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PROGRESS A Publication of The Marshall News Messenger

Part 2 of 4 | EDUCATION

New Wiley president is champion for students ........................................... 3 ETBUâ€™s educational vision becomes reality....................................... 7

Sunday, March 3, 2019

2019

Marshall ISD continues to make academic gains ...................................... 11

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For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious

He may

strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being

and

established in love, may have

together with all the Lordâ€™s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be

the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him

glory in the

church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

A ATETBU.

BE ENRICHED. BE ROOTED. BE EMPOWERED. BE FULFILLED.

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A Champion for His Students

New Wiley College President Herman Felton Jr. holds education close to his heart By RoBin y. RichaRdson

RYRICHARDSON@MARSHALLNEWSMESSENGER.COM

or Wiley College President Dr. Herman J. Felton Jr., education is a treasure that he holds near and dear to his heart — literally. “A lot of folks are afraid of where you start at, but I embrace from whence we came and where we started,” the college president said of his own struggles of failing high school, overcoming dyslexia, obtaining his GED and ultimately satisfying his thirst for knowledge by pursuing and earning multiple advanced degrees — including his recent doctorate in executive leadership, which he earned this past December from Jackson State University. While a showcase of his collegiate degrees aren’t in his office, visitors will see a beautifully framed display of his three high school transcripts, serving as a reminder of his inspiring journey to succeed despite his circumstances. “In that transcript is three different high schools that I got kicked out of,” Felton said, pointing out the details showing a 1.29 GPA; a class ranking of 425 out of 486; retention of the 10th grade; and a host of Ds and Fs in all the major studies, including world history, biology, math and English, from grades seventh through 12th. “So, I didn’t meet the Algebra 1 Assessment requirement (to graduate),” he said. “So those things happened, but what I didn’t know at that time was that I was dyslexic. All this time, from the seventh to the 12th grade, I was thinking I had an impediment, and it wasn’t until I got into the Marine Corps that I learned that I was dyslexic.” Felton keeps the transcripts on his wall as a reminder that education is attainable and obstacles can be overcome. “Well I initially kept it in my breast pocket because I wanted to remind myself of where I came from and no matter what I wore; I wanted to be very close to the fact that I didn’t graduate from high school,” Felton said, holding his hand over his heart. “And it helped me with empathy towards our students,” he added. “Not that our students are in the same boat; it

Robin Y. Richardson/News Messenger photo

Wiley College President Dr. Herman J. Felton Jr. poses with students at his president’s home on campus. just put me in the mindset that kids have impediments on a daily basis and we have to find out what they are so that they can reach their best potential. “And so that paper, carrying it since 1989, it was kind of frayed and it was just raggedy and torn up, and so I requested a copy of them and got them framed to make sure that in my office was the most important reminder: No degrees (displayed) — because I think where you start is probably more important than where you finish.” HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Felton was raised in Jacksonville, Florida by his young single mother, who took on two jobs to make ends meet. “My mother, by the time she was 27, she was pretty much on her own with six of us, and we moved from apartment complex to apartment complex until we settled in this one place,” he said of a housing project called Pottsburgh. “Most of our formative years were

there, and we matured there,” he said. “We all went to high school and junior high and did what we were supposed to do with the exception of a few things here and there.” Felton’s oldest brother went into the Air Force and his oldest sister followed suit, enrolling into the Army. “And I wanted to do what they were doing, but I found myself a little misguided,” said Felton. The fact that he didn’t finish high school held him back. Being on his own since age 15 didn’t help the matter either because he said it made it easier not to go to school. His mother kicked him out at age 15 for being rebellious. “I wasn’t following the rules,” Felton said. “And so my mom always believed that one was not greater than the sum of us, and so her primary focus was to make sure that all of us had a safe place and had everything that we needed to be successful; and success for her was us graduating

high school. “She had a seventh-grade education, so us graduating from high school was it,” Felton said. “And as fate would have it, I didn’t graduate from high school, but was fortunate enough to get in the Marine Corps — and the Marine Corps was really the impetus for everything else that has happened — the discipline, the loyalty, the allegiance to something greater than myself — all of that was instilled through the Marine Corps.” A BREAKTRHOUGH Felton credits the prayers of his mother for allowing him to pursue an education and not become a victim of his circumstances. “(It was) just having a praying mama,” he said. “My mom prayed for us all the time, and I tried to mess it up. I mean I literally tried to mess it up.” As fate would have it, Felton was required to get his GED within a year of See WILEY, Page 4E

