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THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2022
Garland ISD Highlights Success of SRO Program after Texas School Massacre
My Truth By Cheryl Smith Publisher
Congrats to the Class of 2022 It’s hard to imagine what members of the Class of 2022 are feeling. And that was also pretty much the case with the members of the Class of 2020 and 2021 who were not forewarned that a time they were working toward was going to be drastically altered, disrupted and many elements totally voided. No one could prepare them because so few if any were around for previous pandemics. And no other pandemics were quite as devastating, but if they were, folks didn’t know because there were no televisions or telephones; you just had “tell a friend.” Today, depending on your status and fan base, telling a friend could equate to telling millions, thanks to social media. It’s kind of hard to tell the Class of 2022 that “this too shall pass.” They are living in the here See MY TRUTH, page 6
By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines
The nation turned its eyes to Texas after the midday massacre last week at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde left 19 students and two teachers dead in the course of an hour. Texas remains the center of attention as President Joe and First Lady Jill Biden visited Uvalde over the weekend and this week the families began having funerals and memorial services for their loved ones. Although there appears to be more questions than answers regarding school safety with the launch of an investigation into how the shooter was handled, Scott LeMay, the mayor of Garland, is relying on efforts made by their School Resource Officer (SRO) program to continue providing safety for Garland ISD students. “I have high confidence in our SRO program and in the way that it has operated over the years,” said LeMay. “It is not just about putting an officer at a school. These officers are embedded in the schools. They know the kids, they know the teachers, and they know the parents. They build relationships with all of them.” It makes a difference for Gar-
GISD Trustee Johnny Beach
Garland Mayor Scott LeMay
Former Garland Mayor Ronald Jones
land ISD, which is one of the largest school districts in Dallas County with approximately 56,000 students from 72 campuses; serving the communities of Garland, Rowlett and Sachse. He added, “You can’t really put a value on this service. These aren’t just police officers stationed at the school, they work with the campus administration as well as with the overall school district.” Recent federal data shows that approximately 91 percent of SROs are armed, and most carry other restraints as well. Although nationally the SRO programs began in the 1950s, Garland ISD implemented the program in 1992. According to former Garland Mayor Ronald Jones, the SRO
programs are designed to enhance school safety capabilities. “I know for a fact that they work when implemented properly,” said Jones, who served three terms. “We started out on a smaller scale and continued to improve the program until it evolved into the program that it is today. “Even though every school districts has its own security program, in our case it is a partnership between the city of Garland and Garland ISD.” With a commitment to keep schools in his district safe, LeMay said that funding for the current SRO program is split between the City of Garland and Garland ISD. This has been the funding structure since the program began.
“Our SRO program offers safety and security at each one of our 72 campuses,” explained Garland ISD board trustee Johnny Beach. “With our SRO officers, we have boots on the ground on our campuses. This provides safety so that when our children come to school, they know that we have someone that has their eyes and ears on the hallways and around the school building in a time of need.” According to the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, there have been 540 school shooting incidents nationally since 2012; with Texas posting the highest number of incidents
Superb Women Our Superb Women! By Cheryl Smith Texas Metro News
2021 was the "Year of the Woman," especially the Black Woman! For 10 months we dedicated this space to uplifting Black women and spreading a message that we need to show love and empower people with love instead of destroying them with hate and disrespect. We celebrate Black Women and call them SUPERB! AND WE ARE KEEPING THE CELEBRATION GOING IN 2022! AQUA C. NIXON Aqua C. Nixon has a wonderful message, that every woman should embrace and it is one that adequately expresses who this beautiful woman is.
The creator and CEO of Charmzworld, Aqua C. Nixon, has a message that if every female believes as she states, we would all fall in love with ourselves and no-one could mistreat us. A wife and mother, Aqua is an entrepreneur, painter/illustrator, graphic artist, motivational speaker and blogger. Prior to creating Charmzworld and operating A Quality Graphics, Aqua worked for City of Dallas. She is the creator of a line of products/merchandise for girls of color called, “Charmz.” She spreads such a positive message based on the belief that every girl is beautiful. Her mission is to empower, enlighten and promote self-esteem in young girls by allowing them to see themselves in the products that they wear and use; to encourage them to “love yourself,” and to show them that they are beautiful and that anything is possible. JENNIFER WASHINGTON She’s talented, beautiful, innovative, and creative, that’s Jennifer Washington!
VOLUME X
publish over 40 books in the past decade. She’s a writer, speaker, trainer and leader. April provides training and consulting for nonprofit organizations and small businesses. She has worked at Uplift Education as an early childhood educator and office manager; an associate minister for preschool/special needs at Trinity Church; Library specialist at UNT-Dallas and Paul Quinn College; and a compliance specialist at Citicards. This writer/editor/publisher is an alumni of the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Communicators (now journalists) Urban Journalism Workshop and a former student member of the National Association of Black Journalists. TINA MOORE Tina Moore is a spiritual goddess, bring joy into the lives of so many with her smile, listening ear and sound advice and support!
