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Board of Trustees Vice President Bob Covey was among the visitors at Cypress Springs High School to shake hands with a robot during School Priority Day on Oct. 25. CFISD opened Cypress Falls, Cypress Lakes and Cypress Springs high schools to more than 100 community members to see public education in action. Among the visitors were CFISD Board members and state-elected officials.
CYPRESS — Cypress-Fairbanks ISD welcomed more than 100 business partners and community members, including elected officials, to see public education in action during the second School Priority Day on Oct. 25.
Modeled after the “Make Education a Priority” campaign launched by Dallas/Fort Worth-area school districts in 2011, the event began and concluded at the Berry Center. Visitors were transported via school bus to and from the one of three high schools to take student-led tours of school buildings and observe different subjects over approximately two hours.
“I think it’s very important that our public sees our students in action, what actually happens in our schools and how we handle today’s education,” said CFISD Board of Trustees member Darcy Mingoia, who joined others in touring Cypress Lakes High School. “Many of us think back to the times when we were in school and we just don’t realize the changes that have been made and how prepared our young men and women are.”
Cypress Falls High School cheerleaders and members of the MOB spirit group welcome District 138 State Rep. Dwayne Bohac (center) and other community members to the campus for School Priority Day on Oct. 25. Rep. Bohac was among three state legislators represented on the tours of three CFISD campuses.
Texas representatives who participated in School Priority Day were Rep. Dr. Tom Oliverson (District 130), Rep. Dwayne Bohac (District 138) and Rep. Kevin Roberts (District 126), who couldn’t attend but did have a staff member participate in touring Cypress Lakes.
Rep. Oliverson said the many opportunities in career and technical education (CTE) he saw in touring Cypress Springs High School were impressive.
“One of the things I discovered today taking a tour is sometimes when we think of education, we think of reading, writing and arithmetic, get a college degree and then get a job and it falls into place,” he said. “The reality is there are a lot of jobs and a lot of careers that don’t necessarily require a four-year college degree, but require actual career and technical training. And I was surprised to learn how many students are graduating from Cy Springs High School who actually already have a certification [and are] ready to enter the workforce.”
District 130 State Rep. Dr. Tom Oliverson (right) and other community members listen to Samantha Lopez (left), Cypress Springs High School culinary arts teacher, during their visit to the campus for School Priority Day on Oct. 25. Visitors at Cypress Springs observed a number of career and technical education courses, including culinary arts, welding, veterinary medicine, cosmetology, automotive technology and Air Force Junior ROTC.
Campus visitors toured core subject areas but were also able to see CTE courses and other subjects related to CFISD’s five endorsements (STEM, Business & Industry, Public Services, Arts & Humanities and Multidisciplinary Studies). Those included audio/video production, engineering, culinary arts, veterinary medicine, welding, automotive technology, Air Force JROTC and fine arts.
Dr. Mark Henry, CFISD superintendent of schools, welcomes guests and community members to School Priority Day on Oct. 25. The event started and concluded at the Berry Center. More than 100 community members attended the event, where schools open their doors to visitors to see public education in action.
“Our representatives in Austin represent us and they make the best decisions they can based on feedback from the public, so it’s important as you roll into a legislative session for the public to have an awareness that may change their perception,” said CFISD Board of Trustees member Tom Jackson, who toured Cypress Lakes. “The public can pass on that awareness to their elected officials in Austin and let them know, ‘Here’s what I saw.’”
In addition to Cypress Lakes and Cypress Springs, guests also toured Cypress Falls High School.
The event finished back at the Berry Center, where guests shared lunch and offered their perspective on the experience. Dr. Mark Henry, CFISD superintendent of schools, shared some closing thoughts with the visitors.
“You all had the chance today to go into the schools and see that there are opportunities for all students,” he said. “The students in each high school are all very motivated to take advantage of those opportunities.”
Cypress Falls High School Principal Becky Denton (holding microphone) welcomes guests and community members to the campus for School Priority Day on Oct. 25. After arriving at the school, visitors were treated to performances by the choir, Air Force Junior ROTC and marching band.
Za’ndra Jackson of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council is interviewed by audio/video production students at Cypress Lakes High School during School Priority Day on Oct. 25. More than 100 community members attended the event, where schools open their doors to visitors to see public education in action.
A visitor at Cypress Falls High School sees the technology being used in the classroom during School Priority Day on Oct. 25. More than 100 community members visited Cypress Falls, Cypress Lakes and Cypress Springs high schools for the event.
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