Robert Hemphill, Jr., Ph.D. 12417 Robert David Drive El Paso, TX 79928-1714 Phone (915) 328-4197 E-mail: butuhemp@hotmail.com March 27, 2009 Honorable Veronica Escobar, County Commissioner El Paso County Commissioners Court 500 E. San Antonio Suite 301 El Paso, TX 79901 Dear Commissioner Escobar: This letter is to express my strong interest in being appointed as a member to the Child Welfare Board. Having achieved many goals in my career as a public school and university educator, I am interested in expanding my professional knowledge and contributions to El Paso County by seeking new challenges as a member of the Child Welfare Board. As an active member of the Child Welfare Board, I can provide the following: Professional integrity, honesty and the ability to look at challenges as opportunities.. The ability to develop and lead a team. Experience in working with a culturally diverse student population. Over 25 years of experience working with parents and children in South El Paso. Effective and strong communication, public relations and interpersonal skills. I am a child advocate and look forward to meeting with you to discuss how I would be a valuable asset to the children of El Paso County and the Child Welfare Board. Sincerely,
Robert Hemphill, Jr., Ph.D. Robert Hemphill, Jr., Ph.D. 12417 Robert David Drive El Paso, TX 79928-1714 Phone: (915) 328-4197 Email Address: butuhemp@hotmail.com OBJECTIVE: An education professional with diverse experiences and effective leadership skills, targeting position as a member of the El Paso County Child Welfare Board. EDUCATION and CREDENTIALS: Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Management & Development, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 1996 Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Administration, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 1976 Bachelor of Arts in Teaching Art-All Levels, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 1973 Associate of Arts in Art, Wharton County Junior College, Wharton, TX 1971 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Staff Development & Instructional Support Specialist, El Paso Independent School District 2003-Present Principal, Delta Academy, El Paso Independent School District 1998-2003 Lecturer, Teacher Education Department, University of Texas at El Paso 1998-2002 Principal, Alamo Elementary School, El Paso Independent School District 1990-1998 Summer School Principal, Beall Elementary School, El Paso Independent School District 1990
Assistant Principal, Douglass Elementary School, El Paso Independent School District 1986-1990 Fine Arts Teacher and Department Chair, Irvin High School, El Paso Independent School District 1973-1986 Robert Hemphill, Jr., Ph.D., Résumé, Page One A REPERTOIRE OF ADMINISTRATIVE & CURRICULUM FUNCTIONS Staff Development and Instructional Support Specialist, Central Office: Developed strategy for and organized the district s first Special Education Advisory Council which serves 6,000 special education students (nearly 10% of the district s 65,000 student population). Collaborated with a team of parents, medical doctors, and community leaders to develop by laws and a mission statement for the El Paso I.S.D. School Health Advisory Council. Supervised, monitored and implemented staff development efforts emphasizing teacher instructional strategies, teaching and learning, parental involvement and its budget, alternative assessment, special transportation, SPED facility issues, curriculum development, SERS (Special Education Resource Systems) and the resolution of parent concerns via mediation and due process hearings. Principal, Delta Academy: Provided strategic instructional leadership over all aspects of the school operation, including supervision and evaluation of middle and high school teachers, development of instructional materials, grants, management of all budgets and restructured instructional program for school improvement. Adjunct Professor/Lecturer, University of Texas at El Paso: Provided instructional leadership to graduate and undergraduate students. Taught curriculum design, theory, classroom management, general methods in secondary schools and secondary school curriculum. Served as a member on graduate student committees. Principal, Alamo Elementary School: Provided instructional leadership and supervised 70 faculty and staff members, demonstrated a commitment to the community beyond campus boundaries, managed grants and all budgets. Principal-Summer School, Beall Elementary: Supervised and coordinated all instructional leadership activities for teachers and 600 students from six campuses located in South El Paso.
