March 21, 2025 • 27 mins
Welcome to another episode of Risky Benefits! This week, our special guest is Dr. James Wilcox, who served as Superintendent of Longview Independent School District from 2007 to 2023 and now works as an Employee Benefits Consultant for FBMC. Dr. Wilcox shares fascinating insights from his long career in education, reflecting on the changes in the school system and the pressures today's students face. He discusses the importance of planning and innovative thinking in both education and employee benefits. Additionally, he provides tips for school districts on improving financial health and leveraging legislative opportunities like Texas Senate Bill 1882. Tune in as Dr. Wilcox shares his experiences and advice on creating a positive impact through education and benefits consulting.
To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:03):
Hey, thank you for listening into risky benefits, a podcast
that informs you on all thingsbenefits.
We've got a saying around here.
Benefits isn't your mainbusiness.
It's ours.
Thank you to this episode'ssponsor, Humana.
At Humana, they know thathealthy, happy people power a
successful business.
(00:24):
Their dental, vision, life, anddisability plans let you
construct a benefits packagethat sets over 50 years of
experience.
They design plans to addressoverall and financial well being
with products that offer awardwinning services, broad
networks, and modern benefitsthat serve a wide range of
member needs.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (00:43):
Hey everyone, thank you for
listening to Risky Benefits andwelcome to this week's episode.
Our guest this week is Dr.
James Wilcox, Dr.
Wilcox served as thesuperintendent for Longview
Independent School District from2007 to 2023.
And now we are honored to haveDr.
Wilcox on our team as anemployee benefits consultant for
(01:05):
FBMC.
So today's going to be superinteresting conversation
because, you don't often get tohave conversations with people
who have spent a career on theinside of the organizations and
helping to develop and buildwithin communities, young
Children and different peoplewithin, say, the public sector
of the market.
You know, being from theindependent school district,
(01:27):
like you have a very unique viewon what's going on in the world
because you see it kind of theman, the manifestation of the
family in the working world,right?
They send their kids in, intoschools and you keep them safe.
You keep them fed.
You keep them educated.
I mean, there's a lot that goesinto it.
Let me just thank you for comingin.
You're welcome.
Yeah, I'm really happy to haveyou.
(01:48):
And maybe if you don't mind,could we just start with you
telling the audience just alittle bit about yourself
personally?
C0004 (01:54):
Well, we have four wonderful children.
We're my wife Jan and I aredefinitely blessed to have four
children that are grown and allhave successful careers and we
couldn't be more pleased andhappy and we also have 18
grandkids and great grandkids.
Oh my goodness.
Who are all extremely moreintelligent than their parents
(02:17):
and their grandparents.
And so we're totally blessed byour oldest son is corporate vice
president for new core steel.
As a matter of fact he is themill manager.
Right down the road here alittle bit in Winterhaven, right
out of Orlando.
Okay.
And he built Nucor's first plantin Florida several years ago and
(02:38):
then stayed on there to run theoperation.
Our middle son's a schoolsuperintendent in Texas also.
Okay.
And our only daughter.
is an assistant superintendentin Texarkana, and she is
extremely bright.
And then our youngest son, whoalso fills in as our ranch
manager, we Jen and I raiseAkausi cattle in Hooks right out
(03:03):
of Longview.
Okay.
And Akausi is Japanese for browncow.
So it's a variation of Wagyubeef.
Okay.
I couldn't afford to buy any, soI said we'll raise our own.
Okay.
Yeah, he is also AssistantDirector for Palliative Care for
Christus St.
Michael's Hospital System therein Texas.
We're blessed.
(03:23):
So, the apples, they did notfall far from the tree.
No, we were, we're, Janet and I,but we are extremely lucky and
blessed.
Wonderful kids.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-202 (03:32):
It's cool.
I have three Children.
Kyla has two Children and Ithink sometimes like we're in
that we're we haven't made ityet, so to speak, right?
And it is when I hear you sayblessed.
I know I understand what you'resaying because I because of the
fear associated with what'sgoing to happen to us.
How are they going to do growingup?
(03:52):
Yeah.
So you being on the other sideof that's got to be a
tremendously Yeah.
Less feeling what is the agerange of your grandchildren and
C0004 (04:00):
oh gosh, I have one from one month to 40 so yeah
Christmas what's Christmas?
Oh, wow.
It's Christmas is shits It's notall that You can't work.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (04:18):
I'm just imagining like the Walton
family.
Oh my gosh.
You know, it's like, goodnightBilly Bob.
It's like everyone's yelping atthe house.
Very loud.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
It's funny you say that becauselike I think through the
holidays with my parents and I'msure they're used to the house
being pretty quiet.
There's no kids in their houseanymore and when they come spend
time with us and all the familycomes together.
(04:39):
I have to imagine that thevolume is different.
Oh yeah.
Than what they're accustomed to.
Huh.
It definitely is.
Well this is awesome.
Yeah, so go ahead Kyle, we'llget it rolling.
Yeah, so can you tell thelisteners a little bit about
your background and how you gotinto the business side of your
career?
C0004 (04:55):
I started out, my degree is actually in business
administration with emphasis onsales.
Initially I was going to be aheavy equipment salesman and
sell one earth giant earthmoving machine a year and then
spend the next six months inHawaii.
And, uh, a little thing calledVietnam came along and my war
(05:18):
protest was to drop out ofcorporate and become a school
teacher.
So, okay.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (05:26):
And that got you into the field.
That's super interesting.
What did you teach?
C0004 (05:31):
Broadfield Social Studies.
History, Government, Economics,and Psychology.
Okay.
And that was that was reallygood.
I've been I've taught specialeducation.
I've taught honors classes.
Been an assistant principal,principal chief financial
officer, and been asuperintendent for 40 years, so.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2 (05:51):
That's amazing.
Remind me, ask and.
