The Board of Trustees of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) voted unanimously at its October 15, 2003 meeting to name the district's future multipurpose educational center in honor of superintendent of schools, Rick Berry.
Set to open in May 2006, construction of the Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center was approved as part of the historic $470.5 million bond referendum approved by voters December 8, 2001. Trustees have contracted PBK Architects to design the facility, which will be located near the intersection of Barker-Cypress and West roads in northwest Houston.
The announcement was made to the surprise of the superintendent. "There are no secrets in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD- that was true until tonight," Berry said, joking lightly after the Board voted 7-0 to name the facility in his honor. "This is an absolute honor. I am truly at a loss for words."
The new center was proposed in response to the district's critical need for a large educational facility capable of hosting programs and events, such as graduations, professional development, academic competitions and other community-related interests. The district currently has no facility to accommodate the sizeable meetings of its more than 9,000 staff members and finding a location each year to conduct graduation ceremonies for the large graduating classes of six high schools has been immensely challenging. A seventh comprehensive high school opened this year to ninth- and tenth-grade students with its first graduating class in 2005.
Preliminary plans for the 248,498-square-foot Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center include a multipurpose arena with a seating capacity of 9,500, a professional library, a 400-seat performing arts auditorium, locker rooms, a banquet hall/conference center and facilities for staff development.
Berry earned his Associate of Arts degree in business from Weatherford Junior College in 1965 and his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from North Texas State University in 1967. He later earned a Master of Education degree in counseling from Hardin-Simmons University in 1971.
With 35 years in public education, Berry began his career in education as a high school teacher and coach in Roscoe Independent School District in 1968. He moved to Arlington Independent School District (AISD) in 1971 where he served as counselor, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent before he was named superintendent of schools in 1988. He was named superintendent for CFISD in 1992 and continues to lead the district today.
During his 10 years in CFISD, the district has grown to become the fifth largest school district in Texas and is the largest district to ever earn a "Recognized" rating in the state's accountability system. CFISD has earned this rating for four consecutive years since 1999.
Enrollment in CFISD
has grown from 46,000 to more than 71,000 students during Berry's tenure
as superintendent. His leadership in the district led to his role as a founding
member and chairman of the Texas Fast Growth Coalition in 1995. He has also
served as the vice president and president of the Texas School Alliance, president
of the Urban School Superintendent's Association of America, president of the
Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-Urban Schools, and a former member of the
Texas Commissioner of Education's Cabinet. He currently serves as the Region
IV executive board member of the Texas Association of School Administrators.
Berry was named Superintendent of the Year by the Region IV Educational Service
Center and one of five finalists for Texas Superintendent of the Year in 2000.
Professionally, he has been invited to make formal presentations on educational
issues at conventions for national organizations.
Locally, Berry holds leadership roles with various civic service organizations. He is currently the chairman of the Cy-Fair Hospital Board of Directors, secretary of the Cypress-Fairbanks Educational Foundation and serves on the board of directors for the Crime Stoppers of Houston as well as the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce.
Berry resides in the Cy-Fair community of northwest Houston with wife, Sue. They have one son, Shane, who lives in San Marcos, Texas.
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