George Morrison: Serving kids, families

"I can't think of a higher calling than being of service to children and families," George S. Morrison says. Morrison puts his words into action as professor of teacher education and administration and Velma E. Schmidt chair.

Because Morrison wants every child to have the chance to live the American dream, he developed Success for Life— a program he calls one of the most significant accomplishments of his career.

"Success for Life is a literacy-based program that takes the latest neuroscience and child development research and applies those theories to the home and classroom," Morrison says.

He believes that parents and teachers must stress the importance of academics for children at an early age. Therefore, Morrison specifically designed the program's curriculum to support early literacy and promote school and life success by educating young children in literacy, mathematics, music and fine arts, science, social studies, technology, wellness and healthy living, and character development.

In only its third year, Success for Life has touched the lives of more than 3,000 children and is currently implemented in more than a dozen programs in Texas alone, including the South San Antonio ISD, Waco ISD, Early Head Start and Head Start of Greater Dallas.

Success for Life is not all Morrison has to be proud of. When he joined UNT in August 1995, he became the only fully endowed chair in early childhood education in the United States.

Morrison teaches graduate courses, does research work, organizes fund-raisers and gives presentations about the program throughout the world. He will be the keynote speaker during a conference in Malaysia in September, and he will travel to Thailand in October to implement a Success for Life program there.

Morrison also has a busy writing agenda. He recently finished the eighth edition of Early Childhood Education Today, one of the most widely used college textbooks for early education in the United States. Morrison is also completing the third edition of Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education.

He maintains membership in many professional and community organizations, including the Denton Kiwanis Club and the Greater Denton Arts Council. To keep his busy schedule on target, he relies on his supportive and creative staff.

"They help me focus on the things that count most," Morrison says.

When he does get a break, Morrison relaxes on the water. An avid fisherman his entire life, he has developed a passion for fly-fishing — a hobby that gives him the opportunity to be alone.

"For me, fly-fishing is a solitary pursuit," Morrison says. "You get on the water and concentrate on reading the water and presenting the fly. Those aren't generally things you can do in a group."

BY JENNY McCORMACK paiswri2@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue:

• Campus construction projects progress
• Regents hear legislative appropriations requests
• Push is on to fill Fouts Field for game against Baylor
• Carnegie Foundation gives UNT highest designation
• 'Howdy Week' provides fun for students, faculty, staff
• Vehicle inspections have little impact, researcher finds
• Now students can choose academic theme floors
• New B.F.A. degrees approved
• Planning office surveys current, former students
• Answer line

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