Men From Another Galaxy Part II – What Makes Great Men?

Texas Border Business – 

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By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez

This Part II of “Men From Another Galaxy” Exclusively written by Publisher Roberto Hugo Gonzalez.

What makes Great Men? This is a good question and difficult to answer with just a one word. To start I believe that there are several ingredients and maybe more for great men to be created. Some of those ingredients have to be wisdom, charisma, intelligence, and understanding.

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Through my journalistic career I have met great leaders that deserve recognition because of the impact they have made on their communities. They have become influential because their actions have benefitted society.

Two years ago, as I was covering Mayor Richard Garcia’s State of the City address, he briefly highlighted some of the great work Dr. René Gutiérrez Superintendent of Schools for the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District has been doing. Because of this, Texas Border Business adopted the idea to learn more about Dr. Gutiérrez.

Dr. René Gutiérrez has served as Superintendent of Schools for the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District since June 2009. He said, “I grew up in Reynosa, Mexico and attended school there until my parents relocated our family to McAllen, Texas where I attended McAllen schools and graduated from McAllen High School in 1983.

He has an Associate Degree in Applied Science from Texas Southmost College at Brownsville; a Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) from Pan American at Brownsville; and a Master of Education Degree from the University of Texas-Pan American. He received a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas-Pan American. His doctoral dissertation is entitled: Factors Contributing to the Academic Achievement of Mexican-Origin Immigrant High School Students.

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As superintendent, Dr. Gutiérrez is responsible for 43 schools. One of those schools, the Vision Academy of Excellence, was started by Dr. Gutiérrez and has been successful in recovering and graduating over 500 dropout students in 3½ years. Dr. Gutiérrez has built on the district’s “Legacy of Excellence” by providing a positive learning environment in every school that promotes high academic achievement and college readiness opportunities for all students.

Under Dr. Gutiérrez’s leadership, the district was awarded two Early College High School programs by the Texas Education Agency in the 2012-2013 school year to serve first-generation Hispanic high school students who might not otherwise go to college.

Over the last two summers, Dr. Gutiérrez has implemented “Innovate@ecisd.us” – an Educator Technology Conference designed to provide Edinburg CISD teachers with innovative teaching and learning through technology with strategies and resources.

It is important to say that under Dr. Gutiérrez’s leadership, Edinburg CISD became a Texas Education Agency “Recognized School District.”

Dr. Gutiérrez oversaw a $112 million construction Bond initiative that built four elementary schools, two middle schools, a new high school, and three high school Performing Arts Centers on time and under budget.

Dr. Gutiérrez was named the South Texas Region One Superintendent of the Year for 2012. He was also awarded the Educational Leadership Award from the University Council for Educational Administration and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Equity Center of Texas.

He was born in Bakersfield, California to parents Ruben Gutiérrez a hard-working and successful builder in our area for the last 36 years and to Maria Gutiérrez, a stay at home mom that raised eight of their children (5 boys, 3 girls). Both parents are originally from Mexico. He said, “My mother and father instilled in me the value of hard work and dedication to ensure my dreams of being a successful leader in our community.”

TBB learned from him that his inspiration was to be a role model for his family by breaking the barrier of being the first college graduate.

Being in a position with many responsibilities; he is faced with challenges and said, “As superintendent of schools, my challenges have been to guide the district into doing more despite state budget cuts. Additionally, the school board, central administration, and I have faced the challenge of doing everything possible to help our teachers prepare our students to be successful when they take the state assessments.”

Dr. Gutiérrez, the board and his team have ambitious plans for the school district and he said, “My plans for Edinburg CISD are to move the district forward in Academics, Athletics, and Fine Arts;” adding that they have worked hard to provide as many opportunities for students to achieve success.

He pointed out that in terms of the future expansion or the addition of district facilities, the school board and he are always looking ahead at available land and resources to build new schools. He said, “Edinburg CISD is currently made up of 43 campuses. The district’s student membership grows by several hundred students every school year. As the membership grows, the need for additional classroom space to address overcrowding becomes a reality.”