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Wiley From Page 3E completing basic training in order to be in the Marine Corps. It was at his first duty station in Iwakuni, Japan where he learned of his learning disorder. “I went in to get my GED, and we did a simple test and I couldn’t pass in the time limit,” Felton recalled. “The lady asked why and I told her, I had problems reading ... I can read, but there are times when the letters appear backwards or jumbled.” The instructor immediately recognized his issue. “A light went off. She said ‘You’re dyslexic, and that’s not uncommon. A lot of people have that challenge,’” Felton said. Knowing that was a relief. He always enjoyed learning, but it wasn’t fun. He didn’t know why until then. “Not understanding why letters were mixed and jumbled at times, you kind of keep that to yourself when you’re growing up in the hood,” he said, sharing he was embarrassed. “You don’t necessarily share that with anybody. “It just released a big, big ton of weight off of my shoulder (to learn he was dyslexic). So this notion that I’m not dumb anymore was the reason why I pursued education,” Felton said. After serving the country in the United States Marine Corps for eight years, Felton said he wanted to go back to school. “I got out and thought that education was something that I would take a stab at after I landed what I thought was my dream job — working at the United States Postal Service,” Felton said. “Coming from a blue collar background, those opportunities provide really nice incomes for people and people are supporting their kids and putting them through college and all those good things. It was a government job and good benefits. And there was just still this itch to do more.” He was working six days a week, 12 hours a day and making good money, but Felton said he was exhausted and missing quality time with his family. He knew he needed a college degree to improve his life. “I’m walking out of the plant, I see this young guy, a BMW. It wasn’t a fancy BMW, but he didn’t have the dirty clothes that we had on and he was neat, so I asked him like what do you do here. He said he worked in logistics. I said well: ‘How do you do that?’ He said: ‘I applied for the job out of college.’ That was the connection. I knew I needed to go get a college degree,” said Felton. “I didn’t want to work in the bulk mail process plant all day long for the rest of my life.” He enrolled at Jacksonville, Florida’s Edward Waters College, where he earned his degree in three years. While there, the

Robin Y. Richardson/News Messenger photo

Wiley College President Dr. Herman J. Felton Jr. visits with students on campus. Felton is Wiley’s 17th president and will be honored and installed in March during the 146th Founders Observance celebration March 10-16. seed of someday becoming a college president, advocating for students, was planted as he served as the Student Government Association president. During that time, he watched his own college president challenge a Board of Trustees decision to reduce the amount of students entering the college under the Open Door Admissions Policy. “I remember it as it was just yesterday,” Felton said. “The Board of Trustees had a board meeting and they were talking about increasing the enrollment standards and decreasing the amount of population that came in under the Open Door Admissions Policy. “But that’s how I got in, under the Open Door Admissions Policy,” he said. “And so I watched each board member go around and make the case for why the college needed to move in that direction. They were re-branding themselves and trying to attract national prominence and all this good stuff. I just watched, and it didn’t really resonate to me what really was at stake, meaning people like me not having

an opportunity until my president got up and annihilated them — with words — in a very powerful and passionate way. And there, I realized that advocacy was where I wanted to be, but particularly advocacy using the weapon of education was where my calling was.” Felton went on to law school at the University of Florida on a full scholarship and became a Virgil Hawkins Scholar — named after a man who fought to integrate the University of Florida and be a part of the Florida Bar Association. “His case went up before the Supreme Court and invariably ended with a settlement, and that settlement was that he never apply to the Florida Bar and the University of Florida Law School,” Felton said. “So he kneeled so that we could stand... And so being a Virgil Hawkins Scholar, forever engraved in my brain is the true notion of sacrifice, what it really means to stand on principle — be-it popular or not — when you know that right is right, you stand. Felton began his career in higher

education at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, where he worked for F. King Alexander — now the president of Louisiana State University. Felton said Alexander “gave me an opportunity out of law school to learn the ins and outs of higher ed.” He worked in development to raise money, but also had the opportunity to teach. After three years at Murray State, Dr. Jimmy Jenkins, Felton’s undergrad president at Edward Waters, recruited him to join him at his new college, Livingstone, in Salisbury, North Carolina. “He called and said it’s time to come home,” Felton said. At Livingstone, Felton started as the president’s executive assistant. “I loved it,” he said. “The passion was there; it never waned and every day you grew more and more excited about being a beacon and being a part of a system that gives young folks their purpose and shows them what passion looks like and helps them find where their contributions to See WILEY, Page 5E

