Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart's Introductory Remarks
I am standing here because I’ve seen Anette’s leadership throughout our community. I’ve worked with Anette for over ten years. I’ve seen her passion change our community in powerful ways. We are a better place because of her leadership and more unified through her leadership. Luke 22:26 says to “… let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant.” Anette embodies this verse. She is truly the servant leader our good book instructs all of us to become.
As the resident “community cheerleader,” Anette has ensured our citizens are aware of, understand, and plan for the education attainment crisis in the Texas Panhandle. As the creator, founder, director, and caretaker of Panhandle Twenty/20, Anette’s vision and passion has created a unified community conversation about our responsibility to our kids. Ultimately, Anette’s leadership laid the groundwork for the Gate’s Foundation Postsecondary Success Grant opportunity for Amarillo. Without her persistence and dedication, our community would not have been ready for this incredible opportunity that has already established us as leaders in the state and nation.
Ronald Reagan stated, “Don’t be afraid to see what you see.” Many people would look at the state of our economy and education and see fear or frustration. Anette sees opportunity. We need someone like Anette who is not afraid to really see what is happening and then have the kind of vision to face it. Because of Anette’s vision, our community conversation about education produced several important outcomes. Because of her vision, we learned that education attainment is directly linked to poverty.
Instead of complaining about lack of government effectiveness, Anette asked the community to respond. One of the answers she helped identify was The Opportunity Conference, which has been one of the most powerful, impressive, and important events of which I have been a part. Through this process, our community is addressing poverty and education attainment head-on and helping people navigate the system with support. As such, these participants are not just accessing necessary resources to meet immediate needs; they are developing a plan to move out of poverty. It has created real change for our neighbors and neighborhoods. This is important because it points to Anette’s deep desire to bring people together to solve our community’s problems. She is a unifier and a visionary. Because of Anette Carlisle, our community churches, businesses and schools are taking an exciting journey together - as partners.
Panhandle Twenty/20’s mission is to be a catalyst for positive change in the Texas Panhandle. I can’t think of any other person in our community that embodies this mission more than Anette. She has passionately connected our community together with a singular focus. She has equipped us with resources and opportunities. She has informed us through extensive research, data, and best practices. Anette Carlisle is one of my closest friends because I trust her motives – help others, help our community, create positive change. These qualities make her the ideal candidate for State Board of Education District 15.
Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart
Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Amarillo College
President, Panhandle Twenty/20