December 11th, 2009
San Marcos CISD’s Shafer honored by Austin Chamber

SUBMITTED REPORT

San Marcos CISD Superintendent Dr. Patty Shafer was named Superintendent of the Year by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce at its State of Education luncheon this week.

Patty Shafer

The announcement was made before a crowd of more than 600 education, political and business leaders at the Frank Erwin Center.

“Our faculty work alongside the students to meet the challenge of being ready for college-level work. Members of the SMCISD faculty, staff, and administration work in conjunction with partners from Texas State University, Austin Community College, and the San Marcos Chamber to make sure that students complete applications for admission and financial aid. These awards are indicators of teamwork on the part of the entire community,” Shafer said.

The chamber noted college preparedness progress in the San Marcos school district, citing examples that include:

• 80 percent of the SMCISD class of 2009 submitted the Apply Texas application online.
• San Marcos doubled its submission of student application for financial aid (FAFSA) in one year.
• San Marcos CISD had the largest one year increase in college and workplace readiness rates in the region (from 27 percent ready in both English and Math in 2007 to 39 percent college-ready in both subjects in 2008).
• San Marcos CISD was number one in the region in direct-to-college enrollment increases (from 36 percent in 2007 to 44 percent in 2008).
• San Marcos CISD was featured in a U.S. and Austin Chamber briefing before key Congressional staff in October of this year.

San Marcos CISD also received awards for the increases in college and workforce readiness and for the increase in direct-to-college enrollment. The awards were presented by State Sen. Florence Shapiro, State Rep. Donna Howard and Commissioner of Higher Education Raymond Paredes.

— FROM SAN MARCOS CISD/IRIS CAMPBELL