May 15, 2025 • 41 mins
Dr. Justin Terry, Superintendent of Forney ISD, shares how mentorship and innovative educational approaches are transforming students' futures through entrepreneurial mindsets and real-world experiences.
• Mentorship as a foundation for leadership development - having both internal and external mentors provides guidance and diverse perspectives
• The Opportunity Central (OC) - a 350,000 sq. ft. facility that's student-run, multifunctional, and serves as both educational space and community event center
• Creating a culture of innovation through consistent messaging and values like "people first" and "inspiring innovation"
• Helping students develop their competitive edge by identifying their strengths and cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset
• Competing for students' minds requires the same intensity as competing in athletics
• The future of education will require engaging not just students but entire families
• Leadership requires embracing change, maintaining an open mind to possibilities, and always treating others with kindness
Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Growing Our Future podcast.
In this show, the Texas FFAFoundation will take on a
journey of exploration intoagricultural science, education,
leadership development andinsights from subject matter
experts and sponsors who providethe fuel to make dreams come
true.
Here's your host, AaronAlejandro.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well, good morning, good afternoon, good evening or
whenever you may be tuning in tothe Growing Our Future podcast
Number one, thank you.
Thank you for stopping by.
I mean you're sharing a littlebit of your time with us and
(00:50):
hopefully we're sharingsomething of value to kind of
occupy that time.
You know, in the world ofagriculture, I always tell
people if you want to know whatthe future is, grow it.
If you want to know what thefuture is, you got to grow it.
But to do that, you got toplant the right seeds, you got
to take care of them, you got toharvest it and you got to share
it.
But we got to start by plantingthe right seeds, which is what
this podcast is about.
It's about bringing people onwho share their experiences,
(01:12):
their insights, their justthings of life that they've
experienced, that they say, hey,let me tell you about this, in
hopes that it gives us a littleseed of greatness that can make
us better.
Today we're honored.
You're going to find out herein a second.
You're going to see why I'm afan.
Y'all are about to meet DrJustin Terry and I got to tell
you he's an exciting individual,he's an innovator and his
(01:33):
enthusiasm is contagious, andyou're about to experience that.
So, Dr Terry, thank you forbeing on the podcast today.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Oh, thanks so much for having me, and, man, I'm a
little worried about thatbuildup in the conversation
we're about to have, but we'lldo our best.
How about that Not?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
worried at all.
You're going to deliver.
Trust me, you're going todeliver.
So with that, I like to startevery podcast, every podcast,
Matter of fact.
I think we should all startevery day with this question,
and that question is Dr Terry,what are you grateful for today?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Oh, man, you know, ironically, we always start
every classroom, every meeting,anything we do in our school
district, with good things, andit is about appreciation.
You know, and today I'll behonest with you, we just left a
great Easter weekend and I amgrateful for family today and
the beautiful weather and thetime that we had to spend
together.
(02:27):
So thank you for asking.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
By the way, I agree with you too.
I told my kids not too long ago, this last Thanksgiving, I told
them to look around.
And we're sitting there gettingready to eat Thanksgiving
dinner and they go what I saidlook around.
And they're like what I saidy'all, it just dawned on me.
I said I'm 58 years old and itjust dawned on me.
I said I can't remember asingle Thanksgiving as a kid
(02:52):
growing up, because we were toopoor, we never had it.
My mom, we never traveled withother family.
And I said I want y'all to lookaround and realize that there's
good times and bad times in life.
But if you'll just reflect, yougot a family, that's right.
You got something to begrateful for, we got food.
(03:12):
We're not going to starve, justbe grateful, be grateful.
So thank you so much forsharing that.
And you got a beautiful familyand I appreciate you sharing
that too.
So thank you.
Yes, sir, all right.
So, dr Justin, terry, that justautomatically lets us know that
there's some credentials there.
And I know for a fact, I knowfor a fact you did not just fall
(03:35):
into that seat.
So something tells me there wasa journey, there was a path,
something that led you to thesuperintendent role of the
Forney ISD, just outside ofDallas, texas.
So, dr Terry, kind of take usthrough that.
How did you end up on thiscareer path that landed you in
that seat?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
You know, aaron, I get this question a lot and, to
be honest with you, you know theone thing I would always tell
you I don't think it's anythingI ever did.
One thing I would always tellyou it's it's I don't think it's
anything I ever did.
I think it's it has to do withthe people that I've been
blessed and surrounded withalong my journey.
And I was a grew up in aneducator's household.
(04:20):
My father was a baseball coachand teacher and professor, and
so I ended up as a baseballcoach and teacher in a little
small town, a little small townright outside of Corsicana
called Mildred.
And at that point in time, youknow, I was blessed to have a
superintendent that invested inme and he saw something in me as
a, as a leader, and he, he kindof took me under his wing and
(04:41):
grew me as not only an educatorbut just as a leader in general.
And then one day he looked at meand he said you know, there's
somebody I want you to meet, andhe passed me off to another
mentor you know, gene Burtondown the road in Rockwall and a
little larger district, and youknow my path made it back up to
(05:02):
the Metroplex at that time as anadministration and assistant,
principalships andprincipalships.
And then I was blessed to haveanother mentor as a
superintendent that took meunder his wing, john Fuller, and
then time after time again.
What I would just alwaysencourage others as you begin to
explore your journey is to finda mentor, find a coach along
(05:23):
the way, and find two, if you'rereally blessed one that's
within the organization thatyou're working within, so that
they understand your goals andaspirations and can help you
achieve those, but also onethat's outside of your
organization that brings lightinto maybe a different
perspective that they're seeingthat may not be in a narrow
(05:44):
field.
So again, it's nothing thatI've done, I've just been really
blessed along the way to havegood people that have guided my
path.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Well, I don't disagree with you that at all.
As a matter of fact, I'vealways told people life's not a
solo project.
We were not created to be theLone Rangers, and early on I had
a mentor.
Interestingly enough, early on,I had a mentor and he told me
something very similar.
He said I want you to alwayshave 10 friends older than you
and 10 friends younger than you.
He goes the 10 friends olderthan you're going to tell you
(06:14):
where we've been, 10 friendsyounger than you're going to
tell you where we're headed.
And I thought that was somepretty good advice, pretty good
insight.
No, then we are met we weretalking before we started a good
friend and board member, cleoFranklin.
Uh, cleo always tells the kids.
He said I want you to get yourown personal board of directors.
He said I want you to get agroup of people around you that
(06:36):
become your board of directorsand make you better.
And, uh, I just thought thatwas good, good wisdom as well.
So so, yeah, there's a thing.
What I appreciate about whatyou just said, though, already,
is you've already given creditthat life's not a solo project,
that we're in this together andif we can find people that can
(06:59):
make us better, find people thatcan build our networks, expose
us to opportunities.
But you've got to be payingattention.
They're not just good.
I don't think anything justfell in your lap.
Something tells me you had tohave a little want to.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Well, you know, and they've got to see that you want
to for sure, and because Idon't know that others are going
to invest in you if they don'tsee that their investment of
their time and their effort willpay off.
And so you know work ethic andyou know is a pretty powerful
and important thing, and I thinkothers do see that they see
(07:34):
talents in you, whether you knowit or not.
You know we talk a lot in ourorganization that you know
there's a lot of opportunity forgrowth.
We're a really fast-gr, fastgrowth district and career
growth is pretty easy to see.
We have 200 plus 300 newpositions every year.
And what I think especiallyyoung people sometimes don't
(07:54):
realize is every time you walkdown a hallway, every time you
are on the job, you're in aninterview and people are
watching, whether you know it ornot, and so you just hope that
they see you on your best day,for sure, most of the time.
But when it's consistent andyou're having great, great, good
days all the time, then theyusually find you, that's for
(08:14):
sure.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
See, this is where great minds think alike.
So one of the things I alwaysask the FFA kids when we're
talking about leadership is Ialways say tell me about your
business.
And they just look at me.
They say I don't have abusiness.
I said, yeah, you do, you're it.
I said, what time do you openin the morning?
I mean, what kind of customerservice do you deliver?
You know, are you on time?
(08:35):
I mean, you are your business.
By the way, that's whyeverybody that knows me knows I
go by this.
My handle is live your brand,because I believe that it's.
It's how we live and what weshare and what we do.
That's how people get to knowwhat our brand is and and just
like a fingerprint that that howyou live your brand, that's
your fingerprint on this world.
And, like you just said, Iloved it.
(08:57):
Even when you're walking downthe hallway, somebody's watching
.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
That's right.
Those actions speak so muchmore powerful than words in many
cases.
And people are always watchingand they notice some of the
sometimes the smallest littlethings.
And, man, I tell you what, withthe audience here in the FFA
and agriculture, your businessstarts early and and I tell you
what, that's impressive.
I watch a lot of our studentshere in our, you know, animal
(09:24):
science program.