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Wiley

Michael Cavazos/News Messenger photo

The A Capella Choir of Wiley College performs at spring convocation.

From Page 4E t this society, and where that platform — w where they’re able to aid the society — w where it comes from. “Being able to do that is a powerful ffeeling,” said Felton. After nine years at Livingstone College, Felton landed his first opportunity to be F a chief executive officer at the historic Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, W O Ohio. Wilberforce was the first private h historically-black college to be owned by A African-Americans. Reflecting on the rich history of histtorically black colleges and universities ((HBCUS), Felton said he is blessed to be a p part of them. “If you know anything about HBCUs... iif you study these spaces, you know there are some schools that do some amazing a sstuff,” Felton said. “I’m proud to be conn nected to some.” WELCOME TO WILEY Being the new president at Wiley Colllege is even more rewarding, Felton said. H He’s honored to serve as the college’s 117th president and continue to build on its legacy and rich history of not only

being a quality liberal arts education, but a leader in the social good movement. “Social good now encompasses more than just fighting for civil rights,” said Felton. “It’s about air and land and a quality of life; it’s just so many other things. (It’s) how does (a) human benefit from good treatment of others. And what is owed to each other and what inalienable rights do we have that are not being applied or given as they should be.” Felton is proud of Wiley’s alumni, including James Farmer Jr., the founder of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and Bill Spiller, who helped integrate the PGA. “I love to golf, but understanding that a Wiley graduate had something to do with that (integration)” is astounding, Felton said. The best kept secret, Felton believes, is the fact that Wiley College is also the alma mater of Heman Marion Sweatt, the first African-American admitted into the University of Texas School of Law. “What makes this appointment really special to me is because he did the same See WILEY, Page 6E

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Wiley From Page 5E thing that Virgil Hawkins did,” Felton said. “They both were suing law schools.” “...I draw strength from those two gentlemen, because what it is is a re-occurrence of a theme that says our job is to: No. 1, do no harm, but No. 2, to make sure wherever harm is done that we (root it) out and deal with it, particularly when it comes to equality for all mankind. “What I liked about both of those gentlemen in studying them is that their desire to find equality wasn’t rooted in race; it was rooted in a simple notion that we’re all equal and that accessibility should be for all — not just for black people, not just for brown people, not just for whites, but for all,” he said. “It’s just something that you can wake up every day and really chase after, I think, in a good way,” Felton would add. As he prepares for his upcoming installation at Wiley, Felton said following his predecessor Dr. Haywood L. Strickland is nerve-racking, but also a welcomed challenge. “I like the notion of walking in the big shoes,” said Felton. “I get to walk into those steps until I grow out of them. And so I look at the opportunity of following a giant with pride and with great anticipation.” As president of Wiley, he plans to Michael Cavazos/News Messenger photo continue to carry out the mission that has been set by the United Methodist Church. Students and faculty gather for the Wiley College Spring Convocation on Tuesday. “I want to make sure that our students leave here with a quality liberal arts education and that they understand the basic meals and visitations and smiling faces Felton is thankful by the hospitality “(There’s) a lot of work to do, but I’m realtenets of social good and leadership,” and collaborative spirits and we’ve been shown to him and his family. ly excited about where Wiley is today and Felton said. That’s it.” running since we got here,” he said. “Our time here has been replete with where she’s heading for tomorrow.”