Just definitely off script, butjust be I'm sure it's intimate
to you because you spend so manyyears in it I mean how over that
span of time did you see theschool world?
Change was it crazy to watchlike was it a dynamic shift in
(06:12):
just the way that theeducational
C0004 (06:15):
Yeah, probably the biggest change was not by the
kids, but by the adults,because, more accountability
came in and I'm a big fan ofaccountability.
I don't mind people measuringwhat our kids are learning as
long as it's a effectiveinstrument.
(06:37):
The kids are the same butthey're different in that you
had mentioned earlier, thepressure that our kids are under
to compete and to be successfuland to do things that when I
went through school, we didn'timagine, you know, I did not
imagine being on a privateleague and playing baseball, not
(06:59):
all over the state, but all overthe country, you just went out
and made the high school team.
And, ignorance was bliss.
You're as happy as could be.
And now.
The kids, there's a tournamentevery weekend and then the
parents have to come up withmoney to fly you and pay for
your stay in Vegas or Florida orTexas or wherever it is.
(07:21):
And it's just so much morepressure.
On the students, but they'rebasically the same other than
they have been exposed to somuch more that makes them
different.
It's it's a little frighteningfor me.
I grew up in a kinder,friendlier time.
Yeah.
It's, that's changed the kidshadn't changed more than, how
(07:44):
they deal with the pressure andsocial media and things like
that.
You know, it's brutal.
Back in the old days, one or twoof your friends would rib you a
little bit about somethingstupid that you did or whatever.
And now it can take on a life ofits own and live forever.
That's a lot of pressure for Ayoung person to deal with.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (08:05):
You know it's funny you say that, I
here locally in Tallahasseewe've got family friends who
recently, I think, you've got achild who's hanging out with
friends, they videotapes themsaying some silly things, Mm
hmm.
And then somebody posts it, andnow you've got kids who are
suspended.
Yeah.
And it's like, Golly, man I justnever, gosh, I think about if I,
(08:26):
how many stupid things I said asa kid.
Yeah.
So to your point, the pressureassociated with making a mistake
is higher too, right?
And because unfortunately theworld we're in and some of the
safety precautions and some ofthe unfortunate things that have
happened, if you say the wrongthing the consequences are way
different.
(08:46):
Absolutely.
So it's definitely Thanks forsharing that.
Thanks for sharing that.
It's neat to hear somebody who'sgot more perspective on it than
I do.
My kids are in the system as faras the educational system.
You lived and breathed it foryears and I'd love to get that
perspective.
I'm sure our listeners do too.
So you retired from a life ofserving and education, what FBMC
(09:11):
that inspired you to keepworking on The Pursuit?
Because you've stepped out, butnow you're, you're kind of not
back in the game, but kind ofback in the game.
C0004 (09:18):
Yeah, I was really looking for something that would
allow me to still interact.
Not as much with studentsanymore, but with teachers and
professionals, and I loveeducation.
I love public ed.
My wife is a retired teacher.
My sister is, my daughter inlaw's are, and the list goes on
(09:40):
and on, and I still have a placefor them.
And, you would think 52 years,you should be tired of it.
But, really.
You can only play golf and fishso much.
And my wife suggested one daythat it might be nice if I found
something else to do.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-20 (09:58):
Well, we're happy to have you.
Let me be clear.
I'm glad that the something elseis us.
And honestly, when I thinkabout, especially on the
employee benefit side, right,how that impacts a person's life
obviously it can either create alot of interference.
Or it can reduce a lot ofinterference.
(10:19):
And if those are the people thatare teaching our children and
you're helping those people, Ican't really, that's a pretty
important job.
Absolutely.
Right?
So, I think you found a goodspot.
C0004 (10:28):
Well, thanks.
I think we have too.
And employees, especiallyteachers, well, everyone these
days, there's a financialcrunch.
And to say, I need to take thisscarce resource, Monthly
paycheck and spend part of it onsomething that may or may not
directly benefit me, but it willin the long run and to help
(10:54):
educate people about it's well,it's going to rain again.
You know, it might be really dryright now.
But it will rain again, and youneed to prepare for that rainy
day.
And hopefully you do, but that'sa tough decision for a lot of
people to make.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-20 (11:14):
Yeah.
It's the ant in the grasshopper.
Yes.
I remember that book.
Jackson loved it.
Storing up, right?
Storing up for a rainy day.
That's cool.
Yeah.
So what are some successes andchallenges that you've seen in
school districts over the years?
And what advice might you give?
C0004 (11:33):
Oh, God the biggest success that I've seen folks.
It's always the kids.
It's always the students.
And it was many years ago, backearly in my career, and I was at
a conference and they were themain presenter was a young lady
from Sweden, and she was a pre Kteacher.
(11:57):
And she was talking about howThey taught their kids four or
five different languages all atthe same time, and I was just
going, wow, you know, I strugglewith English myself.
So at the end they wereanswering questions and one lady
who thought she was a lotsmarter than she really was sort
of sarcastically said to her,said, well, How many languages
(12:20):
do you think you should teachchildren?
How many can they learn?
And she said, they'll learn asmany as you teach them.
Mm hmm.
I thought, you know, I thoughtabout that still, obviously, 50
years later, that still ringstrue to me.
Children will learn anything youteach them, and that can be good
and that can be bad.
(12:41):
Yeah.
They're just a little sponge,and they will take anything you
give them.
So that's a big responsibilityto ensure that it's the right
thing.
It's a big responsibility.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07- (12:55):
That's, uh, that's, I hadn't sat down
and thought about it in thatcontext.
I know obviously that we have animpact on our kids and so on and
so forth.
But to your point, it's like,there's really no end to what
they're capable of.
Right, and it's really how muchdo you want to expose them to
(13:16):
and or what do you want toexpose them to?
Like my son is a 3d printer.
We've been teasing about this,right?
He's 10, right?
