic department. Thanks to our student bodies, bands, cheerleaders, drill teams, mascots and more who cheer for our athletes, too. It takes a great deal of support to reach the top levels MISD has achieved.

Hope to see you at a sporting event soon.

MISD’s Board of TrusteesRespected at National Level

Our district’s faculty, parents and community aren’t the only ones impressed by our Board of Trustees. As the winner of the 2011 CUBE Award for Urban School Board Excellence, this well-respected group of seven is now even recognized at the national level.

Recently Board President Robert Seward, Board Member Dr. Cary Tanamachi and I addressed the Iowa Association of School Boards’ (IASB) annual conference. IASB invited us and paid our expenses so that we could address some 2,000 registrants about the traits of a top-notch school board.

Our main message was two-fold. We stressed the importance of the Board staying focused on policy-related issues rather than on day-to-day school operations. We also reiterated that in every single decision, our Board takes into consideration what’s best for MISD students.

I am thankful for a Board that not only provides excellent guidance and leadership for our district, it sets an example for other boards to follow. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. 

Mesquite ISD Ranks 24th in DallasMorning News’ Top 100

Have you heard the good news? Mesquite ISD ranks 24th in The Dallas Morning News’ 2012 Top 100 Places to Work competition. Among other winners, MISD is profiled in the News’ November 11 Sunday edition’s special supplement.

Top 100 is a unique collection of local businesses in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Wise counties. MISD’s high ranking is based on results from a surveyed performed by an independent research firm. Survey measures included qualities such as leadership, compensation, training, flexibility and diversity.

This honor follows our earlier announcement this year for being named as one of the Dallas Business Journal’s Best Places to work. 

Many thanks to our employees who make Mesquite ISD a model of workplace satisfaction and for the strong support we enjoy from our Board, parents and community.

Donation Week ShowcasesMesquite ISD’s Greatness

“Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.”

― Dr. Martin Luther King

The genuine caring of the people in the Mesquite ISD community is one of my favorite things about our district, and I’m not alone in this. Many of our employees, students and parents talk about the welcoming, family-like atmosphere here.

It will be easy to witness that spirit of giving and kindness during our Districtwide Donation Week that runs November 5-9. During this annual initiative, each school picks a community project to benefit Mesquite Social Services’ Christmas Project or the Clothes Closet run by our Council of PTAs.

In 2011, we collected nearly $35,000 in donations, including money for clothes, nearly 600 toys, more than 350 pairs of socks and 25,000 food items. Not only was each campus involved, but some of our district employees participated as well. Our district’s maintenance workers, for example, pitched in by delivering our donations from our campuses to the beneficiaries.

Thank you for your community involvement and for being a part of MISD’s greatness.