This past weekend, the Metropolitan African
Methodist Episcopal Church, which is led by Pastors Rev. N. Jordan Mkwnazi and
Rev. Henrietta Mkwnazi, presented me with the Trailblazer Award as part of the
congregation’s 2012 Women’s Day Celebration. Previous recipients of this award
are Dr. Bertha Means, Judge Brenda Kennedy, and State Representative Dawnna
Dukes – whose leadership and service to this community are unparalleled.
Congratulations to the three outstanding women who also received awards: Sheila Henry, Principal of LBJ Early College High School, Cassie
Bowling, an active volunteer who encourages
students to attend college, and Martha Bison, president of Sunbelt Theater
productions.
As superintendent, I am proud to lead the educators who strive every day to create
hope and opportunity for each of our students, no matter who they are or where
they live. In our academic and facilities work over the past several months, we
have made strides in alleviating overcrowding, expanding opportunities, and
strengthening academic offerings in parts of town that often have been
neglected. If we get this right for all our students—and we do mean all—we can
be the standard against which urban public education is measured.
The good people of this church,
and at countless other houses of worship in Austin, serve as positive role
models who inspire our youth to realize their dreams. We are grateful for their commitment to making our
community a better place.