Yeah, and so we got it to formbecause we're like, well the
world he lives in and he'sinterested in that stuff So we
get it and he is inventing stuffand making stuff with this tool
and it's like what is he capableof?
(13:39):
You wouldn't all know.
I don't.
That's right.
I don't.
Everything.
Right?
And I think that's true for anyof our kids.
It's like, what are they trulycapable of?
Yeah.
We did a podcast last year andwe were talking about the
creativity and that, kids arevery creative and that we are
always tampering theircreativity without me realizing
we're doing it.
But Like, take a kid.
(13:59):
I think the example we used atthe time Was like a kid coloring
and it's like, why is that cowblue?
Well, why wouldn't it be blue?
That's these rules on them andtheir creativity is just getting
hampered and then they get intothe working world.
And we're like, well, we needyou to think outside of the box,
but we've spent a lifetimetelling them that the cow needed
(14:20):
to be blue.
Yeah.
Or brown or whatever.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm I just, it's, it isinteresting.
Thanks for saying that.
Yeah.
I think that's a enlighteningthing for people who are
listening to really consider Dr.
Wilcox.
What do you hope to share withothers to positively make a
difference, on a on a day today?
As a benefits consultant, isthere something that you really
hope to share with people and orhow you want to impact them in a
(14:43):
positive way?
C0004 (14:44):
The goal is to have the same impact that I did when I
was in education and that's toencourage people.
That and you alluded to you haveto think outside the box if you
want to be an effective leader,and that's what I want people to
realize that the grasshopperthere is, you know, tomorrow,
(15:06):
and it's going to come if youplan for it or not, and so you
really need to have a plan, andI don't care, you know, if right
now with the Super Bowl comingup, the chiefs, uh, you know, if
you're going to be a leader, youneed to have a plan, and that's
what I want people to realizethat the grasshopper there is,
you know, tomorrow, and it'sgoing to come if you plan for it
or not, and so you really needto have a plan, and I don't
care, you know, if right nowwith the Super Bowl coming up,
the chiefs, uh, And thePhiladelphia Eagles both have a
plan and who can implement it,but I assure you the best plan
(15:27):
will win the game and that's thesame thing.
It is in folks life.
They can think, well, I'm goingto do this, blah, blah, blah.
And I don't need to worry aboutor have a plan for tomorrow.
Well, that's a really dangerousway to look at, not just your
life, but your family's life asyou move forward.
That's awesome.
(15:47):
Thank you.
Some wise advice there.
fbmc-marketing_2_02 (15:50):
Absolutely.
Kind of switching gears a littlebit, but can you give us an
example of how districts inTexas could bring real money
into their budget?
C0004 (15:59):
Well, we held this unique position in the state when I
retired and was that, not onlywere we in, an A rated district
in the state of Texas with 92percent low SES student
population, but we also had avery healthy fund balance.
And there is a money crunch justacross the United States for
(16:23):
districts and, you know, howthey supply, the needs of their
students.
There was a motivational speakerfrom Dallas who went all over
the world for years.
And his name was Zig Ziglar, andZig was a very effective
motivational speaker, but he wasalso a deacon in First Baptist
(16:43):
Church, Dallas, and one of theirbiggest tithers.
And so,, the reputation, thatTexas has for conservatism is
certainly earned and deserved.
Oftentimes Baptists have a badconnotation of wealth and money
and Zig Ziglar used to alwayssay, you know, money isn't
(17:05):
everything, but it ranks rightup there with oxygen.
I get it.
I get it.
And, from the conservative lifethat he led, you know, that's,
that's a pretty strangestatement.
But then you think about, wediscussed earlier all the things
that kids can do and what we canteach them, all that takes
money.
(17:25):
You need to pay good,innovative, free thinking
teachers, and you need to keepthe best ones in the classroom
and,, money and everything.
But it ranks right up therebecause they have a family to
take care of.
Also, absolutely.
And, So, that, that's what wetry to do.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (17:45):
Dr.
Wilcox, I've heard you speak ofthe Texas Bill of 1882.
I don't know too much aboutthat, but I was going to ask you
today, for those who arelistening, is that kind of
relevant within that space?
Or how did that impact the Texaskind of districts?
C0004 (18:02):
well, Senate Bill 1882 was passed,, I think four
sessions ago now to expand, anidea that's here in Florida as
well as Texas, and that'sprivatization of public ed.
Okay.
And, I have a public schoolbackground, and you say, well,
why would you get in bed withthe enemy?
Well, it's not necessarily theenemy.
(18:23):
That's who's in charge right nowand, Senate Bill 1882 was set up
to reward districts thatprivatized part of their
education system, and it wasdesigned to bring in outside,
private for profit providers,but there was nothing in there
(18:44):
that denied a local districtDeveloping its own charter
partners, which is what, what wedid in Longview.
And,, honestly,, that was sevenor eight years ago.
And we're the only district inthe state of any size that.
really does that.
And we did it to provide moreopportunity for our students.
(19:07):
There's a money crunch.
And so,, our commissioner ofeducation and our legislator
said, well, why don't we use acarrot instead of a stick?
Now they're pretty much usingthe stick approach now.
But eight years ago it was, itwas a combination.
And so We utilized 1882 to,bring a different approach to
(19:32):
education of our kids.
Okay.
And, but to also generate morerevenue to, to allow them to
have more opportunities.
And,, we generate severalmillion more dollars a year, by
following the guidelines and thephilosophies of Senate bill
1882.
And there's a number of hoopsthe agent.
The state education has fordistricts to follow if if they
(19:55):
want to receive this funding.
And I think,, still a publicschool advocate, but we are a
district and we do utilize theresources of the state meant to
privatize us.
but the end result is, we have.
High achieving students.
And that's what we're therefor., I don't feel like I'm
(20:17):
sleeping with the enemy.
I think I'm providing a betteropportunity for students, but it
is.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (20:23):
And I, you know, if I'm being.