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ETBU continues to grow with vision of staff, students and community By Bridget OrtigO

With progress, comes change — a sustained momentum at ETBU that moves us forward to meet the needs of our growing ast Texas Baptist University stustudent body and a culture that desperately dents and staff are excited to see needs well educated, skillfully equipped, the ever-growing Marshall campus and Christian truth-driven students and continue to progress through the years graduates,” Blackburn said. with expansion and vision. Blackburn said by centering its focus ETBU President Blair Blackburn conon God, the university seeks to change tinues to use the university’s light on the the lives of its students, then use those Hill to reach students year after year, both students to impact the community and the academically and spiritually. world. The university has seen several changes “With hearts united to God’s calling and and expansions this past year, and more hands gripped in service to others, our are on the horizon. ETBU Tigers are investing their lives in “As one drives by East Texas Baptist making a transformative difference in our University or walks upon its Hill, you find society,” Blackburn said. “In Romans 12:1a campus beaming of beauty and progress. 2, Paul’s instruction to ‘not conform to the pattern of this world’ certainly is no different today in our nation as we see values Special to the News Messenger and behaviors counter to God’s desire for ETBU students learn about athletic our faithfulness to His truths. Through ‘the training and kinesiology. See ETBU, Page 8E BORTIGO@MARSHALLNEWSMESSENGER.COM

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ETBU From Page 7E renewing of minds,’ ETBU is teaching and preparing our students to take a bold stand for God and make a profound Christian impact in our local communities and around the world.” Not only has ETBU added programs and facilities, but its student enrollment is also on the rise. “Moving forward in faith, ETBU has experienced more than 23 percent growth in students over the last four years,” Blackburn said. “Through God’s blessing of generous donors, we have added academic and athletic facilities, refurbished sustainable buildings and improved campus grounds. From the University Park Rowhouses on Van Zandt Avenue to the rising Oaks on Grove Townhouses, the neighborhood surrounding campus is being renewed.” As ETBU continues to train future leaders of the world, a recently-expanded program and new facility will allow the university to impact even more lives, both physically and spiritually, through the addition of its new nursing facility at the historic Marshall Grand Hotel. “This spring’s addition of the downtown campus for the School of Nursing in the Marshall Grand will enable ETBU to double its teaching cohort capacity and open the door for graduate programs in health care,” Blackburn said. “The institution’s commitment to enhancing downtown Marshall with the preservation and use of one the region’s most iconic architectural jewels will hopefully be a driver for continued economic development in our city.” The Marshall Economic Development Corporation partnered with ETBU on a $200,000 development grant for the renovation of the new facility. “Relocating the School of Nursing to the Marshall Grand will provide us the additional space needed to train more nurses to help meet the growing need for trained medical personnel in our state and region,” ETBU Vice President for Advancement Scott Bryant said. “The move impacts our community, East Texas and wherever our students go as they serve Christ as nurse professionals.” The university’s Nursing Program was also recently ranked eighth among 114 programs in Texas by RegisteredNursing.org. From nursing to athletics, ETBU students were introduced to new facilities in 2018. ETBU hosted a grand opening celebration for its completed Tiger Softball Clubhouse in February. The “Domus Victorium–Solus Christus... a Home for Champions — For Christ Alone” campaign was launched to raise funding for the 3,000-square foot facility featuring a locker room for 32 student-athletes, coaches’ of-

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Students in the Frank S. Groner School of Professional Studies receive hands-on instruction in athletic training and kinesiology. fices and a lounge for team study, fellowship and discipleship. “We want to emulate Christ in our competition, facilities, interactions, and beyond,” Blackburn said at the time. “Every contact with our Tigers is an opportunity for them to minister and be the hands and feet of Jesus to others. The transformation that we see in and through our students as we support, shape and mold them to fulfill their calling is the mission of our university. I am honored to be an active member of the Tiger family.” In addition to the clubhouse, ETBU upgraded Taylor Field with an artificial playing surface by Symmetry Turf of Mount Pleasant in the infield and outfield, a new padded outfield wall for enhanced player safety, backstop netting, handicapped-access stands in the left and right field, and a berm for additional seating in center field. East Texas Baptist University’s Taylor Field was named by Turface Athletics as 2018 NFCA Field of the Year in NCAA See ETBU, Page 9E

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East Texas Baptist University intends to renovate Craig Hall, pictured here, for use by ETBU’s largest academic school, the Frank S. Groner School of Professional Studies.