Assistant Principal, Douglass Elementary School: Assisted principal in the supervision of 80 teachers and staff, development and review of instructional materials and management of the budget. Interpreted and implemented policies concerning school rules, student discipline and special education. Fine Arts Teacher and Department Chair: Taught 100-150 students each semester, coordinated art activities and was responsible for the budget and supplies in the fine arts department. Organized and judged art competitions. Robert Hemphill, Jr., Ph.D., Résumé, Page Two MILITARY EXPERIENCE: Texas State Guard, Honorable Discharge, Commander 39 th BN, Rank-MAJOR 1985-2002 355 th Medical Company, US Army Reserves, Honorable Discharge, Rank-PFC 1984-1985 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: Phi Delta Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi Fulbright Alumni Association Center for the Development and Study of Effective Pedagogy for African American Learners National Education, Texas State Teachers, Texas Classroom Teachers & El Paso Education Association Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development El Paso Administrators Association PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION: Participant in the Texas Association of School Administrators Aspiring Superintendents Academy 2005 Distinguished Black Scholar, New Mexico State University 1995
Who s Who Among Distinguished American Citizens 1995 Appointed by Mayor and Council to El Paso Arts Resource Board of Directors 1981 Texas PTA Life Member, Irvin High School 1978 Fulbright Scholar, Studied Art in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg 1977 Robert Hemphill, Jr., Ph.D., Résumé, Page Three PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Chairperson of the Pastor-Parish Relations Council for the St. James-Myrtle United Methodist Church, 2003-current Provides monthly training on a voluntary basis to CASA (Court Appointed Student Advocates) volunteers regarding the ARD process, January 2006- current Elected LT Governor for Areas I ( West Texas and Southern New Mexico) of the Great Southwest Civitan District, 2006-current Member of the Board of Directors for the Great Southwest Civitan District 2002-2005 Received the Distinguished Governor Award from Civitan International 2005 Honored by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority as the Man of Distinction 2005 Appointed by the Texas Education Agency to serve on the SDAA Writing/Test Item Analysis Committee, Austin 2004 and 2005 Elected Governor of the Great Southwest District-Civitan International, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado 2003-2004
Elected as a Board Member of the West Texas Council on Drugs and Alcohol Abuse 1999-2001 Member of the Board of Directors for the Houchen Community Center 1991-1998 Leadership as an Urban Principal-recognized in book entitled Urban School Reform by Dr. Dennis Shirley, Rice University 1997 Participant in National School Reform-Carnegie Foundation, New York City 1996 Appointed by Mayor Francis to serve with a committee to obtain federal funds to create an empowerment zone for El Paso, TX 1996 Appointed by Governor Ann Richards to serve on the Goals 2000 Education Committee 1994 Robert Hemphill, Jr., Ph.D., Résumé, Page Four LIST OF REFERENCES: Ms. Barbara Ann Browder, Associate Superintendent Human Resources Department Gadsen Independent School District 1325 W. Washington Anthony, NM 88021 (505) 882-6223 Mr. Ken George, Former School Superintendent Education Service Center-Region 19 6611 Boeing Drive El Paso, TX 79925 (915) 780-1919 Darlene Bruce, Project Manager Education Service center-region 19 6611 Boeing Drive El Paso, TX 79925 (915) 780-1919
Reverend Dr. Obie Rhodes, Pastor White Cloud Baptist Church 4623 FM 102 Eagle Lake, TX 77434 (979) 234-3257 Dr. Milagros Seda, Professor-Teacher Education University of Texas at El Paso 500 W. University Avenue El Paso, TX 79968 (915) 747-5426 Emi Johnson, M.Ed., J.D., Chief Deputy Inspector General Texas Education Agency 1701 N. Congress Austin, TX 78701 (512) 463-2291 or emi.johnson@tea.state.yx.us ROBERT HEMPHILL, JR., PH.D. Biography Dr. Robert Hemphill, Jr. was born November 23, 1950 in Houston, TX on Thanksgiving Day at the St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital. His family moved to Eagle Lake, TX in 1956 where he began his formal education. He attended E.H. Henry School from 1957-1965 and later attended Eagle Lake High school from 1965-1969 where he graduated. Dr. Hemphill earned scholarships in athletics (Track & Field), music (Band) and Fine Arts. He attended and graduated from Wharton County Junior College (Associate of Arts), Sam Houston State University (Bachelor of Arts in Teaching: Art Education), The University of Texas at El Paso (Masters in Education- Curriculum: Art & Educational Administration) and New Mexico State University (Doctor of Philosophy-Curriculum & Educational Management). He is a Fulbright Scholar (1977) who studied art in Europe (Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands) and has traveled in England, Germany, Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Mexico. He also won a cover design contest for a magazine entitled Try Magazine and was one of the top three designers for a flag design commemorating El Paso s four centuries. Dr. Hemphill served as the art teacher and Chairman of the Art Department at Irvin High School from 1973-1986. He was promoted to the position of Assistant Principal at Douglass in 1986. Hemphill also served as the administrator for the summer
school program at Beall School after leaving Douglass. In 1990, Dr. Robert Hemphill was the first African American male appointed as Principal (Alamo) in the El Paso Independent School District after the years of desegregation. Fifty years prior to Hemphill s appointment as principal, Mr. Mangrum was appointed Principal (Douglass) by the district during the days of school segregation. During his tenure at Alamo, Dr. Dennis Shirley (an expert at Urban Education and School Reform) of Rice University (Now at Boston College) wrote a book entitled Community Organizing for Urban School Reform. In this book, Dr. Shirley discussed how Dr. Hemphill, parents, teachers, clergy, social workers, business partners and a host of other engaged citizens worked together to improve education for students in inner city schools. The El Paso newspapers also recognized the work of Dr. Hemphill and his school community in an article entitled Segundo Barrio. He also served as Principal at Delta Academy after leaving Alamo School. Dr. Hemphill taught graduate courses in Curriculum and Instruction as well as Secondary Education at the University of Texas at El Paso from 1998-2002 and he served on a national committee at Texas Southern University to help African American and Hispanic students close test score gaps. Dr. Hemphill has served the city of El Paso when he was appointed by Mayor and Council as a member of the Arts Resource Department. He was also appointed by Governor Ann Richards to serve as a member of the Goals 2000 Education Committee. Recently, Dr. Hemphill s name has been recommended (Pending approval by County Commissioners) to serve as a member on a El Paso County Committee that deals with the Abuse of African American and Hispanic Children. He served as a judge and participant in several art exhibits in El Paso as well as in East Texas. Dr. Hemphill also served in the Texas State Guard (Military Police) for 17 years. He rose to the rank of Major and served as the S2 Logistics Officer, S3 Operations Officer and Commander of the El Paso Group. Hemphill has been involved with music and art since the fifth grade and he continues to improve his skills in those areas to this date. He s currently working in the Special Education Department and his primary responsibilities are alternative assessments, accessibility or facility issues regarding students with disabilities and special transportation.