We run a doggy daycare and justamazed I mean, they're creating
you know little reels out thereto kind of promote the business
that we're running.
And they're doing it at 6 am ontheir own.
And you guys are some prettyspecial, pretty special group,
so proud to be a part of this,thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
That's awful, I agree with you.
I learned it not by choice.
I learned it when I went toBoy's Ranch and I'll never
forget.
My dorm parent, mr Chandler,brought me a sledgehammer one
day and he told me I needed todrive to the other side of the
ranch, which was five miles in ablizzard and bust the water
trough for the horses.
And I pitched a fit and I said,mr Chandler, I don't want to go
(10:02):
.
It's cold out there, it's ablizzard, the wind's whipping
Feels like a razor, I could getlost.
And I'll never forget it.
Mr Chandler, in his old countrywisdom he said, darling, do you
get thirsty when it's cold?
I said, yes, sir.
He said, don't you think thosehorses get thirsty too?
I said, aaron, what separatesy'all's kids from everybody else
(10:35):
?
Doesn't UIL teach speech anddebate?
Doesn't band teach ensemble?
Doesn't athletics teachteamwork?
What is it that y'all think youdo in ag?
That nobody else does?
And I always tell them.
I said, because in the world ofagriculture, if we don't do our
job, something dies.
When you can give that to a kid, that becomes something
(10:57):
intrinsic, that, like you justsaid, it'll stand out.
It'll stand out when somethingdepends on you to do your job,
so good catch on your part, bythe way.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
So no, absolutely.
Yeah, you know, and that issomething that's great about
this organization I neverthought about.
But what you just said is verypowerful is you know?
It's not many organizations,not many fields of study, are so
focused on supporting othersand living things and growing
things, and it is just amazingthat the whole, really the whole
(11:32):
organization you're describing,is really about supporting
others.
And man, the golden rule inlife will take you a long way,
and so a lot of great lessonslearned here, for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Well, I'm a man of faith and the one thing I can
tell you there's a lot in theBible about agriculture.
So I just kind of followed thatdirection a little bit and it
seems to work out okay.
That's right.
You know, for folks that aren'tfamiliar with Dr Terry and his
role at the Forney ISD, theyhave an incredible school
district and one of the thingsthat we want to point you to,
(12:08):
and I want to tell you firsthandI've experienced it more than
once is a place called the OC,and I got to tell you I don't
know, Dr Terry, maybe one ofthese days you and I ought to
compare notes.
I might have you.
I don't know of a lot of peoplethat have been in more schools
in the state of Texas than Ihave.
I don't know how many peoplehave probably seen more
facilities nationwide than Ihave.
(12:29):
I'm blessed, by the way.
That's not bragging, I'mtelling you I'm blessed.
But I had seen this video aboutthis Opportunity Central
building in Forney.
I saw a video and then we havea meeting there and all I can
tell you is I stepped on my lip,I stepped on my jaw because it
(12:50):
was hung down the whole time,because this place is phenomenal
.
I don't know I want to becareful how I say this I'm not
so sure that I couldn'tlegitimately say that this
facility could be the future ofcareer technical education and I
would challenge anybody to takea look at it and if there's
something else out there, shareit with me because I'd like to
(13:11):
know about it.
But, Dr Terry, y'all's visionand what y'all have done with
that Opportunity Centralbuilding is phenomenal.
Would you just take a momentand tell us a little bit about
that?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Sure and Aaron, thanks so much for the kind
words.
It's definitely something thatwe take a lot of pride in here
in Forney and you know it'sreally a.
It's a facility that's about350,000 square feet and the goal
is that every square foot ofthis facility is, you know, it's
got some core tenets to it andthat it's career, college and
(13:44):
community focused, but it's alsomultipurposed and future proof,
and so there's thisentrepreneurial spirit that
really runs throughout theentire building.
And you know it doesn't reallymatter the career pathway that
you're in.
We have auto shop, we havecosmetology, we have, you know,
a great horticultural programthrough our Blooms floral design
(14:06):
students.
You know we have bologna yards,but it doesn't really matter
what the career pathway is.
The goal is that we're bringingour community and our students
together to learn together fromthree years old to 103 with
these skills that we all need,103 with these skills that we
(14:29):
all need.
Whether you know you're goingto be a veterinarian or you're
going to be a beautician one day, there's some commonalities
that we all have and we continueto call them this
entrepreneurial path.
You know communication skillsand collaboration and critical
thinking, and you know how toshake somebody's hand and look
them in the eye and have goodcustomer service and serve
others and not be afraid to pickup a piece of trash on the
(14:52):
floor, whatever it may be that,no matter what business you're
in, those are the skills thatpeople are watching for and
that'll help you succeed, and sothat's what we try and
accomplish within that facility.
It's also the largest eventcenter on the east side of the
Metroplex, so our goal is thatit's a completely student-run
facility in every aspect.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
It's got a theater in it.
I mean, y'all can disperse thatthing into a theater.
They do pickleball tournaments.
This thing is phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
You know, there's pro wrestling this weekend, I
believe, in the theater as well.
So yeah, it's very muchmulti-purposed.
We've had Taekwondo NationalChampionships and Pickleball,
the graduations you name itConcerts.
It's got a 79-yard-a-seat arenain the middle of it, so it's a
lot of fun and brings communitytogether, which is one of the
(15:41):
most powerful things we do.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Yeah, I flipped through your social media on
your Facebook one day and I'mjust scrolling through, you know
, and some pictures catch my eyeand all of a sudden I see
something very theatrical and Igo, wow, that looks pretty good.
It was the OC, y'all werehaving some theatrical
presentation and the visual wasstunning.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
It was the AV and I think there was a Shrek Junior
House Shrek performance theother day that they brought in
projection mapping and kids hada part to setting all the lights
and staging and it's got awalkable grid and so, again,
pretty much every aspect ofevery career you can imagine,
there's the ability to somehowparticipate in that facility and
really let our students be theleaders of the entire facility,
(16:31):
no matter what's happening.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Well, I hope everybody hears loud and clear.
If you're a teacher and youwant to be inspired, go check
this out.
If you're a student and you'rewondering, one of the guests
that have been on this podcastis Mike Rowe, and when Mike and
I talked, we talked about whatif, and so I hope that a student
(17:01):
may watch this and they may goto the OC and say, wow, because
one day they're going to be ataxpayer, they're going to live
in a community, and wouldn't itbe cool to see somebody that
watches this partner with theirlocal school district and say,
what if we could do somethinglike that?
And it doesn't have to be theOC, but good ideas are scalable.
Good ideas are scalable andthey can be honed to fit an
(17:22):
audience.
But I just want to make sureeverybody hears me loud and
clear, and I think you did.
Go check out the OC.
But, dr Terry, there'ssomething even bigger than your
OC.
So every summer, we take a groupof teachers on a week-long
leadership developmentexperience.
I take three teachers from eachof the 12 areas of Texas.
(17:42):
We'll travel over a thousandmiles, they'll visit about 15
locations and they'll hear fromover 70 speakers and one of the
things that we do when we pullup to a location is I tell the
teachers okay, here's yourassignment.
I want you to go inside and Iwant you to look around and see
what's on the walls.
What messages do you see?
And then I want you to talk tothe people and I want you to see
(18:05):
if their messaging isconsistent with what's on the
walls.
And then we all get back on thebus and I said now tell me what
you saw, tell me what you heard.
And then we talk about cultureand you said that's what's
called organizational culture.
And the one thing that Icommend you on and the district
on and share with all yourteachers is it is very.
(18:27):
You walk around and you seemessages of empowerment, of
encouragement, and then you talkto the people and nobody's
having a bad day.
I mean everybody.
(18:47):
If they are having a bad day,they're hiding it really good,
because they're just very polite.
And let me help you.
And here's where you go andthank you for stopping by to see
us.
And this is teachers.
Everybody that's in thefacility.
So I just want to say thank youfor creating such an incredible
culture, because I know that'simportant to you.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Oh, man, that may be one of the biggest compliments
you could have ever given.
It really is.
I wish we could all have aperfect day every day in Forney,
trust me.
But you know, you know we do.
Uh, you know there's a couple ofvalues that that that we really
focus on here, and the firstone is people first and taking
care of others, and and we kindof talked about that early on,
and so that's uh, we believethat our, our values should
(19:29):
drive our behaviors.
Um, and and so we, we have someconversations about this all the
time, about really buildingrelationships first with our,
our, our people, whether it'sour, our classroom that we're
working with, or our peers orour community.
So that's, that's a hugecompliment, and you know, to
your point about, just you know,the messaging that we try and
(19:50):
get across too, is it, we hope,to inspire innovation and 40,
and sometimes it's facilities.
