The Pine Tree ISD School Board named Daya Hill, Ed.D. as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in a special board meeting, May 29, 2013.

“I am elated to join the PTISD community of lifelong learners.” said Hill. “I look forward to serving as a member of an organization that encourages innovation and embraces academic excellence and high standards for all.”

Dr. Hill is currently serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for Center Independent School District. She assumes her role at PTISD starting in July. During a seventeen year career in both the public school and university setting, she has served in various instructional and administrative capacities including district and campus level administration, program coordination, and direct instruction. Dr. Hill received a Bachelors degree with an emphasis in Mathematics and a Masters degree from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. She received certificates to serve as Texas Principal and Superintendent also at TAMU Texarkana.

 2010, Dr. Hill earned a Doctorate degree in Education in the area of Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Areas of interest include curriculum alignment, disaggregating standardized test results, and deconstructing test items. She received Curriculum Management Audit training in Tuscan, Arizona, and in 2006 served on audits in Washington, Missouri and Texas.

“We welcome Dr. Hill to Pine Tree ISD,” said Dr. TJ Farler, Superintendent of Schools. “She brings with her significant skill and experience along with a fresh perspective. The core business of any school district is the delivery of instruction and the implementation of a research-driven curriculum. Dr. Hill has the important task of monitoring and supporting all instructional initiatives designed to improve the academic performance, and achievement for grades K-12. We believe she will greatly enrich our team. Her leadership abilities will help our district reach the goal of academic excellence for all.”

Hill succeeds Dr. Nate Carman, who resigned in May to serve as Superintendent of Schools in Teage ISD.

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Texas Comptroller Susan Combs is reminding parents they can begin enrolling in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund®, the state’s prepaid college tuition program. Open enrollment began this month and runs through Feb. 28, 2014.

“Saving for college is a very important part of family budgets,” Combs said. “The Texas Tuition Promise Fund offers parents the chance to prepay for their child’s education at Texas public colleges and universities at today’s prices. The fund has flexible options that families can utilize to fit their budgets.”

Families in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund purchase prepaid “tuition units” that can later be used toward undergraduate tuition and required fees at schools ranging from Texas public community colleges to four-year, in-state universities. Prices are based on 2013-14 academic year costs for the state’s public colleges.

Type I units, priced for tuition and required fees for the most expensive public four-year school in Texas, cost $118.06 per unit. Type II units, based on the weighted average cost of tuition and required fees across all Texas public four-year schools, cost $85.10 per unit.

Type III units, priced at the weighted average cost of tuition and required fees across all Texas public two-year schools, cost $21.71 each. Under the plan, 100 units equal roughly one academic year consisting of 30 semester hours of tuition and required fees at the Texas public school that most closely matches the pricing base. Families can prepay for up to six years (600 Type I units or the equivalent amount of Type II and III units) of undergraduate tuition and required fees.

The plan’s payment options include lump sum payments, installment payments that include 8 percent interest or a pay-as-you go plan that allows parents to gradually add more units when the family budget allows. Payments can be as low as $15 after an account is established by paying a one-time fee of $25 and purchasing at least one unit.

The Texas Tuition Promise Fund is entering its sixth year. For more information about enrolling in the prepaid college tuition program, including a college cost calculator, go to www.TexasTuitionPromiseFund.com or call 1-800-445-GRAD (4723), Option 5.

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By Rusty Wright

What’s your take on New Testament stories about Jesus’ life and death and their aftermath?  Did the events described really happen, or are they merely inspirational fables about a great man?  For many years, I was skeptical.

CNN’s second season of Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery appears to be designed with questioners like me in mind.  Episode One (March 5) notes archaeological confirmation of a famous biblical character.  A stone discovered in 1961 references Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judea.  In the New Testament (NT) narrative, of course, Pilate ordered Jesus’ crucifixion.

Actually, secular history and archaeology often confirm biblical accounts.

Digging the Holy Land

Back in secondary school, I enjoyed a lecture by Nelson Glueck, president of Hebrew Union College, a world-class archaeologist, and a Jew.  His tales of digging up the Holy Land were captivating.  Years later, as an adult, I learned that Glueck wrote, “It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference.”  He affirmed “the almost incredibly accurate historical memory of the Bible, and particularly so when it is fortified by archaeological fact.”

Finding Jesus notes that Jewish historian Flavius Josephus wrote of Pilate as procurator of Judea.  Not news to academics, but it may be to some viewers who’ve questioned whether certain major NT figures really existed (a common doubt).

Episode Two (March 12) features Lazarus, whom the NT claims Jesus raised from the dead.  Finding Jesus portrays this biblical story.

Causing a stir

Jesus assured Martha that her deceased brother Lazarus would rise again, claiming, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.”  Then he raised Lazarus, causing quite a stir.

Finding Jesus features scholars of various academic affiliations and philosophical persuasions. Some believe Lazarus’ resurrection happened precisely as the Gospel of John records.  Others suggest it may simply be a legend that makes a religious point.

For my entire professional life, I’ve engaged people on both sides of such issues, seeking to respect those who differ and to politely encourage participants in the marketplace of ideas to consider perspectives that make sense to me.  I’ll proceed in that spirit here, and will also include a personal note on the implications of this debate.

Personal implications of the debate

My wife of sixteen years died of cancer last year.  If Lazarus’ – and Jesus’ – resurrections actually happened, then I have grounds for trusting Jesus’ statements about the afterlife, and I will see Meg again.  If Lazarus’ and Jesus’ resurrection stories are mere human inventions, will I see her again?  Who knows?

Examining evidences for NT reliability and for Jesus’ resurrection convinced me both were true.  The cases are too lengthy to detail here, but perhaps these thoughts about NT reliability will prompt you to dig deeper.

Three thoughts

• Eyewitness Testimony. The Gospels – presentations of Jesus’ life – claim to be, or bear evidence of containing, eyewitness accounts. In a courtroom, eyewitness testimony is among the most reliable evidence.

• Early Date. Dr. William F. Albright, one of the world’s leading archaeologists, dated every book of the NT before about AD 80.  There is no known record of NT factual authenticity ever being successfully challenged by a contemporary.

• Manuscript Evidence. Over 24,000 early manuscript copies of portions of the NT exist today. Concerning manuscript attestation, Sir Frederic Kenyon, director and principle librarian of the British Museum, concluded, “Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established.”

I’ve seen all six episodes of CNN’s new series, and I appreciated learning about the evidence presented.  If you are open to considering viewpoints different from your own – and are willing to think carefully – you might enjoy the series a lot.

www.CNN.com/FindingJesus   Sundays 9:00 PM ET/PT (North America), March 5 – April 9

www.FindingJesusResources.org

Rusty Wright is an author and lecturer who has spoken on six continents.  He holds Bachelor of Science (psychology) and Master of Theology degrees from Duke and Oxford universities, respectively.  www.RustyWright.com

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