DISD superintendent to speak at TAMS graduation

Mike Moses, superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District, will be the featured speaker as the 2,000th Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science student graduates this month.

Approximately 180 students are expected to receive TAMS diplomas at this year's commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. May 9 in the UNT Auditorium Building.

TAMS is a two-year residential program that allows talented students to complete their freshman and sophomore years of college while earning their high school diplomas.

In addition to Moses, speakers at this year's commencement will include graduating students Becky Blackmon, daughter of Harry and Donna Blackmon of Plano, and Eric Wilson, son of Andrew and Emily Wilson of Wichita Falls, who were chosen to speak by fellow TAMS students.

During the ceremony, Walt Parker, UNT vice chancellor for governmental affairs, will be named an honorary alumnus of TAMS.

Parker joined UNT in 1979 as assistant to the president after serving five consecutive terms as Denton County's state representative. He was appointed to his current position, then called vice president for external affairs, in 1982 and served full time until August 2001, when he requested that his service be reduced to part time. Parker has been instrumental in helping TAMS obtain funding from the Texas Legislature.

Moses, recently named Texas Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Administrators, has served in Texas public education for more than 25 years, starting as a teacher and administrator in the Duncanville and Garland school districts.

After serving as superintendent for the Tatum, La Marque and Lubbock school districts, Moses became the 19th superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District on Jan. 1, 2001. One of the largest school districts in the nation, the DISD serves more than 160,000 students living in 11 municipalities.

A year after becoming DISD superintendent, Moses directed a $1.37 billion school bond election for the district — one of the largest bond elections in the nation. The bond package includes the construction of 20 new schools and renovations to some of the district's existing schools.

Moses served as Texas commissioner of education from 1995 to 1999 and was deputy chancellor of the Texas Tech University System from 1999 to 2001. He is also the author and co-author of numerous articles on student performance and accountability and teacher preparation, and has given more than 600 speeches to education, business, civic and community groups. He has appeared before national legislative committees more than 30 times and was invited to address the U.S. Congress freshman class about issues in public education.

His honors include being named one of four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Administrators and winning the Texas Business and Education Coalition's Distinguished Service Award, Texas A&M University's Gold Deeds Award in Education and the Key Communicator for Public Education Award from the Texas School Public Relations Association. He was presented with life memberships in the Texas and the national chapters of the Parent-Teacher Association.

A native of Nacogdoches, Moses earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University and his doctoral degree from Texas A&M University at Commerce.

BY NANCY KOLSTI nkolsti@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Pohl: 2003-04 budget still unclear, commitments to quality education remain
• Commencement is May 10
• About the May 10 commencement speaker
• UNT System continues plans for public law school for North Texas region
• Faculty Senate chair reflects on a year full of changes
• UCM earns 10 awards for writing, publications, marketing materials
• Faculty Senate approves resolutions, admissions policy change report
• UNT to host National Youth Sports Program

homepage