In the field of technology, Dr. Gutiérrez is up at the top and he recognizes that technology is the way our current and future generations of students learn. He said, “As educators, we have a responsibility to bring technology devices to the classrooms for our students to excel. Over the last two summers, Edinburg CISD has implemented Innovate@ecisd.us – an Educator Technology Conference designed to provide our teachers with innovative teaching and learning through technology with strategies and resources.”

What sets you apart from other school districts? “At Edinburg CISD, educating and preparing students for success in a global economy is our business. Students come first in our district. Our vision is to empower them to be 21st Century Leaders.”

He continued, “We have established a college-ready culture where every school, every teacher, every student, pulls together every day to make academic success for all students a reality. Because Edinburg CISD aspires to build global citizens ready to live and work in an interdependent world, we insist that every school have a great administrator to lead it, and every classroom have an outstanding teacher and the necessary resources conducive to learning.”

What brings you the most satisfaction in your profession? “I feel a deep fulfillment every year when we graduate high school seniors. Each of our four high school commencement ceremonies allows me to see that our mission as educators has been accomplished. There is a personal satisfaction in seeing families get excited as they see their children walk up to the stage to receive their diploma.”

Dr. Gutierrez is a member of the Region One Superintendent Advisory Panel and a member of the Executive Committee of the Equity Center of Texas. Additional participation with his community is being a guest speaker to the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce events, to Leadership Edinburg Classes, and to Graduate Students in the Master’s Program at the University of Texas – Pan American.

How do you deal with stress? “As far as dealing with the everyday stress of being a superintendent, I make every effort to “Keep Calm and Carry On” with the goals I have set for myself.” His hobbies are golf, fishing, and hunting.

Did you give up or sacrifice other opportunities along the way? “I sacrificed spending quality time with my children because I was working full time while I was getting my masters and doctorate.”

What would you do differently if you could start your life all over again? “I am blessed with my life. I have no regrets.”

What is most important to you? “My family.” Dr. Gutiérrez is married to Edna M. Gutierrez, a Technology Teacher at Robert Vela High School in Edinburg and they have three children: Omar, Edgar, and Vanessa. TBB

Dr. Gutiérrez says:

“In the five years that I have served as superintendent of schools for Edinburg CISD, our district has made dramatic progress in educational excellence.

The District, its schools, and its principals have had three banner years of academic accolades; positive public relations and district branding; regional, state, and national recognition; and administrative, school board and community support for the efforts being made to provide educational opportunities within reach of every student.   We have established a college-ready culture to prepare our students for life after high school.

Over the last five years, our district has led all Region One school districts in having more “Exemplary” and “Recognized” schools. In 2011-2012, Edinburg CISD became a Texas Education Agency “Recognized” School District.

Over the last five years, our:

District has three high schools rated by Newsweek Magazine as being in the Top Six Percent of the nation’s 27,000 public high schools;

District has consistently had the most schools in Region One named to the Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC ) Honor Roll;

District’s schools have consistently received more T.E.A. Gold Performance Acknowledgements than any other district in Region One;

District has consistently had the most Advanced Placement, National Hispanic Merit Scholars, and National Merit Scholars than any district in Region One;

District’s Johnny G. Economedes High School received the 2012 Gaston Caperton College Board Inspiration Award thereby making Edinburg CISD the only school district in the nation to have all of its high schools as College Board Inspiration Award winners;

District selected two years in a row as one of three finalists in the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award;

District had two high schools and one middle school named as Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) National Demonstration School;

District awarded a $20 million four-year T.E.A. Literacy grant to prepare students for literary demands of college and/or career by high school graduation;

District created the Vision Academy of Excellence, a dropout recovery program, that has helped over 500 students obtain a high school diploma;

District organized a Superintendent’s Parent Roundtable that has provided valuable input and interaction on pertinent education issues;

District has adopted a balanced budget despite state cuts to education and without any employee layoffs;

District has maintained one of the lowest tax rates among Region One districts;

District completed the largest bond construction ($112 million) in the district’s history;

District opened $5 million Instructional Technology Building.

Written by Roberto Hugo Gonzalez the 2009 SBA Journalist of the Year Award Winner & The 2009 and 2012 Paul Harris Award recipient.

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