|
June 2010
Like his father, Rhodes acknowledges the important role that school districts play in their communities — particularly in smaller towns. "My father had always been a tremendous person in the community, very upstanding and respected," Rhodes says. "Going back to the communities where he used to work, they all love him." This understanding planted a seed in Rhodes that ultimately prompted him to focus on an even larger community and join the Texas Association of Community Schools (TACS). He was sworn in as the new TACS president in May. Representing school districts with no more than one high school, TACS brings small districts together to develop, support and promote excellence in education. It’s a goal that Rhodes has worked toward on smaller scales for the bulk of his career. Rhodes studied education at Sam Houston State University (SHSU), graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1987. He took a job as a junior high school coach and science teacher in Klein ISD, on the northern edge of Houston. With an eye on a superintendency, Rhodes left Klein ISD in 1992 to be the assistant principal at Cuero High School in Cuero ISD, also a one-high-school district, where he stayed for two years. Within that time, Rhodes received his master’s degree in mid-management from SHSU before heading to Groesbeck ISD in 1994, where he was the principal of the only high school there. In 1996, Rhodes left Groesbeck and became principal of Stephenville High School in Stephenville ISD, yet another one-high-school district. In 2000, Rhodes made his move up the ladder to become superintendent of schools at Ingram ISD. He moved to Athens ISD in 2002 to be close to his parents in their last years. He acted as superintendent there for two years before moving to Needville with his wife and three kids in 2006, where he now serves as the district superintendent. Rhodes works tirelessly to support public education — whether it’s an issue affecting his district, or districts statewide. "I learned as I got further into my career that you need to be a voice out there and work for your profession," says Rhodes. "I think as you grow up in the business, you start to see where decisions are made and how decisions are made. And if you want to be a change agent in that process, you need to learn the system so that you can help make the decisions." Now at the helm of an organization that represents more than 700 school districts, Rhodes feels particularly called to be a part of the decision-making process. Often overshadowed by larger school districts, small school districts have banded together to protect their independent cultures. "Your school district is a direct reflection of the community it sits in," says Rhodes. "The community portion of that, to me, is very important. There are different issues up north or out west or down south." TACS honors that diversity and still understands the challenges that most of the smaller, independent school districts share — namely funding and representation. The association works to give its member districts every chance to meet the educational needs of their communities. For Rhodes and most TACS members, this includes maintaining as much local control as possible. "We just want to maintain the character of what we are and leave some of the decision making about our schools and what makes our communities unique to us," says Rhodes. "Everybody's in the business to better kids for their future. I think only the local people can make those determinations. We just need education to be equitable." Competition is among the major challenges that Rhodes sees for public education, with so many charter schools, private schools and home schools in the mix. "We need to know why some kids are moving away from public schools and reflect on that and see if we can meet the needs for those kiddos to keep them in the system," says Rhodes. For Rhodes, every child’s right to quality education is at the heart of public education. "For private schools, you must pay to go and you're selected to be there," says Rhodes. "But there's a right to education for every child. "We want TACS to be the voice for the small, midsized and rural school districts to protect free public education in Texas," Rhodes continues. "I think what everyone is looking for is equity in all school districts. We don't want anyone to suffer in the process." WHITNEY ANGSTADT is a freelance writer in Austin. |
For Needville ISD's Curtis Rhodes, being superintendent is a legacy. The youngest son of Glen Rhodes, who served as a superintendent of schools in Texas for more than 30 years, the young Rhodes heard his calling early in life and decided to follow in his father’s footsteps.