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ETBU From Page 8E Division III. Selected by the NFCA Awards Committee, the top fields and stadiums in the nation are recognized for their exceptional playing surfaces and grounds maintenance. The university’s newly constructed University Park Row Houses, which provide housing for 132 student residents, also received accolades. The Louise Ornelas University Park Row Houses received an Outstanding Project Award for excellence in educational facility design in the Fall 2018 edition of Learning by Design, the premier source for education design innovation and excellence. Learning by Design’s jury of eight architects applauded ETBU for its accomplishSee ETBU, Page 10E Special to the News Messenger

East Texas Baptist University’s Tiger Softball Clubhouse received an Outstanding Designs Award in the Sports Stadium/Athletic Facility category of the current American School & University Architectural Portfolio recently.

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ETBU From Page 9E ment in designing the row houses. The university’s new row houses also received an Outstanding Design Award in the Residence Hall category of American School & University’s Architectural Portfolio 2018, the sourcebook for award-winning and outstanding education design. American School and University’s jury of four architects gathered from around the country to judge the Architectural Portfolio 2018. Awarded

projects exhibited clarity of concept and innovation in response to the specifics of the program, users, community, and site. Next up, ETBU plans to renovate Craig Hall for its largest academic school, the Frank S. Groner School of Professional Studies, through the CARE (Commitment to Academic Resources for Excellence) for Craig Hall campaign. The facility is named in honor of former ETBU President Robert E. “Jack” Craig, who led ETBU from 1986-1992. “ETBU invites alumni and friends of

the university to join us as we extend Dr. Craig’s legacy by showing CARE for Craig Hall,” ETBU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Thomas Sanders said previously. “Your support will provide our current and future students with the modern educational space needed to develop skills for their callings. Fundraising for this contemporary learning environment recently surpassed $100,000 towards a campaign goal of $500,000.” As the university continues to move

forward in its mission to educate students while providing spiritual nourishment, Blackburn said he prays the light on the Hill will continue to be a beacon in the dark for the East Texas community. “We are blessed to have a Marshall community, churches, and East Texas region that have embraced and supported ETBU, a University that remains committed to its founding Christ-centered mission of integrating biblical faith and academic learning,” Blackburn said.

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Marshall ISD continues to make academic gains under new leadership By Bridget OrtigO

BORTIGO@MARSHALLNEWSMESSENGER.COM

arshall ISD Superintendent Jerry Gibson and his team of administration staff, and teachers, including new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Anika Perkins have found a way in the past few years to educate students in a meaningful and lasting way, rather than just teaching to a test. “We have what we call the five big rules,” Perkins said. “These five rules are non-negotiable on every campus. Dr. Gibson wanted to design this system so that no matter who is superintendent, this consistency would be there.” Perkins, who joined Marshall ISD in late 2016, said consistency has been a problem for the district in past years. “Dr. Gibson arrived in Marshall and looked at the state of the district and realized that throughout the about past 10 years, there has been constant change at Marshall ISD, from superintendents to campus administration. Dr. Gibson was the third superintendent in five years when he came, and now he’s in his third year here.” So Gibson sat down with Perkins and other central administration staff to iron out a successful system that would be followed, no matter who was in charge. “The big five as we call them are power walk-throughs, data rooms, Professional Learning Communities, Reflective Practice Model and small group instruction,” Perkins said. Power walk-throughs consist of each campus’ administration, meaning the principal and assistant principals, making at least 20 walk-throughs on their campuses each week. “The walk-throughs are a great way for administration to see what’s going on in the classrooms and it’s a way of

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Students in Ms. Kauffman’s kindergarten class at David Crockett Elementary School enjoyed a special visit and welcome from Superintendent Dr. Jerry Gibson on the first day of school in August 2018. holding teachers accountable,” Perkins said. “This way we can be assured our students are getting the best education possible.” Another of the big five rules is that

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each campus has data rooms for teachers, Perkins said. “At each of our campuses, we have data rooms and those rooms have charts that contain a profile of every single

student at that campus,” Perkins said. “Those charts show the strengths and weaknesses of each child, and they get updated throughout the year based on assessments.”

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