Email: mnelson@laredoisd.org

Employment Contract

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Greetings LISD,

Hello and welcome to the 2009-2010 school year, I am very excited to be here in the Laredo Independent School District and I hope everyone had a great summer vacation.  This year we are welcoming over 25,000 students to LISD on 32 campuses.  The beginning of school is always an exciting time for teachers, staff, parents, and students.  There is something about the newness of a school year that causes everyone to reminisce about school years of the past and focus on making the school year at hand the best it can be for everyone.  Being new to Laredo, I can see why everyone around here is so excited.  We have an excellent group of students whose hearts and minds are filled with so much promise and potential.  It is an honor for me to be the Superintendent of Schools and I know we can reach all of the goals we have set for this year.

We have over 1,600 teachers that are also new to LISD.  I would like to thank Mr. Ernesto Guajardo and the entire Department of Human Resources for taking care of these employees and for organizing a new teacher orientation over the summer break.  Mr. Alvaro Perez and the Finance Department staff have also been working hard this summer by supervising finances, facilities, and operations.  I appreciate his effort and the departments he has led to get schools ready for our students’ return.  I believe in clean schools that look immaculate.  These expectations require maintenance and custodial staff that pay attention to details and keep our campuses, offices, and classrooms looking like buildings that our precious students deserve.  Thanks to Mr. Edmundo Lopez for completing our construction projects up to and including the opening of J.C. Martin Elementary School, the expansion at Leyendecker Elementary School, the reconstruction of the Child Nutrition Program kitchens, and the continued renovations of Shirley Field.

Speaking of Shirley Field, I want to congratulate Coach Don Davis and the coaches and football team at Martin High School on their recent victory over Nixon High School. The Nixon Mustangs’ staff and students can be very proud of the way their young men competed and the rivalry lived up to all the hype again this year.  I look forward to next years’ annual game.  I also see that our Cigarroa High School Toros opened with an exciting game against La Joya.  Cigarroa’s games against Martin and Nixon promise to be just as exciting.  I have enjoyed watching our volleyball teams, drill teams, cheerleaders, and bands.  These dedicated students started off the school year looking extremely sharp and full of Laredo Pride.  The first student I met was a VMT student named Albert Torres.  Have you met this young man?  He is probably one of the sharpest students I have ever had the opportunity to serve.  I met this MHS student along with several other clearly outstanding students during my first week here in Laredo.  They were involved with a press conference with our Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar promoting one of our programs known as Teens In The Driver Seat.  I believe all of our students are special and filled with the same potential as Albert, and NHS students Mario Flores and Tannya Benavides, whom I also met at the press conference.

I also want to thank Mrs. Veronica Castillon and the entire Department of Communications for the overwhelming welcome reception and the fantastic General Session.  The health fair was very informative and the actual General Session was fabulous.  I appreciate the theme “Race To Success.”  The sense of urgency generated from this theme is the exact frame of mind I believe we should have as we serve our students.  I especially enjoyed the video.  A special thanks to Mrs. Jeannette Martinez and the entire ITV department for the extra work that went in to putting together such a fun documentary to stamp my arrival. The video also illustrates the power that comes from being one team with the goal of focusing on getting our kids ready for college and the work place.  I will never forget the board meeting that began my time here, my first weeks on the job, and the General Session.  Mr. Julio Mendez, Mr. Carlos Luna, Mr. Fred Rodriguez, and Col. J.A.Pelto also deserve some recognition for putting together some awesome music, dance, and presentations. I am looking forward to a great school year and I can’t wait to see our students and staff in additional video projects.

As I close, I thank all of you who have welcomed me to Laredo.  I believe the challenges in the days ahead are very serious.  We are facing increasing expectations for academics, safety, and spending our budget.  If we work hard, work smart, and work together I believe we can accomplish our goal of creating graduates that are able to compete in an ever-changing society.  We must expect more of our students.  We must expect more of the LISD community, and we must expect more of ourselves.  Our students deserve our very best work every day.  No matter what our role is in the district, we all are part of the LISD team.  On this team we are racing to success and excellence for every student.  The future of Laredo, Texas depends on the education of our youth.  Let us all focus on our students and serve them and the families in ways that change their lives.  Have a great day and welcome to LISD. 
Si se puede.

Hasta Luego,
Dr. M. Nelson