Nonprofit Community Connections

Bundles of joy. Bundles of joy. Bundles of joy. It’s what we deliver. It’s what we deliver. It’s what we deliver.

From the day you find out to the day you deliver, there’s nothing more important to Longview Regional Medical Center From the day you find out to the day you deliver, there’s nothing more important to Longview Regional Medical Center From the day you find out to the day you deliver, there’s nothing more important to Longview Regional Medical Center than your and your baby’s health and well-being. This is why we provide extra amenities such as private rooms, spacious than your and your baby’s health and well-being. This is why we provide extra amenities such as private rooms, spacious than your and your baby’s health and well-being. This is why we provide extra amenities such as private rooms, spacious birthing suites, childbirth classes and breastfeeding support. And if you and your newest addition need a little extra help, birthing suites, childbirth classes and breastfeeding support. And if you and your newest addition need a little extra help, birthing suites, childbirth classes and breastfeeding support. And if you and your newest addition need a little extra help, we offer perinatal services that include maternal-fetal medicine specialists and a Level III NICU. we offer perinatal services that include maternal-fetal medicine specialists and a Level III NICU. we offer perinatal services that include maternal-fetal medicine specialists and a Level III NICU.

For more information about our labor and delivery services, visit LongviewRegional.com/baby. For more information about our labor and delivery services, visit LongviewRegional.com/baby. For more information about our labor and delivery services, visit LongviewRegional.com/baby. ETAA Crystal Lewis Tracy Beard Lamar Jones Dr. Jennifer Fadal

Officer Kendrick Montgomery Officer Luke Altman Officer LaDarian Brown

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Dr. James Wilcox retains total faith in the ability of everyone associated with the school district to work their way to success despite lingering uncertainty about the new school year challenges and changing strain of the COVI-19. He sees how Longview's leadership is resolved to be proactive, transparent, and utterly effective through every step of the nine-month journey. He is determined on leading a campaign of efficient collaboration with educators, civic leaders, and health officials to make 2021-2022 the greatest school year ever.

Unfailing LOVE

SONGS OF JOY

What is joy? Is it a feeling? An attitude? An emotion? Is it something we “get” or “discover,” perhaps “find” or “inherit” from another or “locate” traveling on the road of life? Is it temporary or permanent? Can it be passed from one person to another? Is it internal or external? Is it possible it could be all of the above?

Things were not going well for Moses. He knew that something was missing in the lives of the people following hie leadership and he knew what it was: joy. They had been through difficult days and trying times. They grumbled and groaned and griped. They were critical of their conditions and angry with God. Why, they wondered, did they leave what they had for something they had been promised but could not find. They were disenchanted and discouraged.

So, Moses, the man of God, knew what to do: He went to God in prayer. “Relent, O Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”

Moses reminded God that He was a God filled with unfailing love. In earnestness he begged God to “show-up” and prove His compassion by relenting. So, he prayed: “fill our empty hearts with a renewed awareness of Your unfailing love.” Moses knew that only God could restore the “joy of His salvation” and the blessings that repentance and restoration could.

Often, we become like the Israelites – wanting God’s blessings without being faithful to Him. Hearts once filled with joy become empty because of disobedience!

Prayer: Lord, if we lose the joy of Your salvation may we understand that it is because of our sins. Forgive and restore us and keep us faithful! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 90:13: Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.

NEW SCHOOL YEAR:

Longview ISD Superintendent upbeat despite challenges

By JOYCELYNE FADOJUTIMI / WWW.IPLUSMAG.COM

The Longview Independent School District's (LISD) recent annual convocation was a highspirited extravaganza. The award-winning Lobo Band, the Viewettes and Lobo cheerleaders gave local educators and civic leaders a lyrical welcome such as none ever before seen for its expertise and enthusiasm.

The school district's executives took part in blue collar style. Deputy Superintendent Horace Williams made sure coffee and treats were in abundance for attendees while LISD Foundation Executive Director Kay Ray led a team of her marketers, peddling Lobo Out TShirts.Even more, the city sent some of its best representatives in a show of support for education. For instance, Cynthia Hellen, Arts Longview executive director Arts Longview, a nonprofit responsible for Longview arts cultural district attended.

