I just finished reading a book I got from my wife Jamie—The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling by Stephen Cope. It is a book about the truth that every person has a unique calling and that our greatest responsibility in life is to that inner possibility. … Continue reading One Particular Vocation →

This is a compelling piece written by Lety Gomez that demonstrates the power of parent voice in advocating for equity and excellence in public education for all kids-- BrentLety Gómez is the Rocketship Texas Senior Education Organizer. She was a founding parent of Rocketship Fuerza Community Prep and a proud Rocketeer mom for many years. … Continue reading Finding My Voice, My Power, and My Path – by Lety Gomez →

There is a Buddhist thought that accurately perceiving reality is a moral act—instead of running away from reality, we must face it. When it comes to the state of the education of our children in Fort Worth, there is a temptation to want to look away. But we must face it.   The reality is … Continue reading Don’t Look Away →

I am always interested to hear about what other people are reading, and I wish I would take the time to write about each book I read and post it here. But since I'm probably not going to get that done, here are links to well-done book reviews of the last two books I read. … Continue reading Two Book Reviews →

Luke 10:25-37 We all know the story.  A lawyer asks Jesus, What must I do to inherit eternal life?  And Jesus accepts the lawyer’s answer of loving God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, and your neighbor as yourself.  Jesus affirms the man's answer as a good one. The scene would be over … Continue reading The One By the Side of the Road →

Mark died this week. Mark was a friend from when I was the Pastor at Broadway Baptist Church and was a standout in that unusual cast of characters that was in and around the church. Mark was well known at Broadway and in the neighborhood around the church. He lived in an apartment and, later, … Continue reading What Business Are You In? →

I presented a report on the state of education in the City of Fort Worth to the FW City Council last night. Here are two news articles about our report: https://fortworthreport.org/2021/08/24/new-report-shows-steep-decline-in-fort-worth-students-academic-performance/ https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crossroads-lab/article253704183.html And here are my remarks to the Council in presenting the report: Thank you for the time tonight. I shared a report with … Continue reading How are Fort Worth Kids Doing Academically? →

Should any child’s opportunity for a high-quality education and the life-transforming power that brings be solely determined by a boundary line on a map or how much his or her parents can afford to pay for a house? A recent report issued by the organization I lead demonstrates that it is indeed the case that … Continue reading Choosing Neighborhoods, Choosing Schools →

Stories of fathers and sons are often the stuff of myth and legend. They are universal, and they tend to crack the armor I have carefully built around my heart. They always have. Almost twenty years ago, when I was about 30 years old, I read this in the first chapter of a book by … Continue reading Fathers and Sons →

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram published an editorial on June 18, 2021 responding to the report that the Fort Worth Education Partnership prepared and that I presented to the Fort Worth City Council. Report shows Fort Worth must target low-achieving schools | Fort Worth Star-Telegram