Tuesday Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees member Bernadette Nutall won our second ever “Courage in Public Service” Award.
“I am honored to have been chosen for this award by the Dallas Regional Chamber,” said Nutall. “Our students and Dallas area citizens deserve our support when it comes to improving our education system. Students within the Dallas ISD deserve every opportunity we can provide.”
The Chamber recognized Nutall for displaying courage when faced with an unpopular but vital decision to consolidate schools and focus valuable resources on student achievement. The decision was met with public opposition, but the consolidation will directly benefit the students in a number of ways by bringing several low capacity schools to full capacity. The money saved will fund after school programs and new positions for teachers, teaching assistants and guidance counselors.
Mayor Mike Rawlings and Clint McDonnough, Chairman of the Board for the Dallas Regional Chamber, presented the award to Nutall during the Chamber’s State of the City event on September 25.
“We are so proud to have the opportunity to honor Bernadette during this public forum,” said Jim Oberwetter, president and CEO of the Dallas Regional Chamber. “Such bold action in the middle of a controversial issue can often place a public figure in a difficult position, but she has demonstrated the courage to stand by her principles and diligently represent and advocate for not only the children in her elected district, but also for all of the students in the DISD.”
Each year, the Chamber presents this award to an outstanding public official in the Dallas region who has distinguished him or herself by demonstrating high quality leadership on behalf of a significant cause and bringing great credit to the institutions he or she represents.