But, to your point, we actuallynamed two roads after our
vision statement, and I thinkbranding your values and what
you believe in hopefully alsodrives some of those behaviors.
And so we you drive in oneither innovation way or
(20:11):
inspiration boulevard, becauseour vision statement here is
inspiring students throughinnovative education, and we try
and really dream big and makeit happen, and that's a second
value that we really hold dear.
So I appreciate that that meansa lot to me.
I know it will to our communityas well.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Well, y'all have done it, Having traveled around the
country it's something that youjust said that really I'm going
to share this with you.
I remember my son.
I took him on a 12-universitytour to look at some
universities when he was veryyoung, as a freshman and
sophomore, because I want him tostart understanding the concept
of college and what that lookslike.
And one of the places that wewent was Clemson University.
(20:53):
Oh, I've been there so you knowwhen you're driving it's
championship way.
That's right.
Oh, been there.
They're in Forney.
You said something a while ago.
I want to just kind of jumpback to this and we'll start
kind of wrapping up, but I liketo ask the kids.
(21:28):
I said how many high schoolsare in the state of Texas?
And they always chuckle andthey'll say a lot, and I'm like,
yeah, there's a lot.
There's actually over 3000 highschools in the state of Texas.
And I said how many of them aregoing to have a graduating
class this year?
Oh, I guess all of them.
I said that's right.
I said now, think about that.
Everybody's going to get out.
They're going to be looking fora job, a scholarship or an
(21:51):
opportunity.
And so I always ask them.
I said what's your competitiveedge, what separates you from
everybody else that's going tobe getting out looking for
something, and so I guess that'skind of what my question to you
is.
If you were going to give kidssome advice on honing a
competitive edge, what would youtell them?
Now, you kind of alluded to itby pay attention to what you
show the world, because thereare going to be people watching
(22:12):
you.
But what else would you say toa student to say here's how you
hone the competitive edge.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Well, you know, I really believe in man.
I could probably talk aboutthis all day Aaron and it's.
I really believe we all have agift and you know it's just many
times that I think it's a lotof the adult's job, especially
in education, to help studentsbegin to unwrap what that gift
is.
They may not know what it is asthey're going through school.
And so I think, really lookingat and we do strength finders
(22:47):
here I'm sure you all arefamiliar with that but to help
us try and find what strengthsthat you have that you really
can succeed in, that uh that Godblessed you with and and that
um that you can take and runwith.
And so I think many times whenyou talk about a competitive
edge, I think a lot of it isjust understanding yourself.
(23:07):
Uh, you know we talk about ourstrengths, but we also
understand you know I'm limitedon my constraints to um flip,
flipping, um shares a lot aboutthat and um that and a lot of
his research that he's done, andso understanding who you are
will help you portray, in myopinion, who you can be the best
(23:29):
at and what you can be the bestat, who you are as a person.
I think there's a couple otherthings that go along with that,
when it really talks about thefuture of work.
I just, I think there's acouple other things that go
along with that.
When it really talks about thefuture of work, I just, I think
there's a new.
I'm reading a book right nowcalled the Entrepreneurial
Leader and I really think thatthere are a couple components to
setting ourselves apart asleaders in the future, or
(23:53):
workforce or whatever, and oneis that we're going to all have
to have a creative,entrepreneurial mindset.
George Chiros behind me.
He talks about the innovator'smindset and we argue all the
time about whether or not that'sthe right name.
You know, innovator's mindsetor entrepreneurial mindset but
it's.
You know there's going to be alot of rote, standard processes
(24:18):
that are going to be natural andthat technology will absorb,
but the creativity of aninnovator's mindset or an
entrepreneurial mindset, I thinkis something that we've all got
to embrace.
And then I think we're going tohave to understand and be able
to change.
The world is changing at such arapid pace that, even if again,
(24:39):
understanding who you are andwhat your constraints and
strengths are, even if you knowit's not natural for you to
embrace change.
You have to be adaptable to it,because it is going to be, it's
inevitable, and if not, we'restanding still.
And then, finally, I would justtell you, you know, I think
what cannot ever leave us, nomatter what AI comes in or
(25:01):
technology comes in is there'salways a human side, and the
relational component of who youare and how you portray yourself
and how you communicate to meis what will always set you
apart from others, and it is.
(25:22):
It's something that I think isa skill set that we have to
tackle and focus on, and, eventhough these screens are
comfortable, humans are thething that are going to really
drive us forward.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Well, I agree with that.
Again, I don't think any of uswere created to be the Lone
Ranger and there's no doubt whatyou just said we were created
to be in communion with oneanother and to recognize that
and to tap into that kind ofstrength.
I like to say none of us is asstrong as all of us.
That's true mentally,academically, physically,
(25:51):
emotionally, spiritually.
There's power in numbers.
And I love what you said aboutcreativity.
See, great minds, think alike.
I'm telling you creativity, seegreat minds, think alike.
I'm telling you, dr Terry,great minds, think alike.
I actually have an inkblot thatI carry when I give
presentations.
I'll share this with youbecause you might want to use
this.
But I carry this inkblot and Ihold it up and I ask the crowd
to tell me what it is, and itnever fails.
(26:14):
Somebody will say what's aninkblot?
I said great.
I said let me tell you aboutthis inkblot.
I took this inkblot into aclassroom of 25 kindergartners
and I asked 25 kindergartnerswhat is this?
How many hands do you thinkwent up?
All of them, how many is?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
that 22,.
Usually 50.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
How do kindergartners raise their hands?
They're stomping their feet,saying call on me.
25 kindergartners gave me 76responses.
That's what that inkblot was.
It was a cross-section of woodhole in the snow, spit on the
street, bug on a windshield.
One little boy looks under hisdesk.
He goes, it's under here.
76 responses.
(26:57):
And then I took the sameinkblot into the largest civic
club in my community.
I tried and I said what is this?
They said it's an eight blot.
And there's an old saying thatsaid we enter this world as
question marks and we leave thisworld as exclamation points.
And so to your point challengepeople to have that competitive
(27:18):
edge of creativity.
That's right Of innovation Tothink outside of the box.
Unless you're in Forney, thenwe're going to think inside
Forney.
So I love what you said.
You know one more thing thatI'd like to share with you,
because I think you're creatingthis culture there, and I want
(27:38):
to again compliment you.
But I used the story of when Iwent to a Friday night football
game and I love hearing peoplechuckle when I say that and I
said, yeah, I went to one, itwas really good.
I said there were seven coacheson the side and I said at
halftime three more came out ofthe press box.
And then I found out there werethree more out that were
(27:59):
scouting other teams and I said,now do the math on that it's 13
coaches.
For what?
For one season and one sport onone field of that kid's life.
Yet they've got their entirefuture ahead of them.
They put all that effort in tocompete, and so I challenge
(28:22):
educators.
I said what are you doing tocompete for the minds of your
kids when you walk into thatclassroom every day?
It's not about checking a boxso I can turn in an assignment,
a classroom to show my principalthat I did my assignments.
It's about competing for theminds of those kids because
(28:43):
they've got their whole field oflife ahead of them.
The whole game is still aheadof them and we need to compete
for their attention, the sameway we compete in sports, in
band, in fine arts, in ag, itdoesn't matter, I don't care
what it is, it's not just aboutchasing the banner or the trophy
.
I tell people all the time we'renot trying to race champion
(29:05):
animals in ag and FFA, we'retrying to race champion kids.
Well, to race champion kids, Igot to compete for their minds.
I got to compete for theirattention.
I got to have them doing whatyou're doing and that's thinking
what if?
Compete for their attention?
I got to have them doing whatyou're doing and that's thinking
what if?
Think about possibilities?
And because of what you do withyour district, you've inspired
(29:32):
that in your teachers.
So then, what are your teachersdoing?
Speaker 3 (29:34):
They're doing that exact same thing and something
tells me, if they're not, not,they may be moving to another
school district, but it'sbecause that's the culture
that's trying to be created well, and I appreciate you saying
that, aaron, and you know youhit on this concept of risk
taking and I think it'ssomething that we all have to do
, especially moving forward inin the of education.
(29:57):
It's a transforming beast thatwe're all going to have to
figure out together and whatthat looks like and you know
what you keep talking about itreally comes down to one word to
me, and it's called engagement.
Whether it's a Friday nightfootball game or whether you're,
you know, in the barn in themornings at 6 am shoveling
(30:18):
manure, you know, I mean my gosh, my daughter did that and she
raised a pig and she loved itright.
She was thinking she would sitthere and have more fun
shoveling manure than I didhitting a baseball, I promise
you.
But it's finding what thatengagement is in that connection
for those kids and you hit onthat and it's so important that
(30:39):
we compete for that.
But I'm going to broaden it alittle wider.
I think we're also now gettingin the world of it's not just
about the engagement of thestudent, but it's also going to
be about the engagement of thefamily.
