Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade stressed that public service and involvement from community leaders, such as those in Leadership San Antonio (LSA), must be the main catalyst for innovation in the educational system. She was the opening speaker for the first
class day for LSA Class 37 held on February 8.
Secretary Andrade emphasized the important role that an educated, skilled workforce plays when creating more jobs and attracting companies to San Antonio. Richard Perez, President and CEO of The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, who greeted the class at the Alamo Drafthouse Park North and welcomed them to LSA.
Following Secretary Andrade’s presentation, the class heard a panel discussion on early childhood education and kindergarten readiness, led by former Chamber Chairman Carri Baker Wells, Chief Operating Officer of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP.
Dr. Harriett Romo, Director of the UTSA Mexico Center, explained the economic benefits of preparing children for school at an early age and stated that 60% of what a person learns occurs in first four years of life. Margaret Acevedo, kindergarten teacher in the San Antonio ISD, and Yesenia Gonzalez, Director of Parenting Programs for Avance, stressed that reading, language development and parent involvement are critical because physical and emotional well-being are essential to learning during that time. Jeanne Russell, Education Policy Advisor for the City of San Antonio, explained San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro’s Brainpower Initiative that focuses on the development of Pre-K programs, which have been identified as the strongest indicator of future success in school.
Following the panel discussion, LSA 37 visited the North East School of the Arts at Lee High School. Dena Mabry, Director of Dance gave an overview of the school’s exemplary programs, stating that graduates have found success in live theater on Broadway in New York and in the film industry of Hollywood, CA. Next, the class enjoyed a student performance that showcased their amazing talents in film direction, writing, dancing and singing.
After the performance, Chamber Vice Chair Mario Barrera, Partner at Bracewell & Giuliani, hosted a panel discussion on college readiness with Dr. John Folks, Superintendent for Northside ISD; Mark Larson, Chief Executive Officer of KIPP San Antonio; Marsha McCombs Shields, CEO of Koontz McCombs Construction, Ltd. and President of the McCombs Foundation; and Dr. Jessica Howard, Vice President of Academic Affairs at San Antonio College. The panel addressed a range of issues facing our community including the notion of creating a central school district, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act and budget cuts from the last legislative session.
With respect to a central school district, Dr. Folks stated that San Antonio is not ready for a citywide consolidation until a viable solution is presented. Dr. Howard addressed the flaws in the NCLB act by explaining that high school and college tests do not always match up and often require dissonant knowledge bases. Larson pointed out that the tests do not always measure the strengths of students. He argued that the students’ abilities to ask questions, to ask for help and to think critically are much better indicators of college readiness than test results.
When it came to the budget, the panel agreed that the Texas system is broken and that how we deal with this complex problem moving forward will determine where we rank in the world.
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) then hosted the class for lunch and a tour of their facility at the Pearl Brewery. The CIA offers several programs for students and food enthusiasts, ranging from cooking boot camps to Associate Degrees and Professional Certifications. After lunch, the class heard from H.B. “Bartell” Zachry, Chairman & CEO of Zachry Corporation and President of the P16 Plus Council of Greater Bexar County. Zachry discussed the Council’s holistic approach to filling critical gaps in the education of our students.
Blakely Fernandez, Partner at Tuggey Fernandez, LLP, then led a panel discussion on workforce development in San Antonio. Gene Bowman, Executive Director of the Alamo Academies, and Rey Chavez, President & CEO of San Antonio Manufacturer’s Association, touted the importance of early exposure to the workforce, such as the Academies’ industry-driven dual credit program. Chavez stated that co-op work study programs are essential to the growth of a skilled workforce.
David Crouch, Vice President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Texas, and Graham Weston, Chairman of Rackspace Hosting, discussed the development of a more vibrant, urban lifestyle for San Antonio as a critical factor in attracting and retaining young professionals to the city, without which the future of our workforce is uncertain.
The day culminated back at the Alamo Drafthouse Park North with closing remarks by Rob Eissler, Chairman of the Texas House of Representatives Public Education Committee, on the challenges facing the legislature in the upcoming session, followed by a reception.
The 54 members of LSA 37 are grouped into committees responsible for developing agendas for each of the seven class days. The agenda for Education Day was developed by class members:
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Cindie Hernandez Whitehead | Transportation Marketing Manager/Associate Vice President,
HDR Engineering, Inc.
LSA is a joint partnership of The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Click here for more information on LSA or email Michelle Whitlow, Director of Leadership San Antonio, at LSA@sachamber.org.