Ott's Outlook
November 2024
As we enter the month of November, we move closer to the Thanksgiving holiday. I know many of our students, families, and staff members are looking forward to a well-deserved break from classes that comes with that holiday and the opportunity to spend time celebrating with loved ones.
I too look forward to the opportunity to spend time with my family and celebrate Thanksgiving, but we don’t have to wait for the holiday itself to express our gratefulness during this season of gratitude. There are so many words we can use during this time of year to express our feelings. Words like thankfulness, gratefulness, appreciation, gratitude, or many other similar words. This year, I would like to focus on using the word gratitude.
In previous messages, I have shared a quote from American publisher and author Fred Witt Van Amburgh with you. He has been quoted as saying “Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves and spend without fear of bankruptcy.” In Temple ISD, we have tried to foster a community that freely expresses its gratitude without hesitation or a “fear of bankruptcy.”
I feel so much gratitude for our families for trusting us with their students and in turn, I feel gratitude for our students for the way they show up, work hard, and represent Temple ISD. I feel gratitude for our passionate teachers, dedicated staff members, and committed administrators, for the way they pour into our students, and also for the way they support each other and the mission and vision of the district. I feel gratitude for our partners, supporters, taxpayers, elected officials, and other stakeholders in the community who provide opportunities for our students and staff to maximize their learning and reach their full potential. This truly is a team effort, and everyone involved has a role to play in the success of Temple ISD.
Most of all, I feel gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the Temple Wildcat family and all that includes. I encourage you all to enjoy this season of Thanksgiving and share your gratitude with all of those who surround you!
Sincerely,
Bobby Ott
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Laura Lee Slattery O'Rear
O’Rear would go on to graduate from Temple College and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor before starting her career as an educator. She started her career as an Early Childhood Teacher at Scott Elementary and would go on to teach at Vandiver Elementary and Freeman Heights Elementary Schools. O’Rear moved to Gruver ISD and served in a variety of roles, even spending three years as superintendent after earning a master’s degree and completing mid-management and superintendent certification at Sul Ross State University. She has also been a principal in Merkel and Hamlin ISD’s and supervised student teachers for McMurry University. Even in retirement, she has stayed involved with education, working as a bookkeeper for a private, non-profit childcare academy in Tennessee.
Erika Allen Bennett
Erika Allen Bennett is a proud graduate of the Temple HS class of 2009, and she was Valedictorian of her class. Bennett also attended Bethune and Kennedy-Powell Elementary Schools and Lamar Middle School.
Dr. Bennett would go on to graduate with honors from Texas Tech University where she also was active in student government, served as president of her sorority, and was on the Homecoming Court. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2017 and returned to Temple to complete her residency in general surgery at Baylor Scott and White Hospital and served as Chief Resident and received the Outstanding Surgery Teaching Resident award. Dr. Allen completed a Fellowship in trauma/surgical critical care in North Carolina and recently moved to Medford, Oregon with her husband, and works as a surgeon in private practice at Asante Rogue Regional Hospital.
Dr. Allen remained active in the Temple community during her residency at Baylor Scott and White and even volunteered to speak with Temple High School students who were interested in medicine. She is passionate about medicine and has a heart for her patients and the profession. Dr. Allen has won numerous awards and has been responsible for a multitude of publications and presentations during her career as she continues to represent Temple ISD.
You can nominate a special Temple ISD alum for our Alumni Spotlight!
Temple ISD has a long history of excellence and we have had many, many graduates who have gone on to exemplify our vision to become influential and impactful leaders in their local communities and beyond. Temple ISD Alumni Spotlight will feature alumnus and alumna that have represented our community and our district in a positive way.
To nominate yourself or a Temple ISD graduate, please complete our online Alumni Spotlight Nomination Form. Nominations will be reviewed and candidates selected by the Temple ISD Board of Trustees Policy Committee
