To build excellent schools, Ryan told the crowd it is important that the community and the schools “are on the same page.”
“We have great schools because we have a great community, and we have a great community because we have great schools,” Ryan said.
Along with new teachers and staff, attendees included elected officials, community leaders and educational leaders from Grapevine, Colleyville and Euless.
GCISD Parent Teacher Associations, the Colleyville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce and the Grapevine Chamber Women’s Division partnered with the Grapevine-Colleyville Education Foundation to support the luncheon.
Deputy Superintendent Brad Schnautz said that the core values of GCISD are purpose, innovation and community. Schnautz also said the partners of the luncheon have invested “their hearts, their time, their energy and their pocketbooks” to the district. The community’s support toward the district’s teachers and children is an “added bonus” to GCISD and is what “matters most,” Schnautz said.
“We cannot fulfill our purpose of educating our great students [and] we can’t be innovative and utilize our unique talents without standing on the solid foundation of community,” Schnautz said.
Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate and Colleyville Mayor Bobby Lindamood also spoke at the luncheon.
Tate asked teachers to be “good examples” when teaching the district’s students. He said teachers “will lead us to better days” and “new opportunities.” He also noted the district has enacted “best practices” to keep students and staff safe.
“The start of the school year is always an exciting time,” Tate said. “I can only wish you to be safe, to be happy, to have a good class and to have a great year.”
Lindamood spoke of the teachers who “impacted” his life while in school. Lindamood told teachers to remember even when they are tired that they are “legendary” to students.
“Use your skills to be the best possible teacher,” Lindamood said.
GCISD classes begin on Wednesday, Aug. 17. The full instructional calendar can be found here.