If you're being kind oftransparent about your thoughts
on some of this stuff, it'slike, look, I have friends who,
I have a friend whose fatherruns a private school, right,
and he's kind of establishedthem throughout the company,
country rather, and then hestarted to open them overseas as
(20:45):
well.
I think he started in the Bocaarea in South Florida.
But I do remember when I firstasked him about like what made
the school special.
What it sounded like to me washe was an attorney and he had a
very descriptive idea around Iwant kids to learn.
(21:09):
if they're in biology class, andwe're talking about marine
biology, I want to take them outon a boat, and I want to put
them on snorkels, and have themgo down and see what we're
talking about.
And that's just one example,right?
But so, when you say, the moneyhelps, right, he can only do
(21:29):
that because they can fund thattrip.
Sure.
And a kid that has moreexposure.
As we said earlier, and as asponge, he's going to have an
easier time connecting to thewords that are in the book if I
can take them to that place andlet them experience it.
Make it relatable.
Right.
So I think his belief was, is,okay, then that's how I'm going
(21:50):
to create this educationprocess.
I'm going to create it so thatevery time we're educating on
something, I can give themactual exposure to it.
And that takes money.
and so could I, you know, am Isending my children to this
school?
No.
Would I love for my kids to havethose exposures?
Yes.
Will I try to give them thoseexposures in life?
Yes., is that something that ageneral school could, could
(22:12):
afford to do?
Well, maybe one of those trips ayear.
Or maybe they could figure outif they're doing creative
things, like what you just said,Dr.
Wilcox, they could figure outhow to at least do something.
You know And something is betterthan nothing.
It's just, you know, we canagree to that.
So I love that.
And the next question I wasgonna ask you was more revolving
(22:32):
around your leadershipphilosophy in guiding, say,
Longview Independent SchoolDistrict, or any school
district, for that matter.
but I'm starting to get someinsights just on listening to
you speak on what some of whatthat might be.
But maybe if you don't mind,just elaborate on kind of what
was your leadership philosophy.
C0004 (22:49):
Well, you know, teachers, educators, by definition, are
pretty much traditionalist, andwe like to do things the same
way we did them last year, but Idon't think that's the way
education should be.
Okay.
I think it needs to be a littleoutside the box, and if you, if
(23:12):
you will, maybe that term'soverused.
too much, but, we need to lookat new things and experiment
with new things.
And if it's not right, you cantell pretty quickly with the
students.
And, you know, I don't thinkeducation should be the same way
I was educated.
we need to embrace thetechnologies and opportunities
(23:35):
we have now, because that's theworld that our, that our kids
live in.
when I went to school, it wasyou read the chapter and
answered the questions.
in my wife's class, when shecame in while she was check and
roll, there was an internetresearch question on the board
and you look it up and as soonas she finished check and roll,
(23:57):
they would discuss that.
I mean, just.
She taught world geography andthere was something up there on
Rio de Janeiro and you would, bythe time she checked roll, you'd
looked it up and have an answerto the question.
we need to provide those kind ofopportunities for growth, in our
kids because they'll, they'llabsorb anything we give them.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_ (24:20):
So what is your perspective on
guiding through challenges inthe K 12 market?
C0005 (24:28):
Well, just as with the kids, the K 12 market is not
what it was 10 years ago.
You have to understand that inyour company, FBMC, we have to
understand that the market'schanging.
And we need to have productsthat people are looking for and
that they need.
And we need to have people inthe field that know how to
(24:50):
present that, to them.
And then we need to have, theback office, if you will, that
can implement those things,correctly.
Because one little mistake inone district used to not go far.
But now I can go around theworld and say, you know, they
did this and they came in andthey were supposed to enroll me
in that and they didn't do itand I don't like it.
(25:13):
So, the same thing is for thekids.
We can't do business like we did10 years ago.
It has to be evolving and wehave to have people in
leadership and management thatunderstand that.
And hey, when you make amistake, just.
Correct it as quick as you canand then try something else
different, as you move forwardbecause the same old same old is
(25:36):
not going to be the future ofthis company or any company that
thrives.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-202 (25:41):
Yeah That's great feedback.
dr.
Wilcox.
We save a question at the endjust for you And it's you know
anything related to what you'redoing now for fbmc what you're
doing within Texas.
is there anything else you'dwant our listeners to know?
C0005 (25:58):
Oh gosh.
the people business is stillwonderfully interesting to me
and doing the right thing forthem.
when I was a school leader, Ilooked at the main thing other
than the students, what we coulddo with them.
What can I do?
For my people to enjoy workinghere and enjoy what they're
(26:18):
doing and, be a benefit tothemselves and to the future.
And I think that's the samething that we're striving for
and at BMC.
And if I can be a tiny, tinypart of that, then, this is the
right place for me to land.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2 (26:32):
That's awesome.
And so I guess one of the thingsI'd like to do is just throw out
a plug for you.
So Dr.
Wilcox is in Texas, operatingwith the school districts.
he's a mentor.
If you're a superintendent outthere and you want to talk to
somebody who's been there donethat, who's got a view on it,
who might be able to help you.
Reach out to Dr.
Wilcox.
I would say on the employeebenefits consulting side, a lot
(26:55):
of these school districts havequestions.
They're not sure what to do.
You've got the Texas retirementsystem, opportunities to stay in
that program, opportunities tocome out of that program.
What are the consequences?
and I know Dr.
Wilcox has, has lived it.
has an opinion on it and cangive guidance on his thoughts on
it.
So please reach out to Dr.
(27:15):
Wilcox and, let him be anadvocate, for you to help you on
the benefits side.
and, anything else you'd say inthat vein?
I feel like I hit it.
C0005 (27:24):
No, I just say, I'm just glad to be a part of FBMC and
what we're trying to do to, makepeople's life more secure.
and their future more pleasantfor them and their family.