That is something that, from amindset standpoint, we're going
to have to broaden ourperspective and approach,
because I think it's going to bemore of a collective decision
(31:02):
and engagement that we're goingto have to really go tackle
together.
So just a thought.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
No, no, let me tell you something.
Let me tell you how far aheadyou are with what you just said,
mr Walrath, dick Walrath, very,very we're very appreciative of
his philanthropy.
They made a movie about him.
He's given over $30 million to4-H and FFA kids just right here
in the state of Texas.
But I remember he and I weresitting and talking one day and
(31:28):
he was telling me exactly whatyou just said he goes, aaron, he
goes.
Times have changed, he goesused to.
You'd sit down with yourgrandparents and the older
people and they'd tell you aboutlife and things he said.
Now, technology and information, the kids are sharing
information with people olderthan them.
They're showing theirgrandparents how to get on
(31:49):
FaceTime and how to use an app,and I mean so.
There's no question to yourpoint that the dynamics of
family and communication havechanged, and you can stand in
front of it.
You can say stop, it's like abig millstone rolling downhill.
Yeah, you're going to getsquished, that's right.
Maybe you can get on one sideor the other To your point.
(32:11):
Maybe help direct it to wherewe want it to go, dr Terry.
So one last question hereleadership.
Real quick, give me threeleadership tips If you were
going to give somebody threeleadership tips, what would you
tell them?
Speaker 3 (32:27):
I think I hit on some of this earlier, probably.
But you know, I would say,embrace and be adaptable to
change and not be risk adverse.
You've got.
You've got to be ready for it.
You know, have an open mind tothe possibilities and be willing
to tackle the future.
And probably then, mostimportant, the core component is
(32:48):
always going to be you know,take care of others and build
relationships with those aroundyou and no matter what business
that you're in, and no matteryou know, what decision you're
trying to tackle or toughconversation that you're trying
to approach, you can always bekind.
You can always be kind.
That is something that I thinkwill pay dividends in the long
(33:11):
run, even when it's achallenging conversation that
you're trying to tackle and youmay not like that person as much
as maybe somebody else that'ssitting across from you, but we
can always be kind and it sets astage for them to return that
favor.
Sometimes that'll take you along way.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
I'm going to have to send it to you.
So you remember the greatmotivational speaker, zig Ziglar
.
So Zig's son, tom Ziglar,serves on our board of directors
.
I'm drinking my coffee oneSaturday morning, the phone
rings.
It's Tom and he goes.
Aaron, I've been watching thenews and I've been watching and
listening to social media.
I've been following everythingthat's going on.
(33:49):
He goes.
I want you to know that I'mchoosing to identify as a
virtuist.
And I said, okay, you got myattention.
This is what he said.
He said, aaron, he goes.
If I were blind and if I weredeaf, he goes.
What difference would yourpolitics make, or your color of
your skin, or your religion, oryour sexual orientation?
(34:13):
He just goes through this wholelist.
He goes, aaron, I think if Iwere in that position, he goes.
The only thing that wouldmatter is the way that you treat
me.
That's right.
And then he goes through hislist of 10 virtues and I told
him I said, tom, hang up, gocall copyright copyright, that,
because that's really good.
And he did.
But to your point, at the end ofthe day, it's really those
(34:36):
virtues of kindness, of how wetreat people I can still be
progressive, but I can do itwith patience, that's right,
dignity.
And I can be open-minded, bythe way, y'all like the
open-minded thing.
Just don't be so open-minded,your brain falls out.
So be open.
(34:57):
You know, dr Terry, I've I'veonly gotten to know Dr Terry
over the past couple of yearsand I just got to tell you, um,
I like talking to him.
He energizes me because of theway that he thinks.
And um, talking to him, heenergizes me because of the way
that he thinks.
And um, you know, we always andaround our shop we always say
(35:19):
the essence of leadership is toplant trees under whose shade we
may never sit.
And when we're we're in the workthat we're in, by the way, dr
Terry, I told Tom Ziegler onetime he said tell me what you do
.
And I said I'm in the futurebusiness.
And he said what do you mean?
I said I'm in the kid business.
And when I think about what aprivilege it is to do that and
(35:40):
to do it with some passion andto do it with some innovation,
and do it because we want tomake it better for those that
are going to follow in ourfootsteps, to create trees under
whose shade we may never sit, Ijust want you to know that I
appreciate you in that vein.
I appreciate what you do.
I know it's not easy to be acampus administrator.
(36:00):
It's a thankless job.
It's probably like an electedofficial.
People that don't know all theintricacies of what goes into
that of managing personnels andfacilities and parents and
community standards.
I mean, oh my gosh.
I have no idea the politicsthat you deal with, but
something tells me you do itbecause you want to give back
(36:22):
and make it better for thepeople that are in your care.
Speaker 3 (36:25):
You know, there's no doubt you know school districts
make great speed bumps.
No doubt you know schooldistricts make great speed bumps
.
We really do, and no matterwhat the topic of conversation.
But, as you said, it's a.
It's a challenging, thanklessjob that educators take on, but
it's the most important.
In my opinion, my humbleopinion the most important
career in the world, becauseevery career starts in the
(36:48):
teacher's classroom and thosestudents that run through those
classrooms they're worth it andeven on the tough days they are
worth it.
So we appreciate you andappreciate what FFA and our
agricultural programs do acrossTexas and our nation.
It's amazing the skill setsthat you guys are putting in and
(37:08):
instilling in our students andstaff.
So thank you, guys.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
We appreciate that and we're not done.
Keep working on, that's right.
Yeah, and I echo what Dr Terrysaid Teachers, you're never
going to be told thank youenough.
But let me tell you something.
There's a guy right there, drTerry.
There's a guy right there,aaron Alejandro.
Y'all made a difference, so nowwe're trying to do that.
(37:32):
So you never know how you touchthe future.
That's what Krista McCulloughsaid.
She said I touch the future, Iteach.
So anyway, all right, dr Terry.
One last fun question.
Oh no, I'm just curious, drTerry, what is the best concert?
Speaker 3 (37:53):
you've ever been to.
Oh man, this is one area that Iam not real strong in.
My wife makes fun of meconstantly because I just make
up the words to my own music andI never can tell you who sang
it, but usually when I sing itin my head, it's always better
than the way I heard it.
So you know, uh.
So I'm not very.
I'm really don't attend manyconcerts, to be honest with you,
(38:16):
never, never, really have.
But I do remember, uh, georgeStrait, uh, especially, uh, you
know with the audience that wegot here who can't enjoy George
Strait at um AT&T or Texasstadium, I think it was at the
time.
So, uh, george Strait at AT&Tor Texas Stadium, I think it was
at the time, so big, greatvenue and always an excellent
performer.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
Thank you.
I love asking that question, bythe way.
By the way, I got to give youhey, george is probably the top
of the list of all the peoplethe best concerts, but it ranges
from Pitbull to Metallica toMichael Bublé to the greatest
showman.
And then I've got two.
I don't know if you ever heardCoach Nate Hearn.
Have you heard Coach Nate?
(38:55):
I have not.
Friday Night Lights no, sir.
Yeah, I know, friday NightLights.
You should probably book him.
Great speaker, matter of fact,tom Ziegler said next to his dad
.
He said that may be the bestspeaker I've ever heard.
Oh well that's good to hear.
I'll write that one down.
Yeah, coach Nate's incredibleCoach Nate.
And then Dan Oulabi.
Dan's another one that peopledon't know a lot about, but I
(39:17):
strongly tell people you got toget to know Dan Oulabi too.
I'm not going to tell theirstories.
Y'all go watch their podcastinterviews and you will hear two
of the most incredible answersto that question what is your
best concert?
Dr Terry, thank you forspending some time with us.
Keep up the good work You'redoing.
You're just doing incrediblework and it's I'm inspired to
(39:42):
see what the future is going tobe because of what y'all are
doing.
Y'all are leading an example,not just in facilities, but
you're planting seeds ofgreatness in the minds of those
kids, and I can't wait to seewhat they do and what they
accomplish, and then, when theystart giving back and they start
innovating themselves, there'sno telling what the future of
(40:02):
the OC and your community lookslike.
So thank you for taking sometime to join us today.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
Well, thanks for having me Always great to visit
Aaron.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
Well, folks, thank you for stopping by again.
You know time's the only thing.
You can't save it, you can'thoard it.
All you can do is spend it, andwe appreciate you spending a
little bit of your time with ustoday.
Like we always say, if you wantto know what the future is,
grow it.
But to grow it, you got toplant the right things, the
right mindset, you got to getthe right people around you to
help you be your best, and Ithink Dr Terry and today's
(40:35):
program was a great reminder ofthat.
So thank you for stopping byand until we meet again, go out
and do something great forsomebody, do something to make
their day better, encourage them, empower them, equip them.
