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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Marcelo Cavazos is retiring as superintendent |
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of the Arlington Independent School District on August 31, 2023, |
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drawing to a close more than two decades of distinguished service to |
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the district; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Cavazos first joined Arlington ISD in 1999 as |
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the associate superintendent for instruction; after serving as |
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deputy superintendent for three years, he was named superintendent |
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of schools in 2012; over the course of his tenure, he has become |
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known for his frequent visits to classrooms throughout the |
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district, offering encouragement and support to students and |
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faculty alike; he often shares his philosophy that "education is |
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the great equalizer," asserting that the barriers of poverty and |
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historic inequality can be overcome through good schools; |
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furthermore, his annual State of the District address has been a |
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do-not-miss event in Arlington as he explains the importance of |
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public education and furthers community engagement with local |
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schools; and |
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WHEREAS, During his time as superintendent, Dr. Cavazos has |
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overseen the successful passage of two major bond measures, one in |
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2014 and another in 2019, that totaled $1.6 billion, and he has also |
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helped develop numerous specialized academies focusing on early |
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college education, fine arts and dual language, STEM, leadership |
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development, and career and technical education; additionally, |
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Arlington ISD created the nation's first districtwide STEM |
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curriculum for four-year-olds; Dr. Cavazos's leadership proved |
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especially valuable during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when |
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the district provided students with meals as well as more than |
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20,000 pieces of technology for online learning; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed administrator has accrued numerous |
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awards and honors in recognition of his accomplishments, and in |
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2016, he was named Texas Superintendent of the Year; furthermore, |
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he was the Texas nominee for the 2017 AASA Superintendent of the |
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Year Award; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Cavazos holds bachelor's and master's degrees |
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from The University of Texas-Pan American, and he earned his |
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doctoral degree from The University of Texas at Austin; he began his |
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career in 1990 as an English teacher in the Mission Consolidated |
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Independent School District, and he went on to serve in various |
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positions at multiple school districts in Texas, including McAllen |
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ISD, Mercedes ISD, and San Benito Consolidated ISD; prior to |
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joining the Arlington district, he worked at the Texas Education |
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Agency Department of School Finance and Support; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his dedication, expertise, and commitment |
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to excellence, Marcelo Cavazos has helped countless young Texans |
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acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed, and his |
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contributions will be remembered and appreciated for years to come; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Marcelo Cavazos on his |
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retirement as superintendent of Arlington ISD and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Cavazos as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |