29 Oct Beeville ISD’s new superintendent lays out four priorities at first public event

Beeville ISD’s new superintendent, Franklin Cahuasqui, laid out four priorities for the district at his first public event Monday: student safety, student achievement, staff support, and family and community partnerships, according to a district news release.

The meet-and-greet took place Oct. 26 in the A.C. Jones High School Lecture Hall and was split into two 45-minute presentations, one in English from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and one in Spanish from 6:15 to 7 p.m. Families, teachers and other community members attended.

Cahuasqui walked the audience through a career that includes work as a principal, assistant principal, executive administrator and bilingual fifth-grade teacher. He said Beeville ISD’s tight-knit community, committed educators and the promise of its students drew him to the job.

“As we move forward together, I want us to focus on our students’ success,” he said. “I want to ensure that our students have the post-secondary opportunities to be able to leave our network ready to lead the world!”

The four priorities he described are:

• Student safety: Campus systems meant to keep learning environments secure and supportive.
• Student achievement: Strong classroom instruction and academic growth, along with chances to get students ready for life after graduation.
• Staff support: Regular input from educators and the resources they need to succeed.
• Family and community partnerships: Trust built by being open and communicating honestly, with opportunities for families and residents to be heard.

Cahuasqui also presented a four-step approach to leading the district: listen, learn, collaborate and act. The district describes it as a way to gather input from stakeholders, recognize practices that work, find areas that need improvement and build lasting systems that support students.

Academic goals came up as well, including work to raise student performance, progress toward a B rating in the state accountability system and ways to keep residents updated on measurable results. Cahuasqui asked attendees to consider what sets the district apart, where it is succeeding and how it can improve.

He also set aside time ahead of and following the presentations to speak individually with community members, the district said. District officials told the Beeville Bee-Picayune that more such sessions are in the works as he settles into the role.