Trust me, you'll feel betterabout it and our world will be
better because of it.
Speaker 1 (40:57):
Thank you, we hope you've enjoyed this episode of
the Growing Our Future podcast.
This show is sponsored by theTexas FFA Foundation, whose
mission is to strengthenagricultural science education
so students can develop theirpotential for personal growth,
career success and leadership ina global marketplace.
Learn more at mytexasffaorg.
Welcome to the Growing Our Future podcast.
In this show, the Texas FFAFoundation will take on a
journey of exploration intoagricultural science, education,
leadership development andinsights from subject matter
experts and sponsors who providethe fuel to make dreams come
true.
Here's your host, AaronAlejandro.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well, good morning, good afternoon, good evening or
whenever you may be tuning in tothe Growing Our Future podcast
Number one, thank you.
Thank you for stopping by.
I mean you're sharing a littlebit of your time with us and
(00:50):
hopefully we're sharingsomething of value to kind of
occupy that time.
You know, in the world ofagriculture, I always tell
people if you want to know whatthe future is, grow it.
If you want to know what thefuture is, you got to grow it.
But to do that, you got toplant the right seeds, you got
to take care of them, you got toharvest it and you got to share
it.
But we got to start by plantingthe right seeds, which is what
this podcast is about.
It's about bringing people onwho share their experiences,
(01:12):
their insights, their justthings of life that they've
experienced, that they say, hey,let me tell you about this, in
hopes that it gives us a littleseed of greatness that can make
us better.
Today we're honored.
You're going to find out herein a second.
You're going to see why I'm afan.
Y'all are about to meet DrJustin Terry and I got to tell
you he's an exciting individual,he's an innovator and his
(01:33):
enthusiasm is contagious, andyou're about to experience that.
So, Dr Terry, thank you forbeing on the podcast today.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Oh, thanks so much for having me, and, man, I'm a
little worried about thatbuildup in the conversation
we're about to have, but we'lldo our best.
How about that Not?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
worried at all.
You're going to deliver.
Trust me, you're going todeliver.
So with that, I like to startevery podcast, every podcast,
Matter of fact.
I think we should all startevery day with this question,
and that question is Dr Terry,what are you grateful for today?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Oh, man, you know, ironically, we always start
every classroom, every meeting,anything we do in our school
district, with good things, andit is about appreciation.
You know, and today I'll behonest with you, we just left a
great Easter weekend and I amgrateful for family today and
the beautiful weather and thetime that we had to spend
together.
(02:27):
So thank you for asking.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
By the way, I agree with you too.
I told my kids not too long ago, this last Thanksgiving, I told
them to look around.
And we're sitting there gettingready to eat Thanksgiving
dinner and they go what I saidlook around.
And they're like what I saidy'all, it just dawned on me.
I said I'm 58 years old and itjust dawned on me.
I said I can't remember asingle Thanksgiving as a kid
(02:52):
growing up, because we were toopoor, we never had it.
My mom, we never traveled withother family.
And I said I want y'all to lookaround and realize that there's
good times and bad times in life.
But if you'll just reflect, yougot a family, that's right.
You got something to begrateful for, we got food.
(03:12):
We're not going to starve, justbe grateful, be grateful.
So thank you so much forsharing that.
And you got a beautiful familyand I appreciate you sharing
that too.
So thank you.
Yes, sir, all right.
So, dr Justin, terry, that justautomatically lets us know that
there's some credentials there.
And I know for a fact, I knowfor a fact you did not just fall
(03:35):
into that seat.
So something tells me there wasa journey, there was a path,
something that led you to thesuperintendent role of the
Forney ISD, just outside ofDallas, texas.
So, dr Terry, kind of take usthrough that.
How did you end up on thiscareer path that landed you in
that seat?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
You know, aaron, I get this question a lot and, to
be honest with you, you know theone thing I would always tell
you I don't think it's anythingI ever did.
One thing I would always tellyou it's it's I don't think it's
anything I ever did.
I think it's it has to do withthe people that I've been
blessed and surrounded withalong my journey.
And I was a grew up in aneducator's household.
(04:20):
My father was a baseball coachand teacher and professor, and
so I ended up as a baseballcoach and teacher in a little
small town, a little small townright outside of Corsicana
called Mildred.
And at that point in time, youknow, I was blessed to have a
superintendent that invested inme and he saw something in me as
a, as a leader, and he, he kindof took me under his wing and
(04:41):
grew me as not only an educatorbut just as a leader in general.
And then one day he looked at meand he said you know, there's
somebody I want you to meet, andhe passed me off to another
mentor you know, gene Burtondown the road in Rockwall and a
little larger district, and youknow my path made it back up to
(05:02):
the Metroplex at that time as anadministration and assistant,
principalships andprincipalships.
And then I was blessed to haveanother mentor as a
superintendent that took meunder his wing, john Fuller, and
then time after time again.
What I would just alwaysencourage others as you begin to
explore your journey is to finda mentor, find a coach along
(05:23):
the way, and find two, if you'rereally blessed one that's
within the organization thatyou're working within, so that
they understand your goals andaspirations and can help you
achieve those, but also onethat's outside of your
organization that brings lightinto maybe a different
perspective that they're seeingthat may not be in a narrow
(05:44):
field.
So again, it's nothing thatI've done, I've just been really
blessed along the way to havegood people that have guided my
path.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Well, I don't disagree with you that at all.
As a matter of fact, I'vealways told people life's not a
solo project.
We were not created to be theLone Rangers, and early on I had
a mentor.
Interestingly enough, early on,I had a mentor and he told me
something very similar.
He said I want you to alwayshave 10 friends older than you
and 10 friends younger than you.
He goes the 10 friends olderthan you're going to tell you
(06:14):
where we've been, 10 friendsyounger than you're going to
tell you where we're headed.
And I thought that was somepretty good advice, pretty good
insight.
No, then we are met we weretalking before we started a good
friend and board member, cleoFranklin.
Uh, cleo always tells the kids.
He said I want you to get yourown personal board of directors.
He said I want you to get agroup of people around you that
(06:36):
become your board of directorsand make you better.
And, uh, I just thought thatwas good, good wisdom as well.
So so, yeah, there's a thing.
What I appreciate about whatyou just said, though, already,
is you've already given creditthat life's not a solo project,
that we're in this together andif we can find people that can
(06:59):
make us better, find people thatcan build our networks, expose
us to opportunities.
But you've got to be payingattention.
They're not just good.
I don't think anything justfell in your lap.
Something tells me you had tohave a little want to.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Well, you know, and they've got to see that you want
to for sure, and because Idon't know that others are going
to invest in you if they don'tsee that their investment of
their time and their effort willpay off.
And so you know work ethic andyou know is a pretty powerful
and important thing, and I thinkothers do see that they see
(07:34):
talents in you, whether you knowit or not.
You know we talk a lot in ourorganization that you know
there's a lot of opportunity forgrowth.
We're a really fast-gr, fastgrowth district and career
growth is pretty easy to see.
We have 200 plus 300 newpositions every year.
And what I think especiallyyoung people sometimes don't
(07:54):
realize is every time you walkdown a hallway, every time you
are on the job, you're in aninterview and people are
watching, whether you know it ornot, and so you just hope that
they see you on your best day,for sure, most of the time.
But when it's consistent andyou're having great, great, good
days all the time, then theyusually find you, that's for
(08:14):
sure.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
See, this is where great minds think alike.
So one of the things I alwaysask the FFA kids when we're
talking about leadership is Ialways say tell me about your
business.
And they just look at me.
They say I don't have abusiness.
I said, yeah, you do, you're it.
I said, what time do you openin the morning?
I mean, what kind of customerservice do you deliver?
You know, are you on time?
(08:35):
I mean, you are your business.
By the way, that's whyeverybody that knows me knows I
go by this.
My handle is live your brand,because I believe that it's.
It's how we live and what weshare and what we do.
That's how people get to knowwhat our brand is and and just
like a fingerprint that that howyou live your brand, that's
your fingerprint on this world.
And, like you just said, Iloved it.
(08:57):
Even when you're walking downthe hallway, somebody's watching
.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
That's right.
Those actions speak so muchmore powerful than words in many
cases.
And people are always watchingand they notice some of the
sometimes the smallest littlethings.
And, man, I tell you what, withthe audience here in the FFA
and agriculture, your businessstarts early and and I tell you
what, that's impressive.
I watch a lot of our studentshere in our, you know, animal
(09:24):
science program.
We run a doggy daycare and justamazed I mean, they're creating
you know little reels out thereto kind of promote the business
that we're running.
And they're doing it at 6 am ontheir own.
And you guys are some prettyspecial, pretty special group,
so proud to be a part of this,thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
That's awful, I agree with you.
I learned it not by choice.
I learned it when I went toBoy's Ranch and I'll never
forget.
