Meetings: The Education Committee meets monthly. Please Click Here for our upcoming meetings.

Committee Goals:

1. Become a Recognized District
   a) Identify 4-6 principals to work with Task Force members to increase their school’s ranking (at least one recognized)
   1. Study school demographics
   2. Gain knowledge of needs (ex. food, health, crime, etc.)
   3. Build strategies to address needs
   4. Recruit partners to implement solutions
   5. Report successes and challenges for following year
   b) Host educational events for teachers/administrators on new-innovative “Best Practices”
   c) Assist District in lobbying State Legislators for a more equitable system of measurement
2. Develop a PR campaign to promote positive assets of IISD
   a) Increase e-mail distribution of “District Weekly” broadcast
   b) Contract with a PR firm to develop/implement a promotions campaign– saturate local/regional media with positive information
   c) Enhance relations between school (staff/trustees) and business community
   1. Continue to become more active with Chamber divisions/committees
   2. Reinstate “State of Education” event
   3. Continue to recruit businesses for CICs
   4. Request a liaison position on the DIC
   5. Assist in recruiting additional campus partners – increase awareness of possibilities/needs
      d) Work with additional businesses to display student work/achievements
3. Seek opportunities to improve perception and promote the quality of schools in Irving

Committee activities include:

• Partners in Education - Creates partnerships between the local business community and schools. 
• New Teachers Luncheon - Welcomes more than 500 new teachers to the Irving ISD each year.  Luncheon typically takes place during the second week of August each year.
• Business Exchange Days - A one day speaker bureau that allows business professionals, from a variety of industries, to speak to high school students about future career paths. 
• C.O.O.L - Summer job shadowing program for 8th & 9th graders. 
• Chamber Education Foundation - 501 (c) 3 foundation that grants teachers and students professional development opportunities and scholarships

Board Vice Chairman, Education: Rene Castilla, North Lake College

Committee Co-Chairman: Owen DeWitt, Fairway Contract Services

Chamber Liaisons: Chris Wallace and Denise Demonbreun