Sarah Zubiate Bennett is a dedicated advocate who champions the rights and needs of Dallas residents.
One of the many commitments Bennett upholds is transforming the educational landscape within the Dallas Independent School District to support the success of students and staff.
As the host of The Dallas Express Podcast, Bennett uses this platform to campaign for meaningful change. Recently, in episode 31, Opportunity Central: Where Forney ISD Puts Students First, Bennett sat down with Dr. Justin Terry to learn more about a unique campus in Forney that is doing amazing work.
Opportunity Central (OC), situated in Forney, surpasses standard STAAR test preparation by emphasizing the development of practical skills essential for post-graduation careers.
OC is “a multipurpose campus serving career development, access to higher education, and community engagement opportunities for all,” states its website.
When OC states “opportunities for all” they mean it: OC is a learning center designed for success, regardless of age.
“From 3 to 103… we are going to be offering in the fall cookie decorating, ceramics” wood shop, dance fitness aerobics, and much more, shared Mel Harlan, leader of the Engage program. For course offerings, explore theoc.net.
The OC campus incorporates perks such as a collaborative space that offers free Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, and excellent meeting spaces for community groups.
Upcoming events include registration for adult volleyball and pickleball leagues, youth basketball registration, college and career day, and Trunk or Treat.
Add a student-product retail store, art gallery, student-run florist, and White Rhino Coffee to the mix, and you have a delicious brew of students learning where they work and working where they learn.
The man behind OC is Justin W. Terry, Ed.D., the superintendent of Forney ISD, recently recognized as the 2024 Region 10 Superintendent of the Year.
“How is it that you had the guts to pioneer something like this?” Bennett asked Dr. Terry regarding the innovative concept of OC.
“What are the skills that our kids truly need? The STAAR test measures one test [on] one day. Is that truly a measure of their success? I don’t think so,” replied Dr. Terry. “Our kids are so much more than that. They’re so much more talented than what can be measured on a multiple-choice test.”
Dr. Terry inquired with companies about what they needed from recent graduates to help them become better-qualified future employees. In response, Dr. Terry was told that businesses needed graduates with “future-ready skills, employability skills, entrepreneurial skills, and intrapreneurial skills.”
Dr. Terry realized that how you teach these skills is “by putting kids in the experience itself.”
Taking a tour of OC, Bennett was encouraged to see the numerous career opportunities available to students beyond what can be learned in books or graded on a test.
Dr. Terry pointed out the distinct difference between OC and most college and career centers, stressing that OC parallels the entrepreneurial skillset with employability by offering hands-on education in everything from auto, engineering, and coding to salon services while incorporating the business aspects and acumen, thereby creating a winning combination.
“Communication, collaboration, how to do personal and business finance… we wanted to put our kids in that setting and learn from the best, and that’s from the businesses themselves… to help teach our kids,” explained Dr. Terry.
As students’ potential morphs into the unknown capabilities of technology, including AI, Dr. Terry noted the importance of being able to adjust: “If we’re not nimble in our business of education, then we really can’t produce what our future careers are going to need.”
Bennett agreed, emphasizing the importance of adapting to change and the ability to maneuver within the pace of progress.
Change is nothing new to the City of Forney. A May 2024 report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Forney ranked only behind Celina among the fastest-growing cities in the United States.
“We are in the midst of really fast-paced growth,” stressed Dr. Terry, adding that it is important to adapt to change while staying true to what makes Forney attractive. “We accept who’s coming and let them join the family, but we also have some values that we want to continue.”
Bringing the conversation to Dallas, Bennett noted that numerous children within Dallas ISD are graduating without adequate reading and writing skills and that more than 50,000 students attend schools with D and F ratings.
Bennett asked Dr. Terry why he did not see the same poor statistics in Forney ISD as in Dallas ISD.
Apart from noting that every district faces challenges, Dr. Terry stressed that Forney ISD focuses “on foundational skills… everyone needs to learn how to read, write, [do] arithmetic. We believe personal finances is a basic skill as well.”
“We create things called milestones. We try to set goals for students along the way,” said Dr. Terry.
“You’re doing so much better,” said Bennett.
“We’re doing different,” stressed Dr. Terry, adding that you have to ask, “What does success look like?”
Dr. Terry challenged the need to teach and measure life skills rather than cater to the STARR test, noting that other skills, such as personal finance, the arts, teamwork, and collaboration, are important to encourage success in students beyond graduation.
“What we’re hoping to do with [OC] is begin to showcase the way that you can look at other skillsets, and you can look at other success measures than just an accountability test,” said Dr. Terry.
To listen to the full podcast with host Sarah Zubiate Bennett and Dr. Justin Terry, look here.