News & Events
The Mesquite Promise How a districtwide program nurtures students by Mary Ann Lopez
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ore than 30 school board members attending txEDCON23 TASA | TASB Convention in Dallas took a field trip to Mesquite ISD where they learned about an innovative districtwide program that is having a positive impact not only with students and staff, but on the entire district community as well. The Mesquite Promise is based on four guiding principles — excelling, belonging, dignity, and making a difference — and 16 habits aligned with those principles. The goal is to create a supportive learning environment that nurtures student development, while removing barriers so they can learn, grow, and be successful. Trustees took a bus from the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center to visit two of the district’s schools, located about 17 miles east of Dallas. Mesquite ISD spans 60 square miles, including Mesquite, Garland, and Balch Springs. It serves more than 38,000 students on its 52 campuses and has about 5,400 employees. Trustees visited Rutherford Elementary School and Vanguard High School, taking student-led tours and enjoying two lunch panels, the first of which included students, followed by teachers, librarians, and district leaders.
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In the opening presentation at Rutherford Elementary School, Mesquite ISD Superintendent Ángel Rivera explained that The Mesquite Promise is a set of beliefs and a way of life. “The promise is about student outcomes,” he said. “It may look differently at different schools, but it’s always about outcomes.” The Mesquite Promise isn’t something only relegated to teachers or administrators; it is a part of every aspect of the district because, Rivera said, “everyone, regardless of title, has an impact.” Putting The Mesquite Promise into practice required a mindset shift, he said. “Young people are not problems to be fixed, but fires to be lit,” Rivera said. “The Mesquite Promise is a lens to view our shared commitment, a framework to identify opportunities and encourage and support positive habits with simple strategies and resources. It’s a promise we make to our students, our
| November 2023 | issuu.com/tasb-org
community, our parents. And it permeates every decision and interaction.” How students put the four guiding principles into action will vary, and some actions may seem small, but when each student takes initiative, it can have a larger, lasting impact. For example, the first promise, “You Were Made to Excel,” is tied to four habits: taking initiative, being accountable, setting ambitious goals, and pursuing your passion. For students, that might include picking up trash to keep their campus clean, helping others, studying for a test, or acknowledging when they’ve made a mistake. In June 2020, Mesquite ISD formed the Leadership and Empowerment Team, which was tasked with finding ways to remove obstacles while encouraging belonging and dignity for all. To make a systemic change, the district launched The Mesquite Promise. During the field trip, students from Rutherford Elementary School and Vanguard High School made presentations and guided trustees through their individual campuses, showcasing the programs offered to students and explaining how they tie in with The Mesquite Promise. Winford Adams Jr., vice president of the Spring ISD board, was one of the visiting trustees. “I wanted to learn more about what Mesquite is doing in regard to The Promise,” Adams said. “It’s a good opportunity to see what is happening on the ground.