My dorm parent, mr Chandler,brought me a sledgehammer one
day and he told me I needed todrive to the other side of the
ranch, which was five miles in ablizzard and bust the water
trough for the horses.
And I pitched a fit and I said,mr Chandler, I don't want to go
(10:02):
.
It's cold out there, it's ablizzard, the wind's whipping
Feels like a razor, I could getlost.
And I'll never forget it.
Mr Chandler, in his old countrywisdom he said, darling, do you
get thirsty when it's cold?
I said, yes, sir.
He said, don't you think thosehorses get thirsty too?
I said, aaron, what separatesy'all's kids from everybody else
(10:35):
?
Doesn't UIL teach speech anddebate?
Doesn't band teach ensemble?
Doesn't athletics teachteamwork?
What is it that y'all think youdo in ag?
That nobody else does?
And I always tell them.
I said, because in the world ofagriculture, if we don't do our
job, something dies.
When you can give that to a kid, that becomes something
(10:57):
intrinsic, that, like you justsaid, it'll stand out.
It'll stand out when somethingdepends on you to do your job,
so good catch on your part, bythe way.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
So no, absolutely.
Yeah, you know, and that issomething that's great about
this organization I neverthought about.
But what you just said is verypowerful is you know?
It's not many organizations,not many fields of study, are so
focused on supporting othersand living things and growing
things, and it is just amazingthat the whole, really the whole
(11:32):
organization you're describing,is really about supporting
others.
And man, the golden rule inlife will take you a long way,
and so a lot of great lessonslearned here, for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Well, I'm a man of faith and the one thing I can
tell you there's a lot in theBible about agriculture.
So I just kind of followed thatdirection a little bit and it
seems to work out okay.
That's right.
You know, for folks that aren'tfamiliar with Dr Terry and his
role at the Forney ISD, theyhave an incredible school
district and one of the thingsthat we want to point you to,
(12:08):
and I want to tell you firsthandI've experienced it more than
once is a place called the OC,and I got to tell you I don't
know, Dr Terry, maybe one ofthese days you and I ought to
compare notes.
I might have you.
I don't know of a lot of peoplethat have been in more schools
in the state of Texas than Ihave.
I don't know how many peoplehave probably seen more
facilities nationwide than Ihave.
(12:29):
I'm blessed, by the way.
That's not bragging, I'mtelling you I'm blessed.
But I had seen this video aboutthis Opportunity Central
building in Forney.
I saw a video and then we havea meeting there and all I can
tell you is I stepped on my lip,I stepped on my jaw because it
(12:50):
was hung down the whole time,because this place is phenomenal
.
I don't know I want to becareful how I say this I'm not
so sure that I couldn'tlegitimately say that this
facility could be the future ofcareer technical education and I
would challenge anybody to takea look at it and if there's
something else out there, shareit with me because I'd like to
(13:11):
know about it.
But, Dr Terry, y'all's visionand what y'all have done with
that Opportunity Centralbuilding is phenomenal.
Would you just take a momentand tell us a little bit about
that?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Sure and Aaron, thanks so much for the kind
words.
It's definitely something thatwe take a lot of pride in here
in Forney and you know it'sreally a.
It's a facility that's about350,000 square feet and the goal
is that every square foot ofthis facility is, you know, it's
got some core tenets to it andthat it's career, college and
(13:44):
community focused, but it's alsomultipurposed and future proof,
and so there's thisentrepreneurial spirit that
really runs throughout theentire building.
And you know it doesn't reallymatter the career pathway that
you're in.
We have auto shop, we havecosmetology, we have, you know,
a great horticultural programthrough our Blooms floral design
(14:06):
students.
You know we have bologna yards,but it doesn't really matter
what the career pathway is.
The goal is that we're bringingour community and our students
together to learn together fromthree years old to 103 with
these skills that we all need,103 with these skills that we
(14:29):
all need.
Whether you know you're goingto be a veterinarian or you're
going to be a beautician one day, there's some commonalities
that we all have and we continueto call them this
entrepreneurial path.
You know communication skillsand collaboration and critical
thinking, and you know how toshake somebody's hand and look
them in the eye and have goodcustomer service and serve
others and not be afraid to pickup a piece of trash on the
(14:52):
floor, whatever it may be that,no matter what business you're
in, those are the skills thatpeople are watching for and
that'll help you succeed, and sothat's what we try and
accomplish within that facility.
It's also the largest eventcenter on the east side of the
Metroplex, so our goal is thatit's a completely student-run
facility in every aspect.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
It's got a theater in it.
I mean, y'all can disperse thatthing into a theater.
They do pickleball tournaments.
This thing is phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
You know, there's pro wrestling this weekend, I
believe, in the theater as well.
So yeah, it's very muchmulti-purposed.
We've had Taekwondo NationalChampionships and Pickleball,
the graduations you name itConcerts.
It's got a 79-yard-a-seat arenain the middle of it, so it's a
lot of fun and brings communitytogether, which is one of the
(15:41):
most powerful things we do.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Yeah, I flipped through your social media on
your Facebook one day and I'mjust scrolling through, you know
, and some pictures catch my eyeand all of a sudden I see
something very theatrical and Igo, wow, that looks pretty good.
It was the OC, y'all werehaving some theatrical
presentation and the visual wasstunning.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
It was the AV and I think there was a Shrek Junior
House Shrek performance theother day that they brought in
projection mapping and kids hada part to setting all the lights
and staging and it's got awalkable grid and so, again,
pretty much every aspect ofevery career you can imagine,
there's the ability to somehowparticipate in that facility and
really let our students be theleaders of the entire facility,
(16:31):
no matter what's happening.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Well, I hope everybody hears loud and clear.
If you're a teacher and youwant to be inspired, go check
this out.
If you're a student and you'rewondering, one of the guests
that have been on this podcastis Mike Rowe, and when Mike and
I talked, we talked about whatif, and so I hope that a student
(17:01):
may watch this and they may goto the OC and say, wow, because
one day they're going to be ataxpayer, they're going to live
in a community, and wouldn't itbe cool to see somebody that
watches this partner with theirlocal school district and say,
what if we could do somethinglike that?
And it doesn't have to be theOC, but good ideas are scalable.
Good ideas are scalable andthey can be honed to fit an
(17:22):
audience.
But I just want to make sureeverybody hears me loud and
clear, and I think you did.
Go check out the OC.
But, dr Terry, there'ssomething even bigger than your
OC.
So every summer, we take a groupof teachers on a week-long
leadership developmentexperience.
I take three teachers from eachof the 12 areas of Texas.
(17:42):
We'll travel over a thousandmiles, they'll visit about 15
locations and they'll hear fromover 70 speakers and one of the
things that we do when we pullup to a location is I tell the
teachers okay, here's yourassignment.
I want you to go inside and Iwant you to look around and see
what's on the walls.
What messages do you see?
And then I want you to talk tothe people and I want you to see
(18:05):
if their messaging isconsistent with what's on the
walls.
And then we all get back on thebus and I said now tell me what
you saw, tell me what you heard.
And then we talk about cultureand you said that's what's
called organizational culture.
And the one thing that Icommend you on and the district
on and share with all yourteachers is it is very.
(18:27):
You walk around and you seemessages of empowerment, of
encouragement, and then you talkto the people and nobody's
having a bad day.
I mean everybody.
(18:47):
If they are having a bad day,they're hiding it really good,
because they're just very polite.
And let me help you.
And here's where you go andthank you for stopping by to see
us.
And this is teachers.
Everybody that's in thefacility.
So I just want to say thank youfor creating such an incredible
culture, because I know that'simportant to you.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Oh, man, that may be one of the biggest compliments
you could have ever given.
It really is.
I wish we could all have aperfect day every day in Forney,
trust me.
But you know, you know we do.
Uh, you know there's a couple ofvalues that that that we really
focus on here, and the firstone is people first and taking
care of others, and and we kindof talked about that early on,
and so that's uh, we believethat our, our values should
(19:29):
drive our behaviors.
Um, and and so we, we have someconversations about this all the
time, about really buildingrelationships first with our,
our, our people, whether it'sour, our classroom that we're
working with, or our peers orour community.
So that's, that's a hugecompliment, and you know, to
your point about, just you know,the messaging that we try and
(19:50):
get across too, is it, we hope,to inspire innovation and 40,
and sometimes it's facilities.
But, to your point, we actuallynamed two roads after our
vision statement, and I thinkbranding your values and what
you believe in hopefully alsodrives some of those behaviors.
And so we you drive in oneither innovation way or
(20:11):
inspiration boulevard, becauseour vision statement here is
inspiring students throughinnovative education, and we try
and really dream big and makeit happen, and that's a second
value that we really hold dear.
So I appreciate that that meansa lot to me.
