10 minute read
Meet TASA’s Inspiring Leaders
Now more than ever, Texas public school staff members are looking to leaders to inspire them in their day-to-day work as we all cope with an ever-changing educational landscape. TASA’s “Inspiring Leaders” tagline is not just a reminder of TASA’s commitment to leadership development — it describes our members themselves. In this and future issues of INSIGHT, you’ll meet some of those Inspiring Leaders, and it’s our hope that they will guide you and invigorate you in the work that you do. To nominate a leader for inclusion, email drivers@ texasschoolbusiness.com.
John Chapman
Educating the whole child is a lifelong passion for Dr. John Chapman III, superintendent of schools in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD. Chapman has been an administrator for 17 years and a superintendent for 21 years. He believes in meeting and supporting the whole child’s needs, and invests his time building relationships with staff, families and the community. During his tenure in CFBISD, his motto has been “Together We Can.”
Chapman believes that a school’s job is not just to teach academics, but also to help children develop character, teach them life lessons and inspire them to be accountable. “Success should not be measured on grades alone, but on acquiring new skills and working toward being better than you were the previous day,” Chapman says. “In today’s age of accountability, we cannot lose focus on educating the whole child, not just the partial child.”
Other administrators in CFBISD are quick to sing Chapman’s praises, touching on the unique perspective and dedication he brings to the job.
“What separates him from other leaders is his genuine passion for children,” says Steve Bassett, chief financial officer for the district. “As a child, he experienced various hardships, and as a result, he understands many of the struggles our children experience. His passion is evident in the way he cares for students and his staff by developing programming that will benefit all families.”
As a new superintendent in CFBISD in 2018, Chapman understood the importance of building solid relationships. He held open office hours several times a week and invited staff, community members, current and former families to come to share their ideas and suggestions. As a direct result, Chapman launched several initiatives to meet the most basic needs of the whole child, including offering free counseling services and family meals.
“Dr. Chapman is hugely passionate in his never-ending quest to educate the whole child,” says Brian Moersch, area superintendent. “He employs an extraordinary work ethic as he works to move CFBISD closer to eliminating opportunity and achievement gaps for all students.”
Chapman believes changing a generation starts at the top. Among his staff, he serves as a model to inspire and motivate others, resulting in a school district culture that is all about the kids.
“It is vital to mold, develop and build leaders of tomorrow,” he says. “Finding individuals with a servant heart and a strong desire to make a positive difference in the lives of the children we serve is critical to educating our students.”
Through his vision and his dedication to leading by example, Chapman has created a positive work environment for staff in CBISD, who feel supported and appreciated.
Associate Superintendent of Schools Dana West says, “Dr. Chapman is a thoughtful leader. Before he moves forward or makes a decision, he researches, confers and considers multiple pathways. The well-being of staff, students and the community is always first and foremost.”
Taylor ISD welcomed Dr. Devin Padavil as superintendent earlier this year. Prior to his current post, Padavil served as assistant superintendent of Fort Bend ISD for nearly four years. While moving to a new district in the middle of a school year, and during a global pandemic, presented a unique set of challenges, Padavil came to Taylor excited to help move the district forward with a commitment toward preserving the tight-knit community’s traditions and foundations.
“The people of Taylor ISD give me the greatest sense of pride,” Padavil says. “These are educators and families who are truly invested in the potential of each student and believe in the future of our school district. Our team has been intentional about meaningful change and the community has embraced it.”
While Padavil has only served for a number of months in Taylor, he’s already made an impact on other district staff, including Tiffany Commerford Whitsel, assistant superintendent of organizational management.
“Devin Padavil is the epitome of a leader who motivates others to find their greatest potential,” Whitsel says. “Devin has been in Taylor ISD a short time, but he has already modeled what it takes to reach your greatest potential. He has a strategic mindset, he is innovative, a great communicator, and supportive of faculty, staff and students.”
Padavil says he feels personally compelled to discover the potential in other people and help them realize it. Taylor ISD’s mission statement is to “Inspire, equip and empower each student to achieve their unique potential,” and he takes that statement to heart.
“The thing that keeps me going is the idea that someone will be better off because of our work. I find fulfillment in helping other people reach their goals, mostly because I grew up a disadvantaged student who underperformed until I had educators inspire me. I consider it my purpose to give back in the same way.”
Networking and connecting with other administrators is an important part of what drives Padavil, motivating him and keeping him on track as he strives to be an inspiring leader.
“I reach out to as many other administrators and leaders as possible,” he says.” “This allows me to reflect, get consultation and sometimes hold a mirror up to myself to make sure I am being the leader I am meant to be for others. The more I talk to other leaders, the sharper I become.”
