"Zip code doesn't define brilliance," Garland ISD Superintendent Dr. Ricardo López said. "We are not afraid to outwork anybody. That blue-collar mindset never left us, but we have a white-collar mind—we can outthink everybody."

Addressing community leaders, local business owners, and school board members at the Garland Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Lopez quickly turned to the statewide budget challenges impacting Texas public schools.

"We were talking about the budget crisis that's happening across the state of Texas," López said. "You're seeing school districts having to make loans to make payroll, record layoffs, and things that traditionally haven't happened in school districts for quite some time."

Despite state funding shortfalls, Garland ISD passed a Voter-Approved Tax Rate Election in 2025, thanks to community voters, which helped close part of the funding gap.

López described the district's plan to decrease the budget deficit while not cutting programming for students, going on to say that because of the district's financial stewardship, the Finance Department earned recognition across the state, sweeping major industry awards and achieving top green ratings across all four categories on the state's financial matrix.

Alongside those financial milestones, Garland ISD was named the H-E-B Excellence in Education District of the Year, an honor awarded after judges conducted extensive interviews with parents, teachers, and community members.

"If you go somewhere else and say you were an H-E-B recipient, they know what that means," López said. "That's like, wow, you won an Academy Award."

Academic performance surged alongside the administrative honors, as Garland ISD earned an 86 in the state accountability ratings, climbing five points in just two years. 

"That's how determined we are," López said, emphasizing that the score puts Garland ISD fourth in Dallas County while outperforming neighboring districts with far fewer economically disadvantaged students.

Meanwhile, academic growth remained steady, with 15 percent of district seniors earning two-year associate degrees before graduating from high school.

Career programs at the Gilbreath-Reed Career and Technical Center (GRCTC) continue to expand into fields such as diesel mechanics and land surveying to meet market demand.

"Our kids are now going into jobs that are making a minimum of 60,000 dollars a year at 18 years old," López said. "If the market isn't there, we're not going to waste our kids' time."

López also spoke about how Bond 2023 projects are moving forward across the city, including brand-new Multi-Program Activity Centers opening at high schools and replacement campuses such as Kimberlin Academy and Freeman Elementary. Other projects are in various states of development, with many scheduled for completion in 2027.

"These facilities aren't just small-time facilities," López said. "These facilities are helping reimagine entire communities."

López closed by asking the community to maintain strong support for teachers facing inflationary pressures and public scrutiny and continue to be advocates for public education.

"Our educators kept the focus on kids," López said. "They didn't get in this profession for all of this other stuff, but they do deserve respect."

With academic outcomes rising and opportunities multiplying for students, Garland ISD continues to leverage its voter-supported resources to set new benchmarks for public education in Texas.