Goose Creek CISD Superintendent Randal O’Brien delivered a heartfelt State of the District address to the Kiwanis Club of Baytown on Thursday, praising the club’s motto, “Serving the children of the world,” and emphasizing GCCISD’s theme, “Here, We Grow Giants.” 

O’Brien, who announced his retirement effective in December, shared insights into the district’s progress, challenges and commitment to developing well-rounded students.

O’Brien highlighted GCCISD’s scope, which encompasses nearly 24,000 students across 34 campuses, including 18 elementary schools, six junior highs, three traditional high schools, three specialty high schools, and a virtual academy. The district employs about 3,400 staff members, a slight decrease due to budget reductions. 

“Our mission is developing the whole child,” O’Brien said, noting that focusing solely on academics would leave “a hole in the community” without fostering well-rounded individuals.

Addressing Texas Education Agency A-F Accountability ratings, O’Brien cautioned against oversimplifying the data. For the 2023-2024 school year, GCCISD earned an overall “C” rating, or a 78, with preliminary 2024-2025 data indicating a sustained performance. 

Of the 28 eligible campuses, 39% earned distinctions, with five of six high schools and five of 16 elementary schools recognized in areas, such as reading, math, science, and postsecondary readiness. 

“Don’t let the letter grade fool you,” O’Brien said. “There’s a lot of success going on across the board.”

One claim about the recently released accountability ratings is that they showed that 60%, or six out of 10, of GCCISD students fell below grade level in all subjects. Deputy Superintendent Susan Jackson, also a member of the Kiwanis club, addressed this claim.

“This interpretation misses the larger picture,” Jackson said. “More than two-thirds of our students scored at the ‘Approaches Grade Level’ standard or higher, and we’re just two percentage points below the state average at ‘Meets Grade Level’ (40% vs. 42%).” 

Jackson emphasized varied performance across subjects and ongoing efforts to move students to higher proficiency levels.

“We welcome dialogue about student achievement, but it’s essential that we look at the full context of the data rather than drawing incomplete or misleading conclusions,” Jackson said. 

O’Brien celebrated “Giant accomplishments,” including seven campuses earning Apple Distinguished School status post-COVID, with over 80% of instruction integrating technology. The district’s 10 career academies, including the Future Teacher Academy, have resulted in 804 industry-based certifications and $27 million in scholarships for the Class of 2023. Early learning academies at four campuses use the Fueling Brains curriculum to close achievement gaps by fostering executive function skills in pre-K students.

Athletics and fine arts thrived, with 23 playoff appearances across sports, 23 6A coaches of the year, and a 39% growth in fine arts participation. The Ross S. Sterling High School band earned a spot in the state marching contest, and two students raised $35,000 at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Community outreach initiatives include the Goose Talks tour and Hispanic Outreach events, such as Día del Niño at Alamo Elementary, and a robust social media presence. 

O’Brien also reviewed some facility updates, funded by a 2019 bond, which included a new fieldhouse for Stallworth Stadium and a new professional development center. The district is in the process of naming both facilities, utilizing public input. 

The superintendent also addressed rezoning to optimize campus capacity, noting, “Strong schools equal strong communities.” 

A comprehensive rezoning effort, prompted by the addition of 5,000 new homes north of Interstate 10, aimed for a 90% capacity district-wide. 

“You are a big part of our success,” O’Brien told the Kiwanis Club, inviting community involvement through tours, committees and nominations for Giant of the Month awards.