Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath, a graduate of Garland High School, recently paid a visit to the staff and students at Garland ISD’s Back ES. He was there to help them celebrate their ‘A’ rating and for earning six of six distinction designations.
Distinction designations are awarded in the following areas:
- Academic Achievement in English Language Arts/Reading (campus only)
- Academic Achievement in Mathematics (campus only)
- Academic Achievement in Science (campus only)
- Academic Achievement in Social Studies (campus only)
- Top 25 Percent: Comparative Academic Growth (campus only)
- Top 25 Percent: Comparative Closing the Gaps (campus only)
Principal Amanda Ramos said that she’s proud of the staff and students. She said that she had been thinking about how they got there.
“I truly, whole-heartedly believe that we’re here because we focus on relationships with the students. We focus on getting to know them as individuals,” Ramos said. “We focus on meeting them wherever they are academically and then being intentional with growing each child…I’m so incredibly proud of the Back family.”
Morath explained that children will rise to the expectations that are set.
“The reason we are here today is because we in Texas believe morally…We believe deep down in our bones that all children can learn and achieve at high levels,” he said. “If we set expectations that are a mile high they will reach a mile high. If we set expectations that are out in the stars, they will reach them. This is why we [educators] do this work.”
Morath added that a few years ago, Back ES was barely above C-level status. However, even coming out of the pandemic, the school’s rating improvement is amazing and shows huge levels of student growth.
He added that only a few campuses in the state had gone from where Back ES was to their current rating.
“This is remarkable…So I really just want to say to the principals and teachers at Back, it is amazing what you’ve accomplished…So let me do what everyone should do for educators.” Morath said
At that point, he got on his knees and bowed to them!