Onward to New Horizons A COMPOSITION BY LIAM RAMSEY-WHITE

INSPIRED BY AND COMMISSIONED FOR: Greg Smith, Ph.D. Clear Creek ISD Superintendent of Schools 2008-2020

PERFORMED BY: Band High School Orchestra

CONDUCTOR: Dean Muths

DECEMBER 14, 2020 CCISD CHALLENGER COLUMBIA STADIUM Greg Smith, Ph.D. Clear Creek ISD Superintendent of Schools 2008-2020

Dr. Greg Smith often cites the “hopes, dreams, and aspirations” of his Although he rose to the highest post in a large, high-performing school students as the guiding inspiration for his decisions and devotion as a district—with responsibilities commensurate to the role—Smith lifelong educator. The Onward to New Horizons composition, and the remained laser-focused on the needs and education of the individual debut performance of this work for Smith by his students on December child. This commitment bore a belief that would perhaps define 14, 2020, embodies those hopes, dreams, and aspirations – and now, Smith’s career; the concept and application of personalized learning. they have their own melody. Though common pedagogy today, Smith gave life to the philosophy and charted the course for teachers and students to make the profound Smith’s body of work thus far can best be measured by thousands of shift. Through a clear vision and community-based strategic planning commencements of students whose education journeys he shepherded process, Smith folded the tenets of personalized learning into everyday during his 40-year career as a teacher, principal, and superintendent planning and processes that, in the end, would transform the classroom around the Greater and Galveston regions. and equip teachers to better teach—and reach—their students.

A lifelong learner, Smith’s education path led him to Oakland Smith applies the same emphasis on personalization throughout the University where he earned his Bachelor of Science, the University of Pre-K through 12 life cycle. His understanding that every student Houston-Clear Lake for a Master of Science, and his beloved carries with them different hopes, dreams, and aspirations is the A&M University where Smith earned his Doctoral degree. underlying motivation to provide a robust whole-child experience. Consequently, he believes passionately that Fine Arts are an essential Those who know him well can attest that awards and accolades are component of a well-rounded education, and the critical accelerant not what inspire Smith to reach for high achievement and to serve that ignite student purpose and potential. As retired CCISD Fine Arts his community. Nevertheless, several prestigious organizations have Director and Onward to New Horizons conductor, Dean Muths, shared recognized Smith throughout his career for the exceptional and with orchestra students during a rehearsal of Ramsey-White’s score, results-oriented leadership qualities that set him apart. From Texas “Dr. Smith has a way of letting every individual shine. There is room for Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards each of you to do just that in this piece.” to the Quasar Award, an elite honor presented by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, such distinctions serve as his community’s Smith’s many personal gifts take musical flight through this testimony of admiration and appreciation of one of the boldest and composition: his optimistic spirit, warm humor, and servant’s heart. most innovative leaders in the State. He generously lends these gifts and his time to several philanthropies including the Space Center Rotary Club and St. Mary Catholic Church, Smith’s natural acumen for leadership placed him at the helm of several with the clear goal of leaving the world a better place than he found education-focused organizations including President of the Texas it. In modeling this principle, Smith shined a light on the importance Association of School Administrators, Co-Chair of the Texas High of character education for the 21st-century child, and today, CCISD is Performance Schools Consortium, and Chairman of the Bay Area home to several National Schools of Character and students who work Houston Economic Partnership, to name a few. to learn about— and live out—these core values.

During his 13 years with the Clear Creek Independent School District, Those who have had the good fortune to work for and alongside him he led through legislative valleys and mountains and brought calm agree that Dr. Greg Smith, and the integrity by which he lives, evoke a to a community during both natural and manmade disasters that passionate loyalty—a common desire to make him proud and always threatened the safety of his students. In all instances, his signature focus on doing the right thing for children. ability to invite and unite diverse voices into difficult conversations consistently led to sound solutions and well-defined plans that reflected his community’s values.

With deep gratitude, his community, like Smith, continues Onward to New Horizons. CLEAR FALLS HIGH SCHOOL WIND AND PERCUSSION STUDENTS

Jorden Zepeda ...... Piccolo Julia Gomez ...... French Horn Sydney Ortega ...... Flute Eva Gomez ...... French Horn Sigourney Lee ...... Flute Karissa Herrscher ...... French Horn Paige Hessler ...... Clarinet Aidan McBurney ...... Trombone Victoria Lord ...... Clarinet Preston Clinton ...... Trombone Spencer Dwyer ...... Oboe Fabian Flores ...... Trombone Tarryn Goldner ...... Bassoon Eddie Turcotte ...... Tuba Alex Phan ...... Bassoon Ella Eger ...... Percussion Americo Zapata ...... Trumpet Jett Meyers ...... Percussion Tristen Fulcher ...... Trumpet Andrew Sukal ...... Percussion Arkady Marchenko ...... Trumpet

CLEAR LAKE HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA STUDENTS

Felicity Cabrera...... Violin Jonathan Huang...... Viola Olivia Dinardis...... Violin Atef Huda...... Viola Benjamin Hodson...... Violin Syed Hussain...... Viola Adit Majmundar...... Violin Mark Luo...... Viola Melody Molayem...... Violin Danny Pham...... Viola Alejandro Nazario- Rivera...... Violin Christian Han...... Cello Caroline Nguyen...... Violin David Kim...... Cello Ngoc-quynh (Quynh) Nguyen..... