I have posted my Vita on my blog

Chris Coleman

824 Hickory Lane

Jasper, Texas 75951

(C) 409-382-7393; (W) 409-384-2401

ccoleman@jasperisd.net

Education/Certification

M. Ed.                                 Educational Leadership, Stephen F. Austin State University, 2003

BS                                       Physical Education, Sam Houston State University 1983

Superintendent Certificate Texas           (In Progress)

Standard Principal                                  (EC-12) Texas 2003

Teacher Certificate                                 Secondary Physical Education, History - Life, Texas

Professional Positions

Assistant Superintendent of HR/Student Services, Jasper Independent School District 2007-present

·         Responsible for district hiring’s, certifications, substitute training, elections, board policy, payroll projections, employee pay schedule, personnel issues, budgeting, Jasper Public School Foundation, campus handbooks, yearly One Stop Registration, implementation of policy and procedures on campuses through handbooks, student/parent/employee grievances, NCLB Highly Qualified, records, public information requests, employee recruitment/retention, attend all JISD school board meetings, serve as chief liaison to local law enforcement and emergency services.  Supervise School Resource Officer, Athletic Department, Technology Department and Transportation Department.

Human Resources Director/Athletic Director, Jasper Independent School District 2005-2007

·         Established department guidelines, budgeting, scheduling, organized game workers/security for home athletic contests, supervised and evaluated 28 coaches covering 40 teams participating in 16 sports.  

·         Responsible for district hiring’s, certifications, substitute training, elections, board policy, payroll projections, employee pay schedule, personnel issues, budgeting, Jasper Public School Foundation, campus handbooks, yearly One Stop Registration, implementation of policy and procedures on campuses through handbooks, student/parent/employee grievances, NCLB Highly Qualified, records, public information requests, employee recruitment/retention.  

Athletic Director/Maintenance Director, Jasper Independent School District 2002-2005

·         Established department guidelines, budgeting, scheduling, organized game workers/security for home athletic contests, supervised and evaluated 28 coaches covering 40 teams participating in 16 sports.  Organized work orders for repair, established priority list for projects, managed Maintenance Department budget, and maintained on-call status for emergency repair. 

Athletic Director, Jasper Independent School District 1998-2002

·         Established department guidelines, budgeting, scheduling, organized game workers/security for home athletic contests, supervised and evaluated 28 coaches covering 40 teams participating in 16 sports. 

Teacher/Head Basketball Coach, Beaumont West Brook High School, Beaumont, TX.  1989-1998

·         Prepare and present daily lessons and procedures as a classroom instructor for four   World History classes and one Government class.  

·         Established workout regimen preparing students for extracurricular competition, scheduling, supervising seven assistant coaches, budgeting and organizing six basketball teams comprising over 100 student participants.

               Teacher/Assistant Coach, Beaumont West Brook High School, Beaumont, TX.  1982-1989

·         Prepare and present daily lessons and procedures as a classroom instructor for five    World History classes.  

·         Served as an assistant coach preparing students for extracurricular sporting events.

Membership in Professional Associations

        TASPRA-Texas Association of Public Relations Administrators

               TASPA-Texas Association of Personnel Administrators

               TASBO-Texas Association of Business Officials

               ATPE-Association of Texas Professional Educators 

               TASA-Texas Association of School Administrators

               TABC- Texas Association of Basketball Coaches

               THSCA-Texas High School Coaches Association

Professional Activities

·         Established Jasper ISD’s One Stop Registration providing parents with the opportunity to register all of their children at one location. This program was also designed to take the majority of the burden off of classroom teachers in the early stages of school and the registration process.  One Stop also helped to increase JISD’s registration for free or reduces lunches which in turn increased our federal funding.  During our three day event, we have registered on average 85% of the 2,700 plus students enrolled in JISD schools over the three years that we have hosted the program.

·         Served as a presenter at the 2009 TASPRA convention describing JISD’s One Stop program to school’s throughout the state. 

·         Serve as Executive Director of the Jasper Public Schools Foundation.  This foundation provides the opportunity for teachers within JISD to request funds for projects outside the normal course work. Projects have ranged from the purchase of simple motors for high school physics to day trips for our Pre-K students to watch the production of Sesame Street Live.  The JPS Foundation also provides funds for student clothing for those who may not be able to afford it for themselves.

·         Initiated Coffee with Coach, a live radio broadcast featuring the Head Football Coach for Jasper High School.  Program has been running continuously for 12 years with a very strong following both on the radio and at the live location hosted by a local bank.  Served as on air host for the first nine years.

·         Initiated JISD’s School Resource Officer program in conjunction with the City of Jasper.

·         Served as Co-Chairman of the Police Review committee for the City of Jasper City Council.

·         Established the Jasper High School Alumni Association in 2005 and continue to serve as Vice President.

·         Established Hurricane Rita shelter system for JISD for over 800 first responders and stranded citizens within a 24 hour period.  Organized the evacuation of those stranded by storm in JISD shelters by working with local agencies to provide gasoline and provisions.  Continue to serve as chief liaison for JISD and local emergency management organizations.

Projects Underway

·         Currently, I have been appointed by the JISD board of trustees to spearhead Jasper ISD’s bond proposal under consideration.  Jasper ISD has been notified that we are eligible to receive $6.2 million in either low or interest free building funds through the Qualified School Construction Bond program.  This program is designed as a stimulus package and initiated to create job opportunities in communities.  The funds have been funneled through TEA and offered to the Texas schools that qualify and have requested them.  The opportunity comes through a rotation and in order to access these funds, a district must pass a bond issue.  JISD was notified in October of this opportunity therefore we are now in the process of attempting to meet those requirements in anticipation of taking this initiative to the voters in the May 12, 2012 election.  At this time, we have established an employee committee to assist in setting a course of action of which we have now shared with community members in anticipation of shaping the final bond amount to be submitted for voter consideration.

 Honors and Awards

·         Named District 22-5A Coach of the Year 6 times

·         As head coach teams compiled an overall record of 247-47, six district championships, 8 playoff appearances and two 5A Regional finals.

·         Varsity Assistant coach for 1982 5A State Championship in football

·         Athletic Director for 2007 3A State Championship in baseball.  

References

                Dr. Jon Whittemore, Superintendent

            Jasper ISD

            128 Park St.

            Jasper, TX 75951

            (409) 384-2401

            jwhittemore@jasperisd.net

           

            Gwen Gilford

            Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum/Testing

            Jasper ISD

            128 Park St.

            Jasper, TX 75951

            (409) 384-2401

            ggilford@jasperisd.net

           

            Paula Horton
            Director of Finance

            Jasper ISD

            128 Park St.

            Jasper, TX 75951

            (409) 384-2401

               

            phorton@jasperisd.net

           

Since this is my first introduction to blogging, I most certainly see the advantages of a Superintendent using this method to include others in the inner workings of the district and the opportunity to share information in a rapid manner.  Even with the school district web site up and running, that method seems outdated at this time due to the changes in habits of our stakeholders.  We have now moved to Facebook to relay information in an effort to provide a more updated method of communication.  Blogging also seems to provide a viable option to superintendents in communicating. 

Action Research and the Superintendent

Action Research is important to anyone who wishes to move through the field of education especially if they are considering any position of leadership.  In particular, the office of Superintendent must understand the idea which considers the school district as a community of learners.  With this in mind, we must understand the process of including the stakeholders of the district and provide an example as the instructional leader.

Action Research provides us with the opportunity to reflect on our actions and how we can incorporate others in to the decision making process.  As we include others in the problem solving of the district as a Superintendent, we must reflect on what can make us stronger through the use of a team effort in the review of data.  As the educational leader of the district, we must at all times view our actions as examples for those around us.  Our daily activities whether it is during the work day or outside of our normal duties as Superintendent must provide the proper behavior for not only a district leader but also a community leader.  Action Research provides us the feedback that is essential to maintaining  the goals of the district and how we as Superintendent can best lead in that direction both during the normal work day and in the community.  Our actions serve at all times the idea that a district’s Superintendent is the Instructional leader.

As a regular portion of the decisions making process, Action Research provides stakeholders the opportunity to maintain an active role in the advancement of the long range educational goals of a district.  As Superintendent we must understand that although we may be ultimately responsible for each aspect of the educational process in our district, we do not have all of the answers.  Therefore the importance of our own reflective review provides others with the example that to maintain openness to suggestions thus providing out students the best option for a quality education.

In developing my own plan to include school district stakeholders in the decision making process, Action Research will play an important role in the inclusion of feedback from those who can add to the educational process of our  district.