Moreover, Texas Bank & Trust, Bare Necessities founder Arya Germanwala, and several local businesses manned their booths at the event.

Keynoter speaker Anne Grady, a chief resilience officer, touched on vital topics including resiliency. Following this very tough act, Longview police officer/pastor of Parkview Baptist Church concluded the convocation with a benediction and a prayer for the upcoming school year. But that is not all.

Longview Independent School District (LISD) Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox was ready for the end of the hard-to-handle 2020-2021 school year but going into this new one he still has expectations of positive results and great success. "Last year was one of the most complicated and difficult in my entire fifty-year career in education," he says. "In all of my thirty-five years as a superintendent I have never faced such a broad scope of unique challenges from global, federal, state and local perspectives." Still, there were (and are) promising aspects. He is inspired and hopeful after noting how the students, faculty and stakeholders have come together in mutual support and guidance in the face of a litany of obstacles. He can see how the situation remains hopeful.

Wilcox retains total faith in the ability of everyone associated with the school district to work their way to success despite lingering uncertainty about the new school year challenges and changing strain of the COVI19. He sees how Longview's leadership is resolved to be proactive, transparent, and utterly effective through every step of the ninemonth journey.

He is determined on leading a campaign of efficient collaboration with educators, civic leaders, and health officials to make 2021-2022 the greatest school year ever. Through hard work and sheer persistence, the LISD will achieve its goal of expertly educating its students while keeping the public informed of every part of the process.

Best of all, the East Texas Advanced Academies are poised for superior success no matter what Mr. COVID-19 does. Below is an opportunity to meet the educators who are changing students destinies for the better. The reader gets an opportunity to know their whys. "Last year was one of the most complicated and difficult in my entire fifty-year career in education. In all of my thirty-five years as a superintendent I have never faced such a broad scope of unique challenges from global, federal, state and local perspectives."

- Dr. James Wilcox

Longview Independent School

District (LISD) Superintendent

A cross section of LISD employees at Convocation Kay Ray in action

CEO Dr. Cynthia Wise and her ETAA Team attend recent convocation L-r: Wade McElroy, Crystal Lewis, Crista Allison, Dr. Crystal Locke, Dr. Cynthia Wise, Megan Burns, Mary Hagler and Dr. Arthur Brown

Education: Foundation for Future Leaders

By DR CRYSTAL LOCKE

Greetings! I am Dr. Crystal Locke. I am the Culture Conscious Campus Coordinator (CCC) for the East Texas Advanced Academies (ETAA). I chose to become an educator because as a child I never saw representation of myself as teachers or administrators. It was not until I went to college that I had a professor in which I could culturally relate. It has been my mission to be that representation and to help people realize their potential. I truly believe that education is the foundation for future leaders. Each of our students has the potential to be that future leader. It is up to us educators to help them realize their potential and give them the skills to achieve their destiny. I am excited about working with all our stakeholders and playing a vital part in molding our future generations. I love that all involved are enthusiastic about becoming the best version of themselves and are ready to incorporate the CCC model into their daily educational endeavors.

Dr. Crystal Locke

Why I Became an Educator

By DR. ARTHUR BROWN

Education is the family business. Like a farmer who nurtures his crop, my immediate forebears were nurtured by their parents to become educators. In the generation immediately preceding my own, there were at least ten teachers, several of whom went on to become administrators (my own father among them). They grew up in a time when the two most respected people in the community were the preacher and the teacher, two professions that, in most African American communities, meant they had some autonomy. This gave them a small amount of freedom from the white societal power structure. Segregated churches and schools increased their importance to their communities.

