By Nathan Straus

nstraus@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Nearly 1,000 Jacksonville Independent School District faculty and staff members gathered at the Jacksonville High School for Convocation 2009-2010.

It began Monday morning at 8 am in the high school cafeteria. The district’s food services department catered to everyone in need of breakfast with a mix of fruit, pastries and breakfast meats. The breakfast portion of the convocation, which lasted until 9 am, was a time for employees of the district to get to know each other.

JISD tote bags were passed out to attending employees to commemorate the event.

When everyone had their fill, the crowd filed to the auditorium for the main program.

Brandon Orr, Jacksonville High School student council president, presided over ceremonies. He introduced other council officers, including: Vice President Dylan Hannah, Secretary Molly Mehlenbacher, Treasurer Ashley Holman, Historian Stevi Cotton, Parliamentarian Jeff Landrum, Reporter Kyle Taylor and Chaplain Michael Stirneman.

City Mayor Robert Haberle, who graduated from the Jacksonville school system in 1977, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Following a welcome by School Superintendent Dr. Joe Wardell, the Convocation speaker was introduced.

Marc McCloud said the speaker, Dr. Cordell Adams, class of 1979, donated to the Jacksonville Education Foundation in honor of his mother, Cordelia Adams. He was given the Influential Indian Award in his mother’s name.

“Cordelia Adams taught science for 44 years,” McCloud added.

McCloud said Dr. Cordell Adams started in Jacksonville’s East Side campus.

Cordell Adams is the first African American student body president and valedictorian at Jacksonville Independent School District. He wrote a published novel called “Light Bread” about the 1960s and a woman named Veola Cool, and how her strength of goodness and godliness to offer love and comfort to those in need shaped her path.

The speaker donated $3,000 to the Jacksonville Education Foundation, $2,000 above the minimum requirement to garner an Influential Indian Award.

Dr. Adams works at the Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. In his speech to the gathered convocation crowd he spoke about all the factors that influenced his education. The factors were so much more than books; they were his friends, family and teachers as well.

The JISD central office staff donated $1,000 to the foundation. The Influential Indian Award for this donation went to Assistant Superintendent Judy Terry.