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Tuesday
March 16, 2010 Since 1922 |
Crosby school superintendent to retire
By Kristen Young
Baytown Sun Published February 21, 2007 The road to retirement is never easy, but the superintendent of the Crosby school district said he wouldn’t have it any other way. His drive to raise the bar in academic excellence is as strong after 42 years in education as it was the day he began his journey.
Don Hendrix, 63, said one of his greatest joys has been seeing the Crosby district grow and improve during the last 21 years. Like a proud papa would show off baby pictures in his billfold, Hendrix rolled out sheets of improved test scores and graduation rates.
“One of the things we’ve done here is turn this blue collar district into a place where college-bound kids have a chance to achieve something great,” Hendrix said.
In 1986, the Crosby school board told the newly-hired Hendrix they wanted to see major changes in the district’s failing academic programs. Hendrix said it became his mission to completely overhaul the reading and writing programs and provide all students, no matter race or social standing, with adequate buildings to learn in.
“We’ve decided to build work capacity. Over the last 15 years we’ve been involved in a highly academic program,” Hendrix said. “You know how people say, ‘I was country before country was cool?’ Well we did phonics before phonics was cool. We completely changed how we taught reading and writing.”
As superintendent, Hendrix has seen Crosby become one of the fastest growing districts in the state.
Hendrix is a local boy at heart. He began elementary school in Highlands and graduated from Deer Park High School.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is that I’m a member of the first Deer Park alma mater,” he said.
But the diploma means more to him than just another “first.” Hendrix, whose single mother raised him and his two sisters while working full-time as a waitress, said he was fortunate when the Deer Park school district agreed to put him and his sisters on the free lunch program.
“Back then the free lunch program meant you got to lunch about 15 minutes early and had to stay 45 minutes to wash dishes,” he said.
In 1997, Deer Park honored its first graduating class. Fastened to the wooden plaque with Hendrix’s name engraved on it, is a bowl marked with the district seal — the same bowl used when the district first began serving lunch to students.
“See, that bowl has a special meaning for me. That isn’t just a bowl — that’s a bowl I washed when I was in school. When I see that, it makes me appreciate what they did for me. It makes me want to not just lend a hand, but lend a hand up,” Hendrix said.
After receiving his bachelors and masters degrees from Stephen F. Austin University, he earned a certificate in education administration and a doctoral degree from the University of Texas.
In the early days of his career as an administrator, Hendrix was principal in the Crystal City school district while working for the liberal Raza Unido political party. Hendrix said he’s settled down since then.
“I ran into a young man one day at a conference and he looked at me and asked me my name. When I told him he said, right there in front of all my friends, ‘Where has your mustache and long hair gone? This guy used to be a hippy.’ Turns out he was in high school when I was principal there.”
Hendrix’s extensive career as an administrator took him from the Rio Grande Valley to the border and back to the bay area.
“I’m very thankful for being in Crosby all these years,” he said. “I’ve had wonderful board member and terrible board members, but I respect every one of them because they’re here volunteering their time.”
Hendrix said he will continue to serve as superintendent through June and then will take on the official title of superintendent emeritus through November to ensure that the new superintendent is prepared to fully take on all obligations.
“I want to make sure the transition is health,” he said. “Very fine people had school here before I came and very fine people will have school after I leave.”
Hendrix holds the distinction of serving as superintendent in one district for longer than anyone else in Harris County.
“But what I’d rather be known for is helping the kids. I’m always on the lookout for someone who says they’re just doing something for the kids because you can’t just say that. You have to have done something to prove it.”
Baytown Sun Published February 21, 2007 The road to retirement is never easy, but the superintendent of the Crosby school district said he wouldn’t have it any other way. His drive to raise the bar in academic excellence is as strong after 42 years in education as it was the day he began his journey.
Don Hendrix, 63, said one of his greatest joys has been seeing the Crosby district grow and improve during the last 21 years. Like a proud papa would show off baby pictures in his billfold, Hendrix rolled out sheets of improved test scores and graduation rates.
“One of the things we’ve done here is turn this blue collar district into a place where college-bound kids have a chance to achieve something great,” Hendrix said.
In 1986, the Crosby school board told the newly-hired Hendrix they wanted to see major changes in the district’s failing academic programs. Hendrix said it became his mission to completely overhaul the reading and writing programs and provide all students, no matter race or social standing, with adequate buildings to learn in.
“We’ve decided to build work capacity. Over the last 15 years we’ve been involved in a highly academic program,” Hendrix said. “You know how people say, ‘I was country before country was cool?’ Well we did phonics before phonics was cool. We completely changed how we taught reading and writing.”
As superintendent, Hendrix has seen Crosby become one of the fastest growing districts in the state.
Hendrix is a local boy at heart. He began elementary school in Highlands and graduated from Deer Park High School.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is that I’m a member of the first Deer Park alma mater,” he said.
But the diploma means more to him than just another “first.” Hendrix, whose single mother raised him and his two sisters while working full-time as a waitress, said he was fortunate when the Deer Park school district agreed to put him and his sisters on the free lunch program.
“Back then the free lunch program meant you got to lunch about 15 minutes early and had to stay 45 minutes to wash dishes,” he said.
In 1997, Deer Park honored its first graduating class. Fastened to the wooden plaque with Hendrix’s name engraved on it, is a bowl marked with the district seal — the same bowl used when the district first began serving lunch to students.
“See, that bowl has a special meaning for me. That isn’t just a bowl — that’s a bowl I washed when I was in school. When I see that, it makes me appreciate what they did for me. It makes me want to not just lend a hand, but lend a hand up,” Hendrix said.
After receiving his bachelors and masters degrees from Stephen F. Austin University, he earned a certificate in education administration and a doctoral degree from the University of Texas.
In the early days of his career as an administrator, Hendrix was principal in the Crystal City school district while working for the liberal Raza Unido political party. Hendrix said he’s settled down since then.
“I ran into a young man one day at a conference and he looked at me and asked me my name. When I told him he said, right there in front of all my friends, ‘Where has your mustache and long hair gone? This guy used to be a hippy.’ Turns out he was in high school when I was principal there.”
Hendrix’s extensive career as an administrator took him from the Rio Grande Valley to the border and back to the bay area.
“I’m very thankful for being in Crosby all these years,” he said. “I’ve had wonderful board member and terrible board members, but I respect every one of them because they’re here volunteering their time.”
Hendrix said he will continue to serve as superintendent through June and then will take on the official title of superintendent emeritus through November to ensure that the new superintendent is prepared to fully take on all obligations.
“I want to make sure the transition is health,” he said. “Very fine people had school here before I came and very fine people will have school after I leave.”
Hendrix holds the distinction of serving as superintendent in one district for longer than anyone else in Harris County.
“But what I’d rather be known for is helping the kids. I’m always on the lookout for someone who says they’re just doing something for the kids because you can’t just say that. You have to have done something to prove it.”