TITLE: Congratulating Dr. Marcelo Cavazos on his retirement as superintendent of Arlington ISD.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Dr. Marcelo Cavazos on his retirement as superintendent of Arlington ISD.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Dr. Marcelo Cavazos is retiring as superintendent of the Arlington Independent School District on August 31, 2023, drawing to a close more than two decades of distinguished service to the district; and WHEREAS, Dr. Cavazos first joined Arlington ISD in 1999 as the associate superintendent for instruction; after serving as deputy superintendent for three years, he was named superintendent of schools in 2012; over the course of his tenure, he has become known for his frequent visits to classrooms throughout the district, offering encouragement and support to students and faculty alike; he often shares his philosophy that "education is the great equalizer," asserting that the barriers of poverty and historic inequality can be overcome through good schools; furthermore, his annual State of the District address has been a do-not-miss event in Arlington as he explains the importance of public education and furthers community engagement with local schools; and WHEREAS, During his time as superintendent, Dr. Cavazos has overseen the successful passage of two major bond measures, one in 2014 and another in 2019, that totaled $1.6 billion, and he has also helped develop numerous specialized academies focusing on early college education, fine arts and dual language, STEM, leadership development, and career and technical education; additionally, Arlington ISD created the nation's first districtwide STEM curriculum for four-year-olds; Dr. Cavazos's leadership proved especially valuable during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the district provided students with meals as well as more than 20,000 pieces of technology for online learning; and WHEREAS, This esteemed administrator has accrued numerous awards and honors in recognition of his accomplishments, and in 2016, he was named Texas Superintendent of the Year; furthermore, he was the Texas nominee for the 2017 AASA Superintendent of the Year Award; and WHEREAS, Dr. Cavazos holds bachelor's and master's degrees from The University of Texas-Pan American, and he earned his doctoral degree from The University of Texas at Austin; he began his career in 1990 as an English teacher in the Mission Consolidated Independent School District, and he went on to serve in various positions at multiple school districts in Texas, including McAllen ISD, Mercedes ISD, and San Benito Consolidated ISD; prior to joining the Arlington district, he worked at the Texas Education Agency Department of School Finance and Support; and WHEREAS, Through his dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence, Marcelo Cavazos has helped countless young Texans acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed, and his contributions will be remembered and appreciated for years to come; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Marcelo Cavazos on his retirement as superintendent of Arlington ISD and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Dr. Cavazos as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Turner Cook Bhojani Tinderholt Collier Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 453 was adopted by the House on March 16, 2023, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House