Trustee Zárate, ACCT Chair, Announces Action Agenda
At a press conference November 4, Alamo Colleges' Trustee and Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) chair Roberto Zárate announced his action agenda for improving student success at community colleges nationwide. He was joined by friend and supporter B.J. "Red" McCombs, Alamo Colleges' Chancellor Dr. Bruce Leslie and Trustee Gene Sprague.
Speaking at the event, Zarate stressed the crucial role community colleges play in improving the economic well being of students, their families and the larger community.
"Community colleges are the pathway to the middle class for the students they serve," he said. "I strongly believe that community colleges are critical to providing educational opportunities to underserved populations, not only in our area, but across the nation," he added. Zárate sees his term as ACCT chair as an opporunity to share the Alamo Colleges' successful strategies for increasing college completion with community colleges nationwide.
McCombs, who has known Zárate since he was the principal of Mary Hull Elementary School, praised Zárate for his leadership ability and his dedication to improving the lives of students during his 36-year career in education and his 12 years of service on the Alamo Colleges Board of Trustees. Leslie applauded McComb's comments, adding that Zárate's actions have always been true to his motto, "
puro corazón."
Zárate will serve a one-year term as ACCT chair.