I think it's a greatopportunity.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2 (27:36):
That's awesome.
Well, thank you so much forcoming in.
thank you to the listeners thatare out there.
if you have any questions,please contact us or just look
on our homepage at www.
fbmc.
com.
And remember, you can find usand subscribe on any podcast
app.
Thanks.
Hey, thank you for listening into risky benefits, a podcast
that informs you on all thingsbenefits.
We've got a saying around here.
Benefits isn't your mainbusiness.
It's ours.
Thank you to this episode'ssponsor, Humana.
At Humana, they know thathealthy, happy people power a
successful business.
(00:24):
Their dental, vision, life, anddisability plans let you
construct a benefits packagethat sets over 50 years of
experience.
They design plans to addressoverall and financial well being
with products that offer awardwinning services, broad
networks, and modern benefitsthat serve a wide range of
member needs.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (00:43):
Hey everyone, thank you for
listening to Risky Benefits andwelcome to this week's episode.
Our guest this week is Dr.
James Wilcox, Dr.
Wilcox served as thesuperintendent for Longview
Independent School District from2007 to 2023.
And now we are honored to haveDr.
Wilcox on our team as anemployee benefits consultant for
(01:05):
FBMC.
So today's going to be superinteresting conversation
because, you don't often get tohave conversations with people
who have spent a career on theinside of the organizations and
helping to develop and buildwithin communities, young
Children and different peoplewithin, say, the public sector
of the market.
You know, being from theindependent school district,
(01:27):
like you have a very unique viewon what's going on in the world
because you see it kind of theman, the manifestation of the
family in the working world,right?
They send their kids in, intoschools and you keep them safe.
You keep them fed.
You keep them educated.
I mean, there's a lot that goesinto it.
Let me just thank you for comingin.
You're welcome.
Yeah, I'm really happy to haveyou.
(01:48):
And maybe if you don't mind,could we just start with you
telling the audience just alittle bit about yourself
personally?
C0004 (01:54):
Well, we have four wonderful children.
We're my wife Jan and I aredefinitely blessed to have four
children that are grown and allhave successful careers and we
couldn't be more pleased andhappy and we also have 18
grandkids and great grandkids.
Oh my goodness.
Who are all extremely moreintelligent than their parents
(02:17):
and their grandparents.
And so we're totally blessed byour oldest son is corporate vice
president for new core steel.
As a matter of fact he is themill manager.
Right down the road here alittle bit in Winterhaven, right
out of Orlando.
Okay.
And he built Nucor's first plantin Florida several years ago and
(02:38):
then stayed on there to run theoperation.
Our middle son's a schoolsuperintendent in Texas also.
Okay.
And our only daughter.
is an assistant superintendentin Texarkana, and she is
extremely bright.
And then our youngest son, whoalso fills in as our ranch
manager, we Jen and I raiseAkausi cattle in Hooks right out
(03:03):
of Longview.
Okay.
And Akausi is Japanese for browncow.
So it's a variation of Wagyubeef.
Okay.
I couldn't afford to buy any, soI said we'll raise our own.
Okay.
Yeah, he is also AssistantDirector for Palliative Care for
Christus St.
Michael's Hospital System therein Texas.
We're blessed.
(03:23):
So, the apples, they did notfall far from the tree.
No, we were, we're, Janet and I,but we are extremely lucky and
blessed.
Wonderful kids.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-202 (03:32):
It's cool.
I have three Children.
Kyla has two Children and Ithink sometimes like we're in
that we're we haven't made ityet, so to speak, right?
And it is when I hear you sayblessed.
I know I understand what you'resaying because I because of the
fear associated with what'sgoing to happen to us.
How are they going to do growingup?
(03:52):
Yeah.
So you being on the other sideof that's got to be a
tremendously Yeah.
Less feeling what is the agerange of your grandchildren and
C0004 (04:00):
oh gosh, I have one from one month to 40 so yeah
Christmas what's Christmas?
Oh, wow.
It's Christmas is shits It's notall that You can't work.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (04:18):
I'm just imagining like the Walton
family.
Oh my gosh.
You know, it's like, goodnightBilly Bob.
It's like everyone's yelping atthe house.
Very loud.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
It's funny you say that becauselike I think through the
holidays with my parents and I'msure they're used to the house
being pretty quiet.
There's no kids in their houseanymore and when they come spend
time with us and all the familycomes together.
(04:39):
I have to imagine that thevolume is different.
Oh yeah.
Than what they're accustomed to.
Huh.
It definitely is.
Well this is awesome.
Yeah, so go ahead Kyle, we'llget it rolling.
Yeah, so can you tell thelisteners a little bit about
your background and how you gotinto the business side of your
career?
C0004 (04:55):
I started out, my degree is actually in business
administration with emphasis onsales.
Initially I was going to be aheavy equipment salesman and
sell one earth giant earthmoving machine a year and then
spend the next six months inHawaii.
And, uh, a little thing calledVietnam came along and my war
(05:18):
protest was to drop out ofcorporate and become a school
teacher.
So, okay.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (05:26):
And that got you into the field.
That's super interesting.
What did you teach?
C0004 (05:31):
Broadfield Social Studies.
History, Government, Economics,and Psychology.
Okay.
And that was that was reallygood.
I've been I've taught specialeducation.
I've taught honors classes.
Been an assistant principal,principal chief financial
officer, and been asuperintendent for 40 years, so.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2 (05:51):
That's amazing.
Remind me, ask and.
Just definitely off script, butjust be I'm sure it's intimate
to you because you spend so manyyears in it I mean how over that
span of time did you see theschool world?
Change was it crazy to watchlike was it a dynamic shift in
(06:12):
just the way that theeducational
C0004 (06:15):
Yeah, probably the biggest change was not by the
kids, but by the adults,because, more accountability
came in and I'm a big fan ofaccountability.
