On September 8th, we will welcome our remote and on-campus learners back to school.

Planning for the start of this year has been like no other that I’ve experienced in my career in education. I have always believed that you will find no other district in the state that has a more dedicated and talented staff than Temple ISD. This summer validated that statement.

The amount of time poured into developing thoughtful plans to support our students and families with both remote and on-campus learning has truly been incredible. Our goal early on was to have both our in-person safety plan approved by the Bell County Health Authorities and our asynchronous remote learning plan approved by the Texas Education Agency prior to the first day of school. This goal was met and will provide our families the confidence necessary to pursue either learning option. Further, it reduces the potential of disruptive changes to the child’s learning environment during the school year.

What I have learned throughout this journey is that our families desire decisiveness, simplicity and consistency during these most complicated times. I am proud to report that the committed staff of Temple ISD has delivered.

At the beginning of every school year, I have the opportunity to address our staff during Convocation. This year I told them how truly thankful I am to be on their team. Entering this school year, I would not want to be anywhere else or with anyone else, than with this group of extraordinary educators. As part of that message I played a video that highlighted the exceptional response of our staff to COVID-19. I wanted to share that video with each of you.

Enjoy!

Bobby Ott

• Our Board of Trustees has been selected as one of five finalists in the state for the Texas Association of School Administrators's board of the year.
• Dr. Ott was honored as the Jack Wiech Fellow for dedicated service to children by the Temple Founders Club.
• The THS Class of 1970 was the first alumni group to establish an endowed Temple Education Foundation scholarship. They have raised over $50,000 and counting!

...Now that you know, please share these exciting accomplishments with others!

The purpose of the Friend of Temple ISD Wildcat Award allows the District to formally recognize high-level partners, both individuals and organizations, for their contributions to Temple ISD. Nominations are submitted to the Board Policy Committee for review.

At the August 10th Board Meeting, Dr. Y.V. Rao was recognized as the latest recipient of this award.

Dr. Y. V. Rao has been a community leader in Temple for more than 40 years. A graduate of Texas A&M Engineering, Dr. Rao worked for several businesses in Temple and across Central Texas; he remains sought after for his expertise. Throughout his career, he found time to serve his community. Dr. Rao helped found the Hindu Temple of Central Texas, providing a special place of gathering for families across Central Texas. He remains on the Hindu Temple’s Board of Trustees. He is also an active member of the Rotary Club and has been instrumental in facilitating several grants.

Perhaps most importantly, though, he is a proud parent. Both of his children attended TISD schools and graduated from Temple High. Dr. Rao was an engaged and active supporter of his children’s education and TISD schools, helping fund student programs and activities.

Dr. Rao continues to support TISD in a variety of ways. He currently serves as a board member on the Temple Education Foundation, which works to expand financial resources to support TISD teachers and students. Dr. Rao sponsors multiple college scholarships for Temple High School seniors, encouraging them to pursue both technical fields and liberal arts. He often introduces new families to our schools, building ties between our community and our district. Dr. Rao has been a consistently strong advocate for our district, and we are honored to recognize him today.

Email: bobby.ott@tisd.org
Website: https://www.tisd.org/apps/pages/Superintendent
Phone: 254-215-6760
Facebook: facebook.com/templeisd
Twitter: @OttTempleISD