Dwight Davis, candidate for Place 6 on the Garland Independent School District board of trustees, loves kids and believes that our kids are our future.
“I want to serve the kids and make sure they get the right education,” he said.
Davis has lived in Garland for 37 years and is a retired college professor, serves on State Representative Angie Chen Button’s Education Roundtable. He is also involved in several teachers’ organizations and his wife has been an educator in GISD for 18 years.
He said that part of the district’s strategic plan is to have better communication with the community, parents and children. To this end, meetings are now available on television and online and all contract information is posted on the website. He believes that the district is trying to continually improve and become more transparent.
“Total visibility is needed,” Davis said.
Davis wants to help ensure that the recently approved bond money is spent wisely and that there is no overspending. The money has to be spent the way it was intended and the best contracts and best people to do the work must be sought out.
“I want to ensure that the board has a clear understanding of the details for all major expenditures, not just a blank check,” Davis said, “I want the checks and balances and visibility to be there.”
“I plan to work as a team member with the board and the superintendent,” Davis said.
He also expressed a willingness to disagree on items that he does not feel are best for the district.
“I really want to support the students, the teachers and the community. I know what the community is feeling and what they have expressed to me. I want to see that we have any changes that we make will result in GISD being more transparent and accountable to the community,” Davis said. “We plan to keep improving GISD in these areas which would benefit everybody — students, teachers, everybody.”
“I was a part of the GISD five year strategic plan during 2014 and worked on the formulative assessments for the elementary students,” Davis said. “This will help teachers in the classroom develop individual growth plans for their students to better help them achieve better growth.”
He is excited about the opportunities that will be opened up for Garland as a result of the new Career & Technology Center with 16 core areas of advanced and new career areas. Davis feels great about the direction the district is going by providing career training for students. Every student should be able to receive the courses that they need to go into any trade, occupation or college following high school graduation.
Davis has served as a board member on three boards over a nine year period, which he feels is an asset to him for service on the GISD school board. He has also attended about 100 GISD board meetings over the last 10 years and clearly understands the GISD board processes and requirements.
Davis said that he has been actively serving GISD in several ways over the last few years and is ready to spend the time required to fully serve GISD on this board in a professional and active manner.
Some personal qualities that Davis feels will benefit him as a trustee include that he works hard and is accountable for everything he does, his people skills and that he works to build people up.
“I’m going to be an advocate for the people,” he said.
Additionally, he feels that his job experience both in human resources and working with contracts will be helpful.
Education:
Four degrees from Grace College in Indiana plus two certifications
· Master of Theology in Christology – Theology, Bible, Leadership, Staff Performance (Summa Cum Laude)
· Master of Business Administration in Management (MBA) in Human Resources Management
OD, Business Leadership, Finance, Conflict Management (Summa Cum Laude)
· Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources Management
OD, Business Leadership, Finance, Coaching (Magna Cum Laude)
· Bachelor of Science in Electro/Mechanical Engineering in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering with Computer Science (Dual Major – Magna Cum Laude)
· Certified Performance Technologist in Human Performance Technology from International
Society for Performance Improvement in Maryland
· Project Management Professional from Project Management Institute in Pennsylvania
Job responsibilities have included:
· Human resources management
· Organization development, effectiveness and learning
· Information Technology program and project management
· Finance and cost controls
· Contracts
· Quality assurance
Community service includes:
· Leadership Rowlett
· State Representative Angie Chen Button’s Education Roundtable
· State Representative Angie Chen Button’s Senior Citizens and Technology Roundtables
· Garland and Rowlett Chambers of Commerce
· GISD five year strategic plan – Assessments development team
· Campus Improvement Team – GISD Academy campus
· Garland Retired School Personnel – member
· UTD PM Symposium – annual presenter