I don't mind people measuringwhat our kids are learning as
long as it's a effectiveinstrument.
(06:37):
The kids are the same butthey're different in that you
had mentioned earlier, thepressure that our kids are under
to compete and to be successfuland to do things that when I
went through school, we didn'timagine, you know, I did not
imagine being on a privateleague and playing baseball, not
(06:59):
all over the state, but all overthe country, you just went out
and made the high school team.
And, ignorance was bliss.
You're as happy as could be.
And now.
The kids, there's a tournamentevery weekend and then the
parents have to come up withmoney to fly you and pay for
your stay in Vegas or Florida orTexas or wherever it is.
(07:21):
And it's just so much morepressure.
On the students, but they'rebasically the same other than
they have been exposed to somuch more that makes them
different.
It's it's a little frighteningfor me.
I grew up in a kinder,friendlier time.
Yeah.
It's, that's changed the kidshadn't changed more than, how
(07:44):
they deal with the pressure andsocial media and things like
that.
You know, it's brutal.
Back in the old days, one or twoof your friends would rib you a
little bit about somethingstupid that you did or whatever.
And now it can take on a life ofits own and live forever.
That's a lot of pressure for Ayoung person to deal with.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (08:05):
You know it's funny you say that, I
here locally in Tallahasseewe've got family friends who
recently, I think, you've got achild who's hanging out with
friends, they videotapes themsaying some silly things, Mm
hmm.
And then somebody posts it, andnow you've got kids who are
suspended.
Yeah.
And it's like, Golly, man I justnever, gosh, I think about if I,
(08:26):
how many stupid things I said asa kid.
Yeah.
So to your point, the pressureassociated with making a mistake
is higher too, right?
And because unfortunately theworld we're in and some of the
safety precautions and some ofthe unfortunate things that have
happened, if you say the wrongthing the consequences are way
different.
(08:46):
Absolutely.
So it's definitely Thanks forsharing that.
Thanks for sharing that.
It's neat to hear somebody who'sgot more perspective on it than
I do.
My kids are in the system as faras the educational system.
You lived and breathed it foryears and I'd love to get that
perspective.
I'm sure our listeners do too.
So you retired from a life ofserving and education, what FBMC
(09:11):
that inspired you to keepworking on The Pursuit?
Because you've stepped out, butnow you're, you're kind of not
back in the game, but kind ofback in the game.
C0004 (09:18):
Yeah, I was really looking for something that would
allow me to still interact.
Not as much with studentsanymore, but with teachers and
professionals, and I loveeducation.
I love public ed.
My wife is a retired teacher.
My sister is, my daughter inlaw's are, and the list goes on
(09:40):
and on, and I still have a placefor them.
And, you would think 52 years,you should be tired of it.
But, really.
You can only play golf and fishso much.
And my wife suggested one daythat it might be nice if I found
something else to do.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-20 (09:58):
Well, we're happy to have you.
Let me be clear.
I'm glad that the something elseis us.
And honestly, when I thinkabout, especially on the
employee benefit side, right,how that impacts a person's life
obviously it can either create alot of interference.
Or it can reduce a lot ofinterference.
(10:19):
And if those are the people thatare teaching our children and
you're helping those people, Ican't really, that's a pretty
important job.
Absolutely.
Right?
So, I think you found a goodspot.
C0004 (10:28):
Well, thanks.
I think we have too.
And employees, especiallyteachers, well, everyone these
days, there's a financialcrunch.
And to say, I need to take thisscarce resource, Monthly
paycheck and spend part of it onsomething that may or may not
directly benefit me, but it willin the long run and to help
(10:54):
educate people about it's well,it's going to rain again.
You know, it might be really dryright now.
But it will rain again, and youneed to prepare for that rainy
day.
And hopefully you do, but that'sa tough decision for a lot of
people to make.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-20 (11:14):
Yeah.
It's the ant in the grasshopper.
Yes.
I remember that book.
Jackson loved it.
Storing up, right?
Storing up for a rainy day.
That's cool.
Yeah.
So what are some successes andchallenges that you've seen in
school districts over the years?
And what advice might you give?
C0004 (11:33):
Oh, God the biggest success that I've seen folks.
It's always the kids.
It's always the students.
And it was many years ago, backearly in my career, and I was at
a conference and they were themain presenter was a young lady
from Sweden, and she was a pre Kteacher.
(11:57):
And she was talking about howThey taught their kids four or
five different languages all atthe same time, and I was just
going, wow, you know, I strugglewith English myself.
So at the end they wereanswering questions and one lady
who thought she was a lotsmarter than she really was sort
of sarcastically said to her,said, well, How many languages
(12:20):
do you think you should teachchildren?
How many can they learn?
And she said, they'll learn asmany as you teach them.
Mm hmm.
I thought, you know, I thoughtabout that still, obviously, 50
years later, that still ringstrue to me.
Children will learn anything youteach them, and that can be good
and that can be bad.
(12:41):
Yeah.
They're just a little sponge,and they will take anything you
give them.
So that's a big responsibilityto ensure that it's the right
thing.
It's a big responsibility.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07- (12:55):
That's, uh, that's, I hadn't sat down
and thought about it in thatcontext.
I know obviously that we have animpact on our kids and so on and
so forth.
But to your point, it's like,there's really no end to what
they're capable of.
Right, and it's really how muchdo you want to expose them to
(13:16):
and or what do you want toexpose them to?
Like my son is a 3d printer.
We've been teasing about this,right?
He's 10, right?
Yeah, and so we got it to formbecause we're like, well the
world he lives in and he'sinterested in that stuff So we
get it and he is inventing stuffand making stuff with this tool
and it's like what is he capableof?
(13:39):
You wouldn't all know.
I don't.
That's right.
I don't.
Everything.
Right?
And I think that's true for anyof our kids.
It's like, what are they trulycapable of?
