(ROCKWALL, TX – Nov. 16, 2016) Rockwall ISD Superintendent shared some positive updates regarding the school district to members of the Rockwall Chamber of Commerce during its Partnership Luncheon this afternoon.
Addressing luncheon attendees inside Warehouse 45 (Children’s Building) at Lake Pointe Church, Villarreal provided an overview of the many successes happening within the school district throughout his first 100 days as Superintendent.
Villarreal said the district is currently celebrating those students who were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Twenty-one Rockwall ISD students were among the 50,000 National Merit Commended students throughout the nation recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Commended Students are among the top five percent of more than one million students. Additionally, four students were selected as Hispanic Scholars for their performance on the 2015 PSAT. The National Hispanic Recognition Program, established in 1983, is a College Board program that provides national recognition of the exceptional academic achievement of Hispanic high school seniors and identifies them for postsecondary institutions.
Villarreal highlighted the success of high school students in a couple UIL state competitions, including the Rockwall High School Robotics team who earned second place in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) state competition in August. Rockwall-Heath High School earned 15th place in the UIL Lone Star Cup state competition which honors schools in six divisions based on their team performance in district and state competitions in fine art, athletic and academic UIL events.
Villarreal reported 54 percent of the student population of Rockwall and Rockwall-Heath high schools is involved in some type of extracurricular competition. “That’s huge because they’re extending their learning environment, working together in groups collaborating in a common purpose,” Villarreal said.
The district also has several important Bond projects underway, including Elementary School 14 and the College and Career Academy.
“At Amy Parks Elementary we’re almost at 850 total students going into that building every day,” Villarreal said. “We have to relieve some that student enrollment there and Elementary School 14 will be that answer, and we’re excited about opening that in the fall of 2017.”
The College and Career Academy, Villarreal said, will offer career technology education courses including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), business, health science and public services courses, plus dual credit courses counting towards high school and college graduation.
“We’re partnering with Collin County and working with a soon-to-be-named four-year university so if you want to stay right here in Rockwall, you can receive a four-year university degree,” Villarreal said.
Looking ahead, Villarreal said the school district will continue working to provide students with an authentic learning environment and preparing them to become successful in whatever career path they choose.
“Our goal as a district is really simple – we want to see all kids smiling. Delighting the customer is what we want to do, delighting our families, delighting our students so that they leave us prepared for college and the workforce, and having a voice of confidence.”
Prior to becoming superintendent for Rockwall ISD in May 2016, Dr. Villarreal served one of the highest performing school districts in the state – Carroll ISD – as the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services beginning in Oct. 2011. Dr. Villarreal planned, organized and facilitated the district’s recent strategic plan. He has also worked with the Temple ISD, serving as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, high school principal and International Baccalaureate head of school, elementary principal, academic coordinator, Teen Involvement teacher, high school counselor and coach. He holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from Tarleton State University, a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Tarleton State University, a Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development at Hardin-Simmons University, along with a Bachelor of Science from Hardin-Simmons University.
By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News editor / senior reporter. Photos by Richard Redig, Blue Ribbon News.
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