However, like most TKs (teachers’ kids), I swore blind that I was not going to become a teacher. But, in my late twenties, I found myself at Texas Southern University (Go Tigers) still working on a degree I should have finished several years earlier, but constantly changing majors has its consequences. Working as a teaching assistant to one of the university’s computer science professors, I spent a lot of time with many of our incoming freshmen. I was amazed at their incredible lack of rudimentary skills, a fact that I complained about to my father. After he let me complain a little while, he told me that if I thought I could do a better job of getting kids ready for college I ought to get my teaching certification and fix the problem. So, I took his challenge, the plan being to teach a few years, give a little back to the community, then go do something else. Thirty-two years later I find that my love of seeing kids get it, my love for watching the dedication of teachers, and my love for the profession, in general, has kept me in the game.

Dr. Arthur Brown

Crista Allison

I am Dr. Cynthia Wise' Executive Assistant. You asked me what I like about working for Dr. Wise and ETAA. Well in the short time I have been here I have come to realize how much Dr. Wise loves the kids, takes pride in the job she does and the people she helps. She is a strong, hardworking, and loving woman that just wants what is best for her community and the kids. These are the kind of people that we need more of in the world. I don't just like working for her, but I love it. These are qualities I as well want to show. I want to help the kids learn more, help them to be good people, show kindness and that there is goodness in the world. I know for sure I found my place here to do that with Dr. Wise. Dr. Wise cares about the minds and wellbeing of these kids, you can hear it when she talks and the work she does. It's a job that I never thought I would have the opportunity to get but here I am loving and learning more every day. I have really enjoyed getting to know Dr. Wise and the other ETAA staff. I'm proud to work alongside Dr. Wise and the other ETAA members. I thank Dr. Wise for the opportunity that she has given me. I couldn't be happier to be part of such an organization like ETAA.

Crista Allison

Education Picks the Educator

By DR. WILBERT ANDREWS

I have been an educator for 25 years, and I am very compassionate about education. It was meant to be for me, that I would explore education as a career and a mission. I have always (since being a young man) been a person to instruct others, whenever, I discovered that others did not possess certain knowledge that I possessed. I have always been a person that think about others before myself, and thus I believe that education was a calling for me. Education is not for the weary and the selfish person; thus, “Education Picks the Educator”. People who are not very successful in the area of education have picked education as a fallback field; thus, these people have no compassion for the people in which they serve. “Education Picks the Educator” not the other way around.

Forest Park Magnet M.S. is a special campus in my eyes. There is an established culture of students, parents, and community like no other that I have experienced in my educational journey. The community is very special because everyone is an Eagle and a Lobo. There seems to be an heir of unselfishness in this community. The Forest Park community cares about all students, teachers, and staff members. The students of Forest Park are like no other students, anywhere. The student of Forest Park is very brilliant and are truly 21st century and lifelong learners. These students face adversity on a daily basis, and always seem to come out on “top”.

Finally, Forest Park Magnet M.S. possesses the best teachers that I have had the privilege to learn from, in regards to caring for and educating students. Teachers of Forest Park Magnet M.S. are expert educators, and every one of them “go the extra mile” for their students and fellow colleagues. I am awake and realize how fortunate I am to be at Forest Park Magnet M.S. Thus, I say, “Education Picks the Educator”, and not the other way around.

Dr. Wilbert Andrews

Why I Love Montessori

By JACQUELINE BURNETT, Ed.D.

I love Montessori, first and foremost, because every classroom provides a prepared environment where children are able to develop independence, concentration, coordination, and order. The hands on and tactile materials naturally bring about the inquisitive nature of the child and allows them to inquire about new ways to do things. Lessons are introduced individually with selfcorrecting materials, which through observation, allow the Montessori Guide to reteach as needed. Montessori facilitates a natural love for learning, allows freedom within limits, fosters a love for learning, freedom to explore without negative consequences, and encourages children to delve deeper, and ask questions; all while learning both social and academic skills. Additionally, I love Montessori because it offers children the opportunity to develop their full potential as they prepare to enter into the world as engaged, respectful, and responsible citizens who embrace learning as a lifelong journey.

Jacqueline Burnett, Ed.D.