by Donna Garner
Published: 09-29-08
The October issue of Texas Monthly features a disturbing attempt to malign the Texas State Board of Education members who fought and won the battle to bring addition subtraction multiplication and division back to our Texas elementary schools.
Nine of the fifteen SBOE members also voted to adopt new English / Language Arts / Reading standards for K-12 that will require our public schools to teach phonics grammar usage spelling handwriting persuasive and expository writing informational discourse research skills and content-rich literature.
For all of the efforts of these nine SBOE members instead of being applauded by Texas Monthly the magazine has smeared them by creating a “quiz” cherry-picking quotes out of context and using these to design questions on the “quiz” that deliberately portray various members in a very negative light. (If you want to see the Texas Monthly quiz you can view it on the magazine’s website; but I certainly would not spend a penny to subsidize this publication.)
Since I taught school for over 33 years I decided I would put together a quiz of my own; but mine is quite different from the one published by Texas Monthly. Instead of disparaging the backgrounds of these dedicated SBOE members I have chosen to highlight their many areas of expertise and public service. These nine well-prepared people are certainly not dunderheads!
*In Texas the fifteen-member Board is elected by the voters. This guarantees accessibility and accountability to the voters who put the members in office. The SBOE members receive no financial compensation even though they spend countless hours serving the school children parents and educators of our state. Texas SBOE members’ decisions have national significance because they impact textbooks curricula and programs used not only in Texas but throughout our country.
What do you Know About These Texas State Board of Education Members?
1. What SBOE member attended the University of Alabama for two years and then graduated from LSU with a 4.0 GPA?
A. Snoopy
B. Gail Lowe
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
2. Who has earned a Bachelor’s in biology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Business Administration from UT-San Antonio?
A. Snoopy
B. Ken Mercer
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
3. Who graduated from the public schools in Dallas earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Methodist University is certified as an academic language therapist has a Master of Science in Reading from Texas A&M-Commerce is a reading specialist for children with dyslexia and is a licensed real estate broker?
A. Snoopy
B. Geraldine Miller
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
4. Which SBOE member has taught high-school anatomy and physiology is a licensed practicing attorney in the state of both Missouri and Texas and has devoted much of her practice to the area of appellate law?
A. Snoopy
B. Cynthia Dunbar
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
5. Who was reared in San Antonio attended The University of Texas at San Antonio and is the president/chief executive officer and co-founder of a global financial sales and marketing firm for institutional investment companies?
A. Snoopy
B. Rick Agosto
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
6. Who has served on the “I Have a Dream” Foundation the National Orton-Dyslexia Society the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Greater Dallas and the Dallas County Heritage Society?
A. Snoopy
B. Geraldine Miller
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
7. Which SBOE member graduated Summa Cum Laude with an undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education and received her Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce?
A. Snoopy
B. Terri Leo
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
8. Which SBOE member obtained her undergraduate degree in biology and psychology was admitted to medical school and graduated with honors from law school where she served as graduate assistant to the Dean and was editor of the school’s law review?
A. Snoopy
B. Cynthia Dunbar
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
9. Who received his Eagle Scout award in 1972 and has served on the executive board of the Three Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America?
A. Snoopy
B. David Bradley
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
10. Who is a co-publisher and copy editor for her city’s newspaper is a member of various regional and national newspaper organizations and is an honorary member of Delta Kappa Gamma?
A. Snoopy
B. Gail Lowe
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
11. Who was awarded the Phi Delta Kappa Scholarship for Educational Administrators (given to an outstanding teacher in the school district) became an administrative intern and served as an active member of the Council for Exceptional Children and the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired?
A. Snoopy
B. Terri Leo
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
12. Who is a graduate of the largest school district in the state of Texas and was a proud member of the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets?
A. Snoopy
B. David Bradley
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
13. Who has served on the Chamber of Commerce’s education committee for the second largest city in Texas and the seventh largest city in the U. S.?
