MEET ANETTE

“She holds public education as a value, not just because it's a positive force for economic improvement, but because it's an integral part of American society. School is where people of different backgrounds interact, where our community comes toget…

“She holds public education as a value, not just because it's a positive force for economic improvement, but because it's an integral part of American society. School is where people of different backgrounds interact, where our community comes together. In a sense, it's one of the only places in modern society where the American community — cutting across the boundaries of race, income, faith, and everything else — exists at all.”

~~Walker Carlisle, about his mom, 2012

I believe in education as a value, and I can’t put it any better than my oldest son, Walker, did when writing a piece about me for a campaign, as in his comment above. I’ve been fortunate to raise three wonderful sons, all of whom attended Amarillo ISD public schools. They actually got me involved in all of this.

Public education is what makes us America, and American. It provides opportunity for all, and it is our responsibility as adults to make it the best it can be for our students, at all levels. And that means building better systems of education, making that education meaningful and useful, not only to build a better workforce, but to build better citizens. 

I have dedicated a large part of my life to trying to do just that, and I’ve had the great fortune to work with a marvelous variety of wonderful people along the way. This podcast is an effort to share their wisdom with you, and to offer a few ideas and examples of things we’ve found valuable in our work. I have to say we rather than I, as none of my work was accomplished alone. Maybe I was the “community nag,” at times, as some folks like to call me, but the folks you’ll hear from in Anette on Education will inspire you and bring a much needed reassurance that there are good people in the world doing good things. As frustrating as the world can be sometimes, I am hopeful for the future, as we continue to add and benefit from the voices and talents of previously underrepresented groups, including women, folks who don’t look like me, and the youth of today.

After spending 19 years on the Amarillo Independent School District Board of Trustees, five years so far on the Amarillo College Board of Regents, founding and running Panhandle Twenty/20 and focusing on educational attainment and poverty, I’ve learned a lot. I hope you will enjoy learning from my guests, and maybe a little from me.