Looking around the district, it is not difficult to see the impact of 40-year Garland ISD administrator Marvin Roden. He not only initiated computer services in GISD, but also oversaw production of the district’s first custom-built student information system and can be credited with the collection of several school sites. GISD honored this legacy by renaming a facility in his honor. The Dr. Marvin D. Roden Technology Center was dedicated May 9.
Born Jan. 19, 1943, in Red River County, Texas, Roden graduated from Avery High School in 1961. He then attended Paris Junior College and East Texas State University, earning an Associate Degree in 1963, Bachelor of Science in 1965, Master of Education in 1967, and Doctorate of Education in 1992.
Roden’s professional career began in 1965 at Ennis ISD, where he served as a math teacher, counselor and the Director of Adult Basic Education until 1970. He then joined the Region 10 Education Service Center as the Director of Interface Services. His 40-year tenure with the district began in 1974. Roden’s first position in GISD was Director of Pupil Personnel Services. In 1979, he was named Assistant Superintendent for General Administration, a title he held until his first retirement in 2000. After retirement, Roden returned to the district in a part-time capacity, working as the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and District Demographer until December 2014, when he ended his longtime career in education.