Johnson aims to change ‘culture’

Rotary remarks


Speaker at the April 17 meeting of the Port Aransas Rotary Club was Wayne Johnson, brought by Rotarian President-elect Jodi Goike.

Johnson has just come out of retirement to become superintendent of Port Aransas schools. He said he had “some gas left in the tank.” And he has gained a bit of experience along the way.

After graduating from East Texas State with a Bachelor of Science degree and Texas Teaching Certificate in 1965, he returned to Texas in 1971 as a teacher and coach of track, football and basketball for five years. He returned to Texas in 1971 as a teacher, coach and administrator with his last 20 years at Aransas County ISD when he retired in 2008 as superintendent. His goal remains to develop a positive learning environment with students, faculty, staff and parents.

As he returns to Port Aransas, he said his goal is to change the culture of our schools. Our Port Aran- sas schools today have 506 students, some 5 percent in special education and 8.4% in gifted and talented. He said that we have no really bad kids, which makes his goal of keeping our schools safe a lot easier. He says our kids are great – as evidenced by their performance in the UIL, in sports, and in service to community.

Our school finances are in good shape, with more than 75 percent of taxes collected going to the state. With about 11 or 12 students per teacher, we’re in good shape, too. But Johnson sees how we could do a lot more, with more courses, more technology, more information technology – things that will give our graduates a leg up in preparing them for our new economy. How to fund this? Every 15 students brings $100,000 in state funding. Johnson challenged Rotary and the Port Aransas community to bring back students who have left and bring new students to Port Aransas schools. A bold vision!

Johnson recognized the continuing work Rotarian Bobby Sherwood does to help kids who get in trouble with a way to come back as good citizens.

Rotary Club is always looking for members who put service before self. Contact membership chairman Mark Carter at 749-6337 for information if you are intersted in joining.



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