Yeah.
We did a podcast last year andwe were talking about the
creativity and that, kids arevery creative and that we are
always tampering theircreativity without me realizing
we're doing it.
But Like, take a kid.
(13:59):
I think the example we used atthe time Was like a kid coloring
and it's like, why is that cowblue?
Well, why wouldn't it be blue?
That's these rules on them andtheir creativity is just getting
hampered and then they get intothe working world.
And we're like, well, we needyou to think outside of the box,
but we've spent a lifetimetelling them that the cow needed
(14:20):
to be blue.
Yeah.
Or brown or whatever.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm I just, it's, it isinteresting.
Thanks for saying that.
Yeah.
I think that's a enlighteningthing for people who are
listening to really consider Dr.
Wilcox.
What do you hope to share withothers to positively make a
difference, on a on a day today?
As a benefits consultant, isthere something that you really
hope to share with people and orhow you want to impact them in a
(14:43):
positive way?
C0004 (14:44):
The goal is to have the same impact that I did when I
was in education and that's toencourage people.
That and you alluded to you haveto think outside the box if you
want to be an effective leader,and that's what I want people to
realize that the grasshopperthere is, you know, tomorrow,
(15:06):
and it's going to come if youplan for it or not, and so you
really need to have a plan, andI don't care, you know, if right
now with the Super Bowl comingup, the chiefs, uh, you know, if
you're going to be a leader, youneed to have a plan, and that's
what I want people to realizethat the grasshopper there is,
you know, tomorrow, and it'sgoing to come if you plan for it
or not, and so you really needto have a plan, and I don't
care, you know, if right nowwith the Super Bowl coming up,
the chiefs, uh, And thePhiladelphia Eagles both have a
plan and who can implement it,but I assure you the best plan
(15:27):
will win the game and that's thesame thing.
It is in folks life.
They can think, well, I'm goingto do this, blah, blah, blah.
And I don't need to worry aboutor have a plan for tomorrow.
Well, that's a really dangerousway to look at, not just your
life, but your family's life asyou move forward.
That's awesome.
(15:47):
Thank you.
Some wise advice there.
fbmc-marketing_2_02 (15:50):
Absolutely.
Kind of switching gears a littlebit, but can you give us an
example of how districts inTexas could bring real money
into their budget?
C0004 (15:59):
Well, we held this unique position in the state when I
retired and was that, not onlywere we in, an A rated district
in the state of Texas with 92percent low SES student
population, but we also had avery healthy fund balance.
And there is a money crunch justacross the United States for
(16:23):
districts and, you know, howthey supply, the needs of their
students.
There was a motivational speakerfrom Dallas who went all over
the world for years.
And his name was Zig Ziglar, andZig was a very effective
motivational speaker, but he wasalso a deacon in First Baptist
(16:43):
Church, Dallas, and one of theirbiggest tithers.
And so,, the reputation, thatTexas has for conservatism is
certainly earned and deserved.
Oftentimes Baptists have a badconnotation of wealth and money
and Zig Ziglar used to alwayssay, you know, money isn't
(17:05):
everything, but it ranks rightup there with oxygen.
I get it.
I get it.
And, from the conservative lifethat he led, you know, that's,
that's a pretty strangestatement.
But then you think about, wediscussed earlier all the things
that kids can do and what we canteach them, all that takes
money.
(17:25):
You need to pay good,innovative, free thinking
teachers, and you need to keepthe best ones in the classroom
and,, money and everything.
But it ranks right up therebecause they have a family to
take care of.
Also, absolutely.
And, So, that, that's what wetry to do.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (17:45):
Dr.
Wilcox, I've heard you speak ofthe Texas Bill of 1882.
I don't know too much aboutthat, but I was going to ask you
today, for those who arelistening, is that kind of
relevant within that space?
Or how did that impact the Texaskind of districts?
C0004 (18:02):
well, Senate Bill 1882 was passed,, I think four
sessions ago now to expand, anidea that's here in Florida as
well as Texas, and that'sprivatization of public ed.
Okay.
And, I have a public schoolbackground, and you say, well,
why would you get in bed withthe enemy?
Well, it's not necessarily theenemy.
(18:23):
That's who's in charge right nowand, Senate Bill 1882 was set up
to reward districts thatprivatized part of their
education system, and it wasdesigned to bring in outside,
private for profit providers,but there was nothing in there
(18:44):
that denied a local districtDeveloping its own charter
partners, which is what, what wedid in Longview.
And,, honestly,, that was sevenor eight years ago.
And we're the only district inthe state of any size that.
really does that.
And we did it to provide moreopportunity for our students.
(19:07):
There's a money crunch.
And so,, our commissioner ofeducation and our legislator
said, well, why don't we use acarrot instead of a stick?
Now they're pretty much usingthe stick approach now.
But eight years ago it was, itwas a combination.
And so We utilized 1882 to,bring a different approach to
(19:32):
education of our kids.
Okay.
And, but to also generate morerevenue to, to allow them to
have more opportunities.
And,, we generate severalmillion more dollars a year, by
following the guidelines and thephilosophies of Senate bill
1882.
And there's a number of hoopsthe agent.
The state education has fordistricts to follow if if they
(19:55):
want to receive this funding.
And I think,, still a publicschool advocate, but we are a
district and we do utilize theresources of the state meant to
privatize us.
but the end result is, we have.
High achieving students.
And that's what we're therefor., I don't feel like I'm
(20:17):
sleeping with the enemy.
I think I'm providing a betteropportunity for students, but it
is.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025 (20:23):
And I, you know, if I'm being.
If you're being kind oftransparent about your thoughts
on some of this stuff, it'slike, look, I have friends who,
I have a friend whose fatherruns a private school, right,
and he's kind of establishedthem throughout the company,
country rather, and then hestarted to open them overseas as
(20:45):
well.
I think he started in the Bocaarea in South Florida.
