TASA has named the Lyford CISD Board of Trustees the 2022 Outstanding School Board — the top honor in the TASA School Board Awards program, which has honored Texas school boards that have demonstrated commitment to their students and to their communities since 1971. The program is sponsored this year by Google for Education, GPD Group, Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union, and Raise Your Hand Texas.
The Lyford CISD school board was chosen from among five finalists that were interviewed by a committee of Texas school administrators. The committee was impressed by the level of services and opportunities the district offers students, especially considering its small size. True to their mission statement of “Work hard, dream big, conquer the future!” the board is focused on college and career readiness and robust career and technical education.
“They regularly say to each other, and we heard it several times [during the interview], ‘Why not us? Why not our kids?,'” the selection committee said. “This board is always looking to give their students access to more and better opportunities to learn and grow, especially beyond those assessed by standardized tests. Their other motto is ‘More than a test.'”
The committee also noted that the Lyford CISD board has both pride in their traditions and a willingness to embrace change. They also hold the trust of their community, as illustrated by a recent bond passing with 69% of the vote.
“It is clear that they are very cognizant of representing their community in their decisions and they’re consistently asking for feedback and having an understanding of what the community expects,” the committee noted. “They represent their community really well and at a high level. They work to model for their community collaboration, trust, and respect for each other at their school board meetings and in their work.”
In her nomination of the board for this award, Superintendent Kristin Brown wrote: “A foundational piece of the LCISD Board of Trustees’ effectiveness is their commitment to maintaining constructive and amicable relationships with each other. This harmony creates a steady, positive baseline tone at board meetings and at the board’s frequent appearances at student competitions and other district events. In meetings, board members are able to ask direct questions about serious problems. LCISD is fortunate to have a stable board made up of members who have a personal stake in the district. Hometown heroes we call them, and hometown heroes they are.”
Lyford CISD is a small, rural school district located south of Raymondville in Education Service Center Region 1. The district serves over 1,400 students who live within a 300-mile radius, which includes Lyford, Sebastian, Santa Monica, Willamar, and Zapata Ranch.
The other four finalists for 2022 Outstanding School Board are: East Chambers ISD, Region 5; Goose Creek CISD, Region 4; Lubbock-Cooper ISD, Region 17; and Quinlan ISD, Region 10.
The 2022 Regional Honor Boards (semifinalists) are: Joshua ISD, Region 11; Lockhart ISD, Region 13; Highland Park ISD, Region 16 (Amarillo); Navasota ISD, Region 6; Robstown ISD, Region 2 (large district); Santa Gertrudis ISD, Region 2 (small district); Seguin ISD, Region 20; and Victoria ISD, Region 3.