I know it will to our communityas well.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Well, y'all have done it, Having traveled around the
country it's something that youjust said that really I'm going
to share this with you.
I remember my son.
I took him on a 12-universitytour to look at some
universities when he was veryyoung, as a freshman and
sophomore, because I want him tostart understanding the concept
of college and what that lookslike.
And one of the places that wewent was Clemson University.
(20:53):
Oh, I've been there so you knowwhen you're driving it's
championship way.
That's right.
Oh, been there.
They're in Forney.
You said something a while ago.
I want to just kind of jumpback to this and we'll start
kind of wrapping up, but I liketo ask the kids.
(21:28):
I said how many high schoolsare in the state of Texas?
And they always chuckle andthey'll say a lot, and I'm like,
yeah, there's a lot.
There's actually over 3000 highschools in the state of Texas.
And I said how many of them aregoing to have a graduating
class this year?
Oh, I guess all of them.
I said that's right.
I said now, think about that.
Everybody's going to get out.
They're going to be looking fora job, a scholarship or an
(21:51):
opportunity.
And so I always ask them.
I said what's your competitiveedge, what separates you from
everybody else that's going tobe getting out looking for
something, and so I guess that'skind of what my question to you
is.
If you were going to give kidssome advice on honing a
competitive edge, what would youtell them?
Now, you kind of alluded to itby pay attention to what you
show the world, because thereare going to be people watching
(22:12):
you.
But what else would you say toa student to say here's how you
hone the competitive edge.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Well, you know, I really believe in man.
I could probably talk aboutthis all day Aaron and it's.
I really believe we all have agift and you know it's just many
times that I think it's a lotof the adult's job, especially
in education, to help studentsbegin to unwrap what that gift
is.
They may not know what it is asthey're going through school.
And so I think, really lookingat and we do strength finders
(22:47):
here I'm sure you all arefamiliar with that but to help
us try and find what strengthsthat you have that you really
can succeed in, that uh that Godblessed you with and and that
um that you can take and runwith.
And so I think many times whenyou talk about a competitive
edge, I think a lot of it isjust understanding yourself.
(23:07):
Uh, you know we talk about ourstrengths, but we also
understand you know I'm limitedon my constraints to um flip,
flipping, um shares a lot aboutthat and um that and a lot of
his research that he's done, andso understanding who you are
will help you portray, in myopinion, who you can be the best
(23:29):
at and what you can be the bestat, who you are as a person.
I think there's a couple otherthings that go along with that,
when it really talks about thefuture of work.
I just, I think there's acouple other things that go
along with that.
When it really talks about thefuture of work, I just, I think
there's a new.
I'm reading a book right nowcalled the Entrepreneurial
Leader and I really think thatthere are a couple components to
setting ourselves apart asleaders in the future, or
(23:53):
workforce or whatever, and oneis that we're going to all have
to have a creative,entrepreneurial mindset.
George Chiros behind me.
He talks about the innovator'smindset and we argue all the
time about whether or not that'sthe right name.
You know, innovator's mindsetor entrepreneurial mindset but
it's.
You know there's going to be alot of rote, standard processes
(24:18):
that are going to be natural andthat technology will absorb,
but the creativity of aninnovator's mindset or an
entrepreneurial mindset, I thinkis something that we've all got
to embrace.
And then I think we're going tohave to understand and be able
to change.
The world is changing at such arapid pace that, even if again,
(24:39):
understanding who you are andwhat your constraints and
strengths are, even if you knowit's not natural for you to
embrace change.
You have to be adaptable to it,because it is going to be, it's
inevitable, and if not, we'restanding still.
And then, finally, I would justtell you, you know, I think
what cannot ever leave us, nomatter what AI comes in or
(25:01):
technology comes in is there'salways a human side, and the
relational component of who youare and how you portray yourself
and how you communicate to meis what will always set you
apart from others, and it is.
(25:22):
It's something that I think isa skill set that we have to
tackle and focus on, and, eventhough these screens are
comfortable, humans are thething that are going to really
drive us forward.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Well, I agree with that.
Again, I don't think any of uswere created to be the Lone
Ranger and there's no doubt whatyou just said we were created
to be in communion with oneanother and to recognize that
and to tap into that kind ofstrength.
I like to say none of us is asstrong as all of us.
That's true mentally,academically, physically,
(25:51):
emotionally, spiritually.
There's power in numbers.
And I love what you said aboutcreativity.
See, great minds, think alike.
I'm telling you creativity, seegreat minds, think alike.
I'm telling you, dr Terry,great minds, think alike.
I actually have an inkblot thatI carry when I give
presentations.
I'll share this with youbecause you might want to use
this.
But I carry this inkblot and Ihold it up and I ask the crowd
to tell me what it is, and itnever fails.
(26:14):
Somebody will say what's aninkblot?
I said great.
I said let me tell you aboutthis inkblot.
I took this inkblot into aclassroom of 25 kindergartners
and I asked 25 kindergartnerswhat is this?
How many hands do you thinkwent up?
All of them, how many is?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
that 22,.
Usually 50.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
How do kindergartners raise their hands?
They're stomping their feet,saying call on me.
25 kindergartners gave me 76responses.
That's what that inkblot was.
It was a cross-section of woodhole in the snow, spit on the
street, bug on a windshield.
One little boy looks under hisdesk.
He goes, it's under here.
76 responses.
(26:57):
And then I took the sameinkblot into the largest civic
club in my community.
I tried and I said what is this?
They said it's an eight blot.
And there's an old saying thatsaid we enter this world as
question marks and we leave thisworld as exclamation points.
And so to your point challengepeople to have that competitive
(27:18):
edge of creativity.
That's right Of innovation Tothink outside of the box.
Unless you're in Forney, thenwe're going to think inside
Forney.
So I love what you said.
You know one more thing thatI'd like to share with you,
because I think you're creatingthis culture there, and I want
(27:38):
to again compliment you.
But I used the story of when Iwent to a Friday night football
game and I love hearing peoplechuckle when I say that and I
said, yeah, I went to one, itwas really good.
I said there were seven coacheson the side and I said at
halftime three more came out ofthe press box.
And then I found out there werethree more out that were
(27:59):
scouting other teams and I said,now do the math on that it's 13
coaches.
For what?
For one season and one sport onone field of that kid's life.
Yet they've got their entirefuture ahead of them.
They put all that effort in tocompete, and so I challenge
(28:22):
educators.
I said what are you doing tocompete for the minds of your
kids when you walk into thatclassroom every day?
It's not about checking a boxso I can turn in an assignment,
a classroom to show my principalthat I did my assignments.
It's about competing for theminds of those kids because
(28:43):
they've got their whole field oflife ahead of them.
The whole game is still aheadof them and we need to compete
for their attention, the sameway we compete in sports, in
band, in fine arts, in ag, itdoesn't matter, I don't care
what it is, it's not just aboutchasing the banner or the trophy
.
I tell people all the time we'renot trying to race champion
(29:05):
animals in ag and FFA, we'retrying to race champion kids.
Well, to race champion kids, Igot to compete for their minds.
I got to compete for theirattention.
I got to have them doing whatyou're doing and that's thinking
what if?
Compete for their attention?
I got to have them doing whatyou're doing and that's thinking
what if?
Think about possibilities?
And because of what you do withyour district, you've inspired
(29:32):
that in your teachers.
So then, what are your teachersdoing?
Speaker 3 (29:34):
They're doing that exact same thing and something
tells me, if they're not, not,they may be moving to another
school district, but it'sbecause that's the culture
that's trying to be created well, and I appreciate you saying
that, aaron, and you know youhit on this concept of risk
taking and I think it'ssomething that we all have to do
, especially moving forward inin the of education.
(29:57):
It's a transforming beast thatwe're all going to have to
figure out together and whatthat looks like and you know
what you keep talking about itreally comes down to one word to
me, and it's called engagement.
Whether it's a Friday nightfootball game or whether you're,
you know, in the barn in themornings at 6 am shoveling
(30:18):
manure, you know, I mean my gosh, my daughter did that and she
raised a pig and she loved itright.
She was thinking she would sitthere and have more fun
shoveling manure than I didhitting a baseball, I promise
you.
But it's finding what thatengagement is in that connection
for those kids and you hit onthat and it's so important that
(30:39):
we compete for that.
But I'm going to broaden it alittle wider.
I think we're also now gettingin the world of it's not just
about the engagement of thestudent, but it's also going to
be about the engagement of thefamily.
That is something that, from amindset standpoint, we're going
to have to broaden ourperspective and approach,
because I think it's going to bemore of a collective decision
(31:02):
and engagement that we're goingto have to really go tackle
together.
So just a thought.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
No, no, let me tell you something.
Let me tell you how far aheadyou are with what you just said,
mr Walrath, dick Walrath, very,very we're very appreciative of
his philanthropy.
They made a movie about him.