65+
years of educational facility design
Kelly Trompler
It’s rare that a school district is led by a homegrown superintendent, but in Bonham ISD, northeast of Dallas, that’s just the case. Superintendent Kelly Trompler graduated from Bonham High School and has spent her entire 27-year career in education working in the district. She now leads her hometown district with a unique perspective and firsthand insight into how the local community operates and what its values entail.
“Being in a district for a long time is a blessing in so many ways,” Trompler says. “For example, knowing the staff so well allows me to realize their value and contributions to the organization on a firsthand basis, making it easy to share with the community why Bonham ISD is the best small town district in Texas.”
Her colleagues say that Trompler’s attention to detail along with her ability to resolve issues and bring people together make her an inspiring leader.
“Bonham ISD is a better school district because of Kelly Trompler,” says Harold Colson, assistant superintendent in Pilot Point ISD. “What’s most impressive about Kelly is her leadership and commitment to the teachers, students and community of Bonham. Kelly embodies all the characteristics of a servant leader and has not only been an inspiration to me personally, but inspires everyone she comes in contact with.”
With one year in the superintendent’s office under her belt, Trompler has had to dedicate a large part of her work to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to her close ties to the local community, she has been able to respond to that and other challenging events in ways that have emphasized the school district’s integral role in the community.
“Staff at Bonham ISD care for the whole child, which includes their families and their needs outside the school day,” Trompler says. “We have formed several partnerships with local churches and community service organizations to provide counseling services, food and clothing for students on a routine basis.”
When the district first had to close schools due to the pandemic, district staff made twice weekly calls to families just to check in on them. Since then, the district has also leveraged resources to help in the case of catastrophic weather events. Serving as a superintendent is challenging, even in a relatively normal school year. Trompler stays motivated by looking at every situation with optimism. She strives to maintain a positive outlook, and brings that energy with her throughout her work, in part by starting each staff or administrative meeting detailing positive achievements in the district.
“I believe that starting with positives trains us to look for the good things and the success that is happening around us,” Trompler says. “I am forever looking for two things — the silver lining and what each challenging situation is teaching me that I can take on to the next difficult task I face. I think the fact that I look for how I can continue to improve my leadership also keeps me moving forward. That way my focus continues to be on the future and forward momentum.”
Don’t Call It Learning Loss
Learning didn’t stop during the pandemic. It just took new forms!
Explore fresh ideas and replicable best practices designed to help Texas schools recover from one of the most challenging years in education. Reimagine what learning success for ALL can be. Close the gap and reconnect with your students!
EXPLORE RESOURCES NOW!
—Jack Lynch, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director, HMH
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt® and HMH® are registered trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. 052021FSMSN
Veronica Vijil
For more than two years, Dr. Veronica Vijil has served as superintendent of Fabens ISD, in the El Paso area. With a background in education that spans more than 30 years, Vijil is the first Latina superintendent in the district, and says that she is exceptionally proud of the way Fabens ISD embraces the local community’s rich history.
“It’s fitting that as a farming community, our school calendar embeds a day when we celebrate the work of Cesar Chavez with lessons that promote social justice and civil rights,” Vijil says. “We are a rural school district located along the U.S.-Mexico border. We consistently look for areas to expand programs and opportunities for all students.”
Outside of her work in Fabens, Vijil is also an active member of the Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (TALAS), a group through which she serves as a mentor, recently to Linda Garcia, assistant principal at Kyle Elementary School in Hays ISD.
“I was very fortunate to be paired with Dr. Vigil as part of the TASA/TALAS mentoring program,” Garcia says. “What I have valued most about being her protégé is her ability to listen to my perspective and share her experience as a district leader to offer insight and advice. She has definitely helped build capacity in me as a school leader and I know that she will continue to do so with others in her area and around the state.”
While stress and work challenges are inevitable for any administrator, Vijil says she views them as learning opportunities. “If I truly dedicate the time to be the reflective practitioner I need to be, then the personal and professional growth outweigh the challenges I have to overcome,” she says. “Surrounding myself with positive people is key to forging ahead.”
As an inspiring leader, Vijil is open to learning and growing, no matter what the source of knowledge or new information might be. Recently, a new staff member in Fabens told Vijil that a successful leader must first be able to follow, and the words resonated with her.
“We have to put egos aside and understand that there is much to learn from others,” Vijil says. “I seek out colleagues with whom I can exchange ideas, vent and learn. There is a synergy that is created when a group of peers work toward a common goal. Through TALAS, I have the extreme pleasure of mentoring protégés like Linda Garcia and Eva Quiñones; as a person who listens intently to the numerous mentors and colleagues with whom I have connected, I become a better mentor to them.”
