Arapaho Classical Magnet, one of the 2012-2013 United Way Healthy Zone Schools, recently hosted Dallas Cowboys great Troy Aikman, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and Dr. Kenneth Cooper of The Cooper Institute in honoring the work of North Texas schools fighting childhood obesity as part of the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program.

Aikman and Cooper congratulated students on their commitment to being fit and the event culminated outside with a series of physical activities with students.

For more information and links to local media coverage, please visit the United Way website. >Top

"Richardson ISD helped mold a director that will touch lives of students and teachers across the state of Texas which is something we can all be proud of." Richard Floyd, UIL State Director of Music, spoke these words as Brad Kent, Director of Fine Arts for RISD, assumes the role of Associate Director of Music for UIL. The same words might have also been said 28 years ago when Richard Floyd, also a product of RISD schools, accepted the position.

"It is time for me to pass the torch," explains Floyd. "We looked for someone who will fulfill the expectations that we have for the transition. Brad has a great personal vision and priorities, exhibits outstanding leadership abilities and is a performing musician."

Kent, who recently joined UIL, is beginning his twenty-first year in education which began when he served as band director at Lewisville H.S. in 1992. He later left to finish his Master's degree and begin work on his doctorate at UT in Austin. In 2001 Kent took the position of band director at Texas A & M Commerce where he also completed his doctorate. He then served as band director at Lamar University before joining RISD as Director of Fine Arts in 2008.

"I came to Richardson because of its excellent reputation in fine arts and the excellent reputation of the district. My wife, Laurie, and I wanted a community where we could be involved and raise our children," explains Kent. "This new opportunity at UIL came without me looking for it. In fact, I was very hesitant to leave, but this position gives me the chance to serve more students and directors. It is the "ultimate" type job in arts education."

Richard Floyd may have had similar feelings about the UIL position when he came back to Texas from the University of South Florida where he served as Professor of Conducting. Working with the Texas UIL brought him closer to Richardson where he had grown up, studied music, directed his first band, Richardson Junior High School, and founded the band program at the then new J.J. Pearce High School in 1967. During his final two years with the district, he also served as Director of Fine Arts. In 1973 Floyd was named Director of Bands at Baylor University where he served until 1982 when he went to the University of South Florida. As Floyd states, "I look back with great pride for being part of the RISD music program. I can't think of any other district in the country that has maintained the high quality fine arts program that Richardson ISD has for 50 years."

Richardson ISD's influence on UIL and Texas music will continue through Brad Kent. After all, what other district besides Richardson ISD can say that it has influenced two state-level music leaders who have committed to serve students and teachers across Texas. >Top

Students from Pearce High School and Westwood Junior High had an opportunity to participate in the recent Japan-America Grassroots Summit, which is held alternately in Japan and the U.S. and promotes cultural exchanges and business opportunities among participants.

The Pearce Stampede Country & Western dance team helped welcome visitors to Richardson with a performance at the Richardson Civic Center, while Satako Neese's Japanese Language class students from Westwood Junior High created and presented a unique Japanese-Texas dictionary at a luncheon at Fujitsu.

Richardson is one of 15 North Texas cities selected to host the visitors as part of the annual gathering of Japanese and American citizens. More than 150 visitors from Japan are touring North Texas during the summit. >Top

Students at Bowie Elementary displayed their patriotism by wearing red, white, and blue on September 11

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