He's given over $30 million to4-H and FFA kids just right here
in the state of Texas.
But I remember he and I weresitting and talking one day and
(31:28):
he was telling me exactly whatyou just said he goes, aaron, he
goes.
Times have changed, he goesused to.
You'd sit down with yourgrandparents and the older
people and they'd tell you aboutlife and things he said.
Now, technology and information, the kids are sharing
information with people olderthan them.
They're showing theirgrandparents how to get on
(31:49):
FaceTime and how to use an app,and I mean so.
There's no question to yourpoint that the dynamics of
family and communication havechanged, and you can stand in
front of it.
You can say stop, it's like abig millstone rolling downhill.
Yeah, you're going to getsquished, that's right.
Maybe you can get on one sideor the other To your point.
(32:11):
Maybe help direct it to wherewe want it to go, dr Terry.
So one last question hereleadership.
Real quick, give me threeleadership tips If you were
going to give somebody threeleadership tips, what would you
tell them?
Speaker 3 (32:27):
I think I hit on some of this earlier, probably.
But you know, I would say,embrace and be adaptable to
change and not be risk adverse.
You've got.
You've got to be ready for it.
You know, have an open mind tothe possibilities and be willing
to tackle the future.
And probably then, mostimportant, the core component is
(32:48):
always going to be you know,take care of others and build
relationships with those aroundyou and no matter what business
that you're in, and no matteryou know, what decision you're
trying to tackle or toughconversation that you're trying
to approach, you can always bekind.
You can always be kind.
That is something that I thinkwill pay dividends in the long
(33:11):
run, even when it's achallenging conversation that
you're trying to tackle and youmay not like that person as much
as maybe somebody else that'ssitting across from you, but we
can always be kind and it sets astage for them to return that
favor.
Sometimes that'll take you along way.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
I'm going to have to send it to you.
So you remember the greatmotivational speaker, zig Ziglar
.
So Zig's son, tom Ziglar,serves on our board of directors
.
I'm drinking my coffee oneSaturday morning, the phone
rings.
It's Tom and he goes.
Aaron, I've been watching thenews and I've been watching and
listening to social media.
I've been following everythingthat's going on.
(33:49):
He goes.
I want you to know that I'mchoosing to identify as a
virtuist.
And I said, okay, you got myattention.
This is what he said.
He said, aaron, he goes.
If I were blind and if I weredeaf, he goes.
What difference would yourpolitics make, or your color of
your skin, or your religion, oryour sexual orientation?
(34:13):
He just goes through this wholelist.
He goes, aaron, I think if Iwere in that position, he goes.
The only thing that wouldmatter is the way that you treat
me.
That's right.
And then he goes through hislist of 10 virtues and I told
him I said, tom, hang up, gocall copyright copyright, that,
because that's really good.
And he did.
But to your point, at the end ofthe day, it's really those
(34:36):
virtues of kindness, of how wetreat people I can still be
progressive, but I can do itwith patience, that's right,
dignity.
And I can be open-minded, bythe way, y'all like the
open-minded thing.
Just don't be so open-minded,your brain falls out.
So be open.
(34:57):
You know, dr Terry, I've I'veonly gotten to know Dr Terry
over the past couple of yearsand I just got to tell you, um,
I like talking to him.
He energizes me because of theway that he thinks.
And um, talking to him, heenergizes me because of the way
that he thinks.
And um, you know, we always andaround our shop we always say
(35:19):
the essence of leadership is toplant trees under whose shade we
may never sit.
And when we're we're in the workthat we're in, by the way, dr
Terry, I told Tom Ziegler onetime he said tell me what you do
.
And I said I'm in the futurebusiness.
And he said what do you mean?
I said I'm in the kid business.
And when I think about what aprivilege it is to do that and
(35:40):
to do it with some passion andto do it with some innovation,
and do it because we want tomake it better for those that
are going to follow in ourfootsteps, to create trees under
whose shade we may never sit, Ijust want you to know that I
appreciate you in that vein.
I appreciate what you do.
I know it's not easy to be acampus administrator.
(36:00):
It's a thankless job.
It's probably like an electedofficial.
People that don't know all theintricacies of what goes into
that of managing personnels andfacilities and parents and
community standards.
I mean, oh my gosh.
I have no idea the politicsthat you deal with, but
something tells me you do itbecause you want to give back
(36:22):
and make it better for thepeople that are in your care.
Speaker 3 (36:25):
You know, there's no doubt you know school districts
make great speed bumps.
No doubt you know schooldistricts make great speed bumps
.
We really do, and no matterwhat the topic of conversation.
But, as you said, it's a.
It's a challenging, thanklessjob that educators take on, but
it's the most important.
In my opinion, my humbleopinion the most important
career in the world, becauseevery career starts in the
(36:48):
teacher's classroom and thosestudents that run through those
classrooms they're worth it andeven on the tough days they are
worth it.
So we appreciate you andappreciate what FFA and our
agricultural programs do acrossTexas and our nation.
It's amazing the skill setsthat you guys are putting in and
(37:08):
instilling in our students andstaff.
So thank you, guys.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
We appreciate that and we're not done.
Keep working on, that's right.
Yeah, and I echo what Dr Terrysaid Teachers, you're never
going to be told thank youenough.
But let me tell you something.
There's a guy right there, drTerry.
There's a guy right there,aaron Alejandro.
Y'all made a difference, so nowwe're trying to do that.
(37:32):
So you never know how you touchthe future.
That's what Krista McCulloughsaid.
She said I touch the future, Iteach.
So anyway, all right, dr Terry.
One last fun question.
Oh no, I'm just curious, drTerry, what is the best concert?
Speaker 3 (37:53):
you've ever been to.
Oh man, this is one area that Iam not real strong in.
My wife makes fun of meconstantly because I just make
up the words to my own music andI never can tell you who sang
it, but usually when I sing itin my head, it's always better
than the way I heard it.
So you know, uh.
So I'm not very.
I'm really don't attend manyconcerts, to be honest with you,
(38:16):
never, never, really have.
But I do remember, uh, georgeStrait, uh, especially, uh, you
know with the audience that wegot here who can't enjoy George
Strait at um AT&T or Texasstadium, I think it was at the
time.
So, uh, george Strait at AT&Tor Texas Stadium, I think it was
at the time, so big, greatvenue and always an excellent
performer.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
Thank you.
I love asking that question, bythe way.
By the way, I got to give youhey, george is probably the top
of the list of all the peoplethe best concerts, but it ranges
from Pitbull to Metallica toMichael Bublé to the greatest
showman.
And then I've got two.
I don't know if you ever heardCoach Nate Hearn.
Have you heard Coach Nate?
(38:55):
I have not.
Friday Night Lights no, sir.
Yeah, I know, friday NightLights.
You should probably book him.
Great speaker, matter of fact,tom Ziegler said next to his dad
.
He said that may be the bestspeaker I've ever heard.
Oh well that's good to hear.
I'll write that one down.
Yeah, coach Nate's incredibleCoach Nate.
And then Dan Oulabi.
Dan's another one that peopledon't know a lot about, but I
(39:17):
strongly tell people you got toget to know Dan Oulabi too.
I'm not going to tell theirstories.
Y'all go watch their podcastinterviews and you will hear two
of the most incredible answersto that question what is your
best concert?
Dr Terry, thank you forspending some time with us.
Keep up the good work You'redoing.
You're just doing incrediblework and it's I'm inspired to
(39:42):
see what the future is going tobe because of what y'all are
doing.
Y'all are leading an example,not just in facilities, but
you're planting seeds ofgreatness in the minds of those
kids, and I can't wait to seewhat they do and what they
accomplish, and then, when theystart giving back and they start
innovating themselves, there'sno telling what the future of
(40:02):
the OC and your community lookslike.
So thank you for taking sometime to join us today.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
Well, thanks for having me Always great to visit
Aaron.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
Well, folks, thank you for stopping by again.
You know time's the only thing.
You can't save it, you can'thoard it.
All you can do is spend it, andwe appreciate you spending a
little bit of your time with ustoday.
Like we always say, if you wantto know what the future is,
grow it.
But to grow it, you got toplant the right things, the
right mindset, you got to getthe right people around you to
help you be your best, and Ithink Dr Terry and today's
(40:35):
program was a great reminder ofthat.
So thank you for stopping byand until we meet again, go out
and do something great forsomebody, do something to make
their day better, encourage them, empower them, equip them.
Trust me, you'll feel betterabout it and our world will be
better because of it.
Speaker 1 (40:57):
Thank you, we hope you've enjoyed this episode of
the Growing Our Future podcast.
This show is sponsored by theTexas FFA Foundation, whose
mission is to strengthenagricultural science education
so students can develop theirpotential for personal growth,
career success and leadership ina global marketplace.
Learn more at mytexasffaorg.
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