A personal stylist and consultant, Jennifer Washington is who you need to have in your life! Jennifer attended Wilmer-Hutchins High School where she was Miss Wilmer-Hutchins 1974. That’s right — beauty and brains, a scholar and representative extraordinaire. Jennifer attended University of North Texas, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with the focus in Costume Design, Class of 1979. A jazz singer, Jennifer is also a jewelry designer and an administrative assistant for Episcopal School of Dallas. APRIL DISHON BARKER April Dishon Barker is a wife, mompreneur and minister.
The owner of Empire of Dreams, LLC, April Dishon Barker is a graduate of Paul Quinn College and an author-coach who has helped
Tina Moore says she is “a strong woman that knows what she wants and loves to bring smiles to people faces. I have a golden heart that is filled with much happiness.” She’s the owner of Moore Concierge Service and it’s no wonder. She puts the “customer” in customer service because she provides service with a smile and a level of professionalism that is unsurpassed. If you’ve ever seen her around Friendship-West Baptist Church, she is going to bring a smile to your face because she is living life like its golden and you’ll want to also! BRITTNEY Y. GRINER Brittney Griner, an athlete, author and advocate, is one of 11 women to receive an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, a Fiba World cup gold and a WNBA Championship. When people hear the name Brittney
Griner, they think about her outstanding performances on the basketball court in high school, college and with the Phoenix Mercury. A Houston native, who played at Baylor, Brittney is currently detained in Russia where she played for the UMMC Ekaterinburg. At 6’9” Brittney is the NCAA record-holder for most dunks and she is by far one of the Greatest of All Times. And there’s more to Brittney. The author of “In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court,” published in 2014; Brittney speaks out on issues of social justice and human dignity. She is passionate about addressing bullies and she was very outspoken about the playing of the national anthem during games. This wife and U.S. citizen is being unlawfully detained in Russia and every effort should be made, including the raising of voices demanding her release. BRENDA TEELE Brenda Teele believes every person is equipped with all they need to find success and “we all have More than Enough, we just have to identify, embrace, and develop our strengths.”
A graduate of Howard University with a degree in broadcast journalism, Brenda Jackson hails from Fresno, CA where she graduated from Roosevelt High School. A mother of three, Brenda is a member of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. She is a former news anchor at KTBS 3 News, NBC Universal,
CBS-11, ABC Radio Network and KKDA-AM Radio. An Emmy Award winner, Brenda has also helped run the family real estate title insurance business and she also judged the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader auditions. Brenda is the founder of ME More than Enough and Walk with ME (a podcast made for people who are physically walking alone to find community and inspiration from others sharing stories about their walk on the road of life). SHIRLEY FISHER Brains, Beauty and Class, Shirley Fisher is the epitome of elegance, grace and love. Always a lady!
Prairie View A&M had it going on back in the 1950s with the likes of Opal Smith and Shirley Fisher! Mrs. Fisher received a B.S. Degree in physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and a Masters of Education in Counseling and Guidance - both from PV with additional coursework and certification from the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University. She has taught and been a counselor in Galveston and Dallas Independent School Districts. Hailing from Galveston, she’s a graduate of Central High School. For almost 20 years she has been a Professor of Education at Cedar Valley College. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she was the 21st South Central Regional Director. She was inducted into the African American Education Archives and History Program Hall of Fame - Class of 2020 and a playground at William Brown Miller Elementary School is named in her honor. T. GERTRUDE JENKINS T. Gertrude Jenkins is passionate about providing the best educational experience for her students. T. Gertrude Jenkins has been an
See TEXAS SCHOOL MASSACRE, page 6
May 2022
English teacher at Fulton County Schools, Orange County Schools, and now, Summit Public Schools in Redwood City, CA. She received a B.A. in English Language and Literature, a Master of Education focused in English/Language Arts Teacher Education from University of Central Florida, and currently she is a Doctoral Student – EdD at University of San Francisco. Tamra’s research sheds light on the disparate treatment of Black children due to subconscious and conscious bias in classroom environments, while developing methods for improving cultural competence in teachers and creating safe and enriching spaces for student development. She hails from New Jersey and you can read her work in the book, “Rise For Racial Justice.” ORETHANN PRICE Orethann Price is a Hall of Famer, inducted by the African American Education Archives and History Program.
Orethann Price devoted more than 30 years in Dallas ISD elementary schools working to create exemplary campuses. Now a retiree, she focused on academic achievement and has been recognized for outstanding performance as a teacher: A. W. Blanton Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Dallas ISD Golden Award Nominee for National Teacher of the Year; Perot Teacher See SUPERB WOMEN page 8