But I do remember when I firstasked him about like what made
the school special.
What it sounded like to me washe was an attorney and he had a
very descriptive idea around Iwant kids to learn.
(21:09):
if they're in biology class, andwe're talking about marine
biology, I want to take them outon a boat, and I want to put
them on snorkels, and have themgo down and see what we're
talking about.
And that's just one example,right?
But so, when you say, the moneyhelps, right, he can only do
(21:29):
that because they can fund thattrip.
Sure.
And a kid that has moreexposure.
As we said earlier, and as asponge, he's going to have an
easier time connecting to thewords that are in the book if I
can take them to that place andlet them experience it.
Make it relatable.
Right.
So I think his belief was, is,okay, then that's how I'm going
(21:50):
to create this educationprocess.
I'm going to create it so thatevery time we're educating on
something, I can give themactual exposure to it.
And that takes money.
and so could I, you know, am Isending my children to this
school?
No.
Would I love for my kids to havethose exposures?
Yes.
Will I try to give them thoseexposures in life?
Yes., is that something that ageneral school could, could
(22:12):
afford to do?
Well, maybe one of those trips ayear.
Or maybe they could figure outif they're doing creative
things, like what you just said,Dr.
Wilcox, they could figure outhow to at least do something.
You know And something is betterthan nothing.
It's just, you know, we canagree to that.
So I love that.
And the next question I wasgonna ask you was more revolving
(22:32):
around your leadershipphilosophy in guiding, say,
Longview Independent SchoolDistrict, or any school
district, for that matter.
but I'm starting to get someinsights just on listening to
you speak on what some of whatthat might be.
But maybe if you don't mind,just elaborate on kind of what
was your leadership philosophy.
C0004 (22:49):
Well, you know, teachers, educators, by definition, are
pretty much traditionalist, andwe like to do things the same
way we did them last year, but Idon't think that's the way
education should be.
Okay.
I think it needs to be a littleoutside the box, and if you, if
(23:12):
you will, maybe that term'soverused.
too much, but, we need to lookat new things and experiment
with new things.
And if it's not right, you cantell pretty quickly with the
students.
And, you know, I don't thinkeducation should be the same way
I was educated.
we need to embrace thetechnologies and opportunities
(23:35):
we have now, because that's theworld that our, that our kids
live in.
when I went to school, it wasyou read the chapter and
answered the questions.
in my wife's class, when shecame in while she was check and
roll, there was an internetresearch question on the board
and you look it up and as soonas she finished check and roll,
(23:57):
they would discuss that.
I mean, just.
She taught world geography andthere was something up there on
Rio de Janeiro and you would, bythe time she checked roll, you'd
looked it up and have an answerto the question.
we need to provide those kind ofopportunities for growth, in our
kids because they'll, they'llabsorb anything we give them.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_ (24:20):
So what is your perspective on
guiding through challenges inthe K 12 market?
C0005 (24:28):
Well, just as with the kids, the K 12 market is not
what it was 10 years ago.
You have to understand that inyour company, FBMC, we have to
understand that the market'schanging.
And we need to have productsthat people are looking for and
that they need.
And we need to have people inthe field that know how to
(24:50):
present that, to them.
And then we need to have, theback office, if you will, that
can implement those things,correctly.
Because one little mistake inone district used to not go far.
But now I can go around theworld and say, you know, they
did this and they came in andthey were supposed to enroll me
in that and they didn't do itand I don't like it.
(25:13):
So, the same thing is for thekids.
We can't do business like we did10 years ago.
It has to be evolving and wehave to have people in
leadership and management thatunderstand that.
And hey, when you make amistake, just.
Correct it as quick as you canand then try something else
different, as you move forwardbecause the same old same old is
(25:36):
not going to be the future ofthis company or any company that
thrives.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-202 (25:41):
Yeah That's great feedback.
dr.
Wilcox.
We save a question at the endjust for you And it's you know
anything related to what you'redoing now for fbmc what you're
doing within Texas.
is there anything else you'dwant our listeners to know?
C0005 (25:58):
Oh gosh.
the people business is stillwonderfully interesting to me
and doing the right thing forthem.
when I was a school leader, Ilooked at the main thing other
than the students, what we coulddo with them.
What can I do?
For my people to enjoy workinghere and enjoy what they're
(26:18):
doing and, be a benefit tothemselves and to the future.
And I think that's the samething that we're striving for
and at BMC.
And if I can be a tiny, tinypart of that, then, this is the
right place for me to land.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2 (26:32):
That's awesome.
And so I guess one of the thingsI'd like to do is just throw out
a plug for you.
So Dr.
Wilcox is in Texas, operatingwith the school districts.
he's a mentor.
If you're a superintendent outthere and you want to talk to
somebody who's been there donethat, who's got a view on it,
who might be able to help you.
Reach out to Dr.
Wilcox.
I would say on the employeebenefits consulting side, a lot
(26:55):
of these school districts havequestions.
They're not sure what to do.
You've got the Texas retirementsystem, opportunities to stay in
that program, opportunities tocome out of that program.
What are the consequences?
and I know Dr.
Wilcox has, has lived it.
has an opinion on it and cangive guidance on his thoughts on
it.
So please reach out to Dr.
(27:15):
Wilcox and, let him be anadvocate, for you to help you on
the benefits side.
and, anything else you'd say inthat vein?
I feel like I hit it.
C0005 (27:24):
No, I just say, I'm just glad to be a part of FBMC and
what we're trying to do to, makepeople's life more secure.
and their future more pleasantfor them and their family.
I think it's a greatopportunity.
fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2 (27:36):
That's awesome.
Well, thank you so much forcoming in.
thank you to the listeners thatare out there.
if you have any questions,please contact us or just look
on our homepage at www.
fbmc.
com.
And remember, you can find usand subscribe on any podcast
app.
Thanks.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.