January 2020 Employers for Education Excellence Resolution

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS parents and employers play a key role in supporting public schools; and

WHEREAS mentoring children can have a lifelong impact on students’ lives; and

WHEREAS the Texas Legislature recognized this important school-parent-business partnership when it directed the State Board of Education to create the Employers for Education Excellence award in 2007; and 

WHEREAS Toyota of Boerne, the Haynes and Boone law firm, and Southwest Airlines are recipients of the 2019 Employers for Education Excellence gold level award for their extensive involvement with their communities’ schools; and 

WHEREAS Toyota of Boerne supports the Boerne Independent School District by providing auto parts and vehicles to the district’s automotive; science, technology, engineering, and math classes; and FFA chapter and its employees have donated 300 hours of volunteer service; and

WHEREAS the Haynes and Boone law firm collaborates with Dallas ISD’s L.G. Pinkston High School’s law practicum, engages with students from middle school to college to increase the diversity of the legal provision, and supports a flexible environment that allows parents to participate in school activities; and 

WHEREAS Southwest Airlines partners with North Dallas High School’s P-Tech program, sponsors an Adopt-A-Pilot program that brings aviators into classrooms, offers employees the “freedom to flex” work hours so they can attend school events; and donates round-trip tickets to non-profit organizations for every 40 hours of volunteer time; and 

WHEREAS the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department and Accenture are recipients of the silver level award for their student mentoring programs and volunteer activities; and

WHEREAS the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department works with Dallas ISD’s P-Tech program, mentors students and sponsors a Fire-Rescue Explorers Troop in which student learn basic knowledge about the fire service, including emergency medical services; and 

WHEREAS Accenture partners with Dallas ISD’s P-Tech program at Seagoville High School and works with the Bridges from School to Work program to help prepare young people with disabilities for employment; and  

WHEREAS Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Thomson Reuters are recognized as bronze award recipients for their family-and-school friendly volunteer policies; and 

WHEREAS Pricewaterhouse Coopers assists with career development and mentoring activities in the James Madison High School P-Tech program in Dallas ISD and makes discretionary volunteer time available to employees, which can be used to support school activities; and 

WHEREAS Thomson Reuters is a signature partner with Dallas ISD’s P-Tech program where it actively engages in mentorship activities and provides grants to schools and other non-profit organizations when employees donate 20 or more hours of their time; and 

WHEREAS school districts and charter schools that encourage parental and community involvement are vital components of this program; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED that the State Board of Education urges Texas businesses to look upon these seven Employers for Education Excellence award recipients as role models for civic engagement; and be it further

RESOLVED that the State Board of Education today awards Toyota of Boerne, Haynes and Boone, Southwest Airlines, Dallas Fire-Rescue Department, Accenture, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and Thomson Reuters with the 2019 Employers for Education Excellence award for their generous and continuing support of Texas students and teachers. 

WITNESS our signatures this thirty-first day of January, two thousand and twenty, in Austin, Texas.

___________________            _______________________
Keven Ellis, Chair                    Georgina C. Pérez, Secretary
State Board of Education        State Board of Education