News Reader

The three finalists to become DeSoto’s next City Manager were front and center in DeSoto City Hall Thursday Evening for a meet & greet reception and to answer pre-submitted questions from residents that were designed to reveal the personal side of each candidate and the path they intend to lead DeSoto in during their potential tenure.

Mayor Rachel L. Proctor conducted a question-and-answer session with each candidate in the packed City Council Chambers. Since they would all be asked the same questions, only one City Manager candidate was allowed into the chambers at one time. The first candidate to address the crowd was Cheryl Harrison-Lee, the CEO of Harrison-Lee Development Consulting Company, who has close to four decades of experience in public administration.

Harrison-Lee told the gathering that she wants to serve in DeSoto because she believes that city management is a calling. “I started 39 years ago in it. I love it. I have not shifted careers, and here’s why. When I go to the doctor’s office, when that nurse takes my blood pressure I’m counting on her to read it correctly. Because if she doesn’t read it correctly and it’s elevated, I can go out and have a stroke. So I’m counting on her to do a job and do it correctly. And when she comes home, I know that she’s counting on me to do my job correctly. What they’re counting on is the next morning if there’s snow, we’ve had it moved. They’re counting on parks for their children. They’re counting on clean water. So, I value this. I believe that public service is a calling.”

The second finalist to address the crowd was Joseph L. Lessard,  who served as City Manager of Ashland, Oregon, Assistant City Manager for Austin, Texas, and Assistant to the City Manager of Dallas, Texas. Said Lessard of why he wants to lead DeSoto, “I think you have an impressive city. I think it’s on the cusp of change. I can’t tell you how quickly it’s going to come, but the way I look at it I think it’s coming and so the question I think is how do you manage it so you’re happy with the results? And I think you have to look at the issues that are coming from the recommendations that you have of potential solutions 360 degrees. Quite often everybody has a mindset that this is the answer. But have you really asked yourself what the opposite answer is? What’s the creative solution that may be t

Read more

The Dallas Theater Center, one of the nation’s leading producers of classic and global theater experiences, has announced its annual gala and fundraiser.

The gala, whose theme is  Centerstage 40: A Brand New Day, is scheduled for May 4, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Fashion Industry Gallery.

The gala will feature a special performance from the award-winning Broadway star André De Shields, who has appeared in DTC’s musical Fortress of Solitude and as Prospero in The Tempest.

The event provides an opportunity to help raise funds in support of productions and programs for the award-winning theater company.  

It is also the 40th year of the gala as well as the 65th anniversary of the Dallas Theater Organization.

“As the DTC steps into 65 years of producing incredible work on stage, we also celebrate 40 years of exceptional gala evenings featuring local and national talent and honoring the community that makes it all possible,” said Hamilton A Sneed, Centerstage 40 Event Chair.

Additionally, the event serves not only as a fundraising event but also honors individuals for their commitment to service, leadership, and community impact with the Linda and Bill Custard Award.

This year’s recipient, Donna Wilhelm, a life trustee of DTC, has shown a profound commitment to American Theater and to the Dallas Theater Center.

“Donna Wilhelm and her family have provided essential support for Dallas Theater Center, including a significant commitment to DTC’s education and community engagement programming, funding, and strategic planning,” said Kevin Moriarty, Executive Director of Dallas Theater Center. 

For more information on sponsorship opportunities and to purchase tickets, interested parties can visit the Dallas Theater Center website.

Read more

The DeSoto City Council has announced three finalists for the search for a new city manager and is inviting residents to take part in a meet and greet at city hall.

The public meet and greet will take place on Thursday, April 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and give residents a chance to meet the final candidates for the city manager position.

“We are excited to welcome our three City Manager finalists to City Hall on Thursday evening and are inviting residents to stop by or tune in so that they can meet them,” said DeSoto Mayor Rachel L. Proctor.

Residents will be able to meet the three candidates face to face as well as view the main proceedings on the city’s website and Facebook page.

The city also has its own app on Roku, a popular streaming platform that allows people who wish to view the proceedings from the comfort of their homes to do so.

Citizens who are unable to attend the meet and greet in person but still have questions will be able to submit questions in advance by clicking on a special link.

DeSoto City Manager Candidates:

Majed Al-Ghafry — An Executive Engineer and educator with 35 years of government and private sector experience. He is presently the Assistant City Manager and Chief Economic Development Officer for the City of Dallas. He previously served as Assistant City Manager of the City of El Cajon, California, and the Director of Public Works for San Antonio, Texas. Al-Ghafry is a Credentialed City Manager and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas, Denton, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston.

Cheryl Harrison-Lee – Lee is the CEO of Harrison-Lee Development Consulting Company and has served for 39 years in public administration, including serving as a municipal administrator in Florida and Kansas. She also serves as the Chief Technical Advisor for the City of Kansas City, Missouri Central City Economic Development Sales Tax District. Harrison-Lee holds a graduate degree from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of South Carolina. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, and the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Program. Finally, Harrison-Lee is a Credentialed Manager through the International City Management Association (ICMA) and a Certified Planner through the American Planning Association (APA). 

Joseph L. Lessard — Lessard served in the public sector as City Manager of Ashland, Oregon, Assistant City Manager for Austin, Texas, and Assistant to the City Manager of Dallas, Texas. He also served in the private sector in executive positions in land development and multi-family financial oversight and provided consultant services in intergovernmental relations, economic development, and project management. Lessard holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs with a public finance concentration. He also holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in business administration and political science from Washington State University. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, Congress for the New Urbanism and the International City/County Management Association.

“The person that we select as City Manager will lead DeSoto for several years and guide projects and policies that will shape our city and impact residents for decades to come, so my Ci

The DeSoto Independent School District will be hosting an Educator Job Fair to provide an opportunity for prospective educators to explore career opportunities within the district.

The event takes place on Saturday, May 4, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the DeSoto ISD Belt Line Conference Center.

The event aims to recruit certified and experienced educators for various teaching positions for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year.

“In DeSoto ISD, we pride ourselves in immersing students in the Triple-A Experience – academics, athletics, and the arts,” said DeSoto ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Usamah Rodgers.

The job fair will be held at the DeSoto ISD Belt Line Conference Center, located behind the district’s administration building at 200 East Belt Line Road in DeSoto.

The district is actively seeking educators for a range of teaching positions, including EC-6 Teachers, Special Education instructors, as well as Secondary Math, Science, and English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) teachers.

In addition to hiring certified teaching professionals, DeSoto ISD will also consider candidates for teacher-in-residence and teacher intern positions.

“Teachers in Residence are individuals who are currently working to obtain their teaching credentials through an alternative certification program,” said DeSoto ISD Recruitment and Retention Coordinator Dr. Elexia Robinson-White.

“They would be considered ‘hired’ under the ‘Teacher in Residence’ designation.” 

The starting salary for teachers within DeSoto ISD is $58,500, with additional stipend opportunities available for certain bilingual, special education, and tutoring roles.

The district is also offering competitive compensation packages, including opportunities for financial incentives such as the Teacher Incentive Allotment and stipends.

“We understand the unforgettable impact excellent educators have on students and are looking for passionate professionals ready to roll up their sleeves and make a difference for our scholars,” said Rogers.

Educators interested in the job fair can register at Jotform.com.

For more information about available job positions, visit the DeSoto ISD website.

The post DeSoto ISD to Host Educator Job Fair appeared first on The DeSoto Tribune.