A. Snoopy
B. Rick Agosto
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
14. Who has a Masters of Business Administration in finance and management from St. Mary’s University?
A. Snoopy
B. Ken Mercer
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
15. Who helped facilitate the first dyslexia law in Texas and in the U. S. A. (1985) and was also awarded the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas A&M-Commerce?
A. Snoopy
B. Geraldine Miller
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
16. Who has taught a fourth-grade Sunday school class for almost 30 years and has been active in Youth Soccer and Boy Scouts receiving the District Award of Merit?
A. Snoopy
B. Don McLeroy
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
17. Who has been a successful businessman in both the insurance business and in real estate development for over twenty years?
A. Snoopy
B. David Bradley
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
18. Who has worked in the school computer lab served as a reading mentor in the HOSTS program assisted fifth-grade math students to boost their skills on the TAKS and has served as a judge for UIL journalism contests?
A. Snoopy
B. Gail Lowe
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
19. Who was founding president of his city’s Citizens on Patrol a neighborhood crime prevention/patrol organization?
A. Snoopy
B. David Bradley
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
20. Who holds a Masters of Science in Science Education with a 4.0 GPA from Texas Woman’s University and an undergraduate degree in education from Baylor University?
A. Snoopy
B. Barbara Cargill
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
21. Who has served as a member of her local school district board of trustees and as a member of the district and campus site-based decision-making committees?
A. Snoopy
B. Gail Lowe
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
22. Who is serving on the SBOE’s School Finance/Permanent School Fund Committee that oversees the Permanent School Fund a $22.2 billion endowment that is the second largest educational endowment in the United States?
A. Snoopy
B. Rick Agosto
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
23. Who has earned numerous awards including the Thanks to Teachers National Excellence Award and the National Audubon Society Award?
A. Snoopy
B. Barbara Cargill
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
24. Who was a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army was a member of his school district’s board of trustees and was appointed chair of the Texas State Board of Education by the Governor?
A. Snoopy
B. Don McLeroy
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
25. Who is the recipient of three separate American Jurisprudence Awards in the areas of Property Law and Trial Practice?
A. Snoopy
B. Cynthia Dunbar
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
26. Who has been certified as a Professional Project Manager served as a member of the Texas House (member of Higher Education Committee and State Transportation Committee) and was named by the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association as Legislator of the Year?
A. Snoopy
B. Ken Mercer
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
27. Who was nominated for both the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science/Mathematics Teaching and the Science Teachers’ Association of Texas Outstanding Teacher Award?
A. Snoopy
B. Barbara Cargill
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
28. Who was first elected to the SBOE in 1996 and was re-elected in 2000 2002 and 2004?
A. Snoopy
B. David Bradley
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
29. Who earned her undergraduate degrees in both elementary and special education has taught in three different public school systems and is a certified expert in the teaching of visually impaired and special needs students?
A. Snoopy
B. Terri Leo
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
30. Who holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Doctor of Dental Science degree from The University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston?
A. Snoopy
B. Don McLeroy
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
31. Who has taught in the reading laboratory of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children and in the Highland Park Presbyterian Hillier School for Dyslexia?
A. Snoopy
B. Geraldine Miller
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
32. Who visits schools during the school year to offer special science programs to children and also founded and directs a children’s science program that has operated since 1995 attracting 1200 children each summer who participate in creative/hands-on learning?
A. Snoopy
B. Barbara Cargill
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
33. Who has volunteered in elementary and middle school classrooms every week for 14 years helping to teach struggling students?
A. Snoopy
B. Gail Lowe
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
34. Who has worked in the field of science education for over 20 years; taught biology in two metroplex public school districts; sponsored the drill team cheerleaders senior class; instructed students in SAT prep; and was a team counselor for at-risk students?
A. Snoopy
B. Barbara Cargill
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
35. Who serves as an advisor to the Governor as a member of the Texas Homeland Security Council?
A. Snoopy
B. Ken Mercer
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
36. Who was admitted to do post-graduate studies on Constitutionalism conducted at Hertford College Oxford University?
A. Snoopy
B. Cynthia Dunbar
C. Superman
D. Superwoman
Donna Garner
wgarner1@hot.rr.com
