I am one of the few persons who can say I lived to see the torch of leadership passed to the next generation. Marissa, I did not realize in my few months at Townview that I had made any impact on students there. I thank God; He chose to bless me in this special way.
You must know I love you and appreciate the support you gave me. The support of students validates my efforts to a greater extent than support given me by any adult.
Learn from this experience. Make it one of your great lessons in life. You came up a winner. I learned something also. I learned that I can believe in the future because you will be there. Call me if you ever need me.
Love and Hugs, Ora Lee Watson, Ph.D.
The calm that prevailed at DISD was relative--and short-lived. Townview's sidewalks remain free of demonstrators. A doubling of TAG-only classes and the restoration of a community lunch period seemed to calm the magnet school's angry parents.
But last week, the TAG group filed a formal petition to leave DISD and form a charter school.
Responding now to every howl, Woolery stumbled repeatedly in his attempt to find an acceptable choice to replace Watson as principal of the supermagnet. After removing unacceptable "Negro" Leon Hays, Woolery called a press conference and eagerly announced the permanent selection of highly regarded Carter High School Principal Joseph Brew, an African-American.
Parents and students at Carter went ballistic about the prospect of losing him. They held a huge meeting at the school the night of the announcement, then staged their own demonstration in front of Carter the next day. At that evening's school-board meeting, DISDofficials--just one day after appointing Brew--announced that the move was off. A veteran school administrator was named to fill the Townview post on an interim basis.
Meanwhile, Dallas' Hispanic community--noting that its student population in the district now outstrips the black student population--began making its own demands. Woolery quickly announced the selection of a Hispanic superintendent from Santa Fe as his deputy superintendent, creating an entirely new position. Black leaders are now grumbling for an African-American deputy superintendent, with equal pay and equal status.
In shamelessly scrambling to make everyone happy, Woolery--not surprisingly--had managed to satisfy no one. Several trustees now say they are assembling a board majority to oust him.
The trouble at Townview--an isolated conflict--has mushroomed into a full-fledged crisis for the entire Dallas public-school system.
Sandy Kress--a lonely, well-meaning emissary from the business community--has given up. The entire TAG magnet--a rare oasis of academic excellence--is threatening to secede. The district's leadership has abdicated its responsibility to make thoughtful decisions--and stick by them--in favor of craven politics and deference to whomever screams the loudest.
There remains hope. A new school-board president--most likely, Kathleen Leos--will take office in May. Chad Woolery may rediscover some sense of resolve--or be replaced by someone who never lost it. The business community--recognizing the danger of further chaos in the city's public schools--may recommit itself to the hard work of making things better for those who can't afford private school.
All of that may happen. If it doesn't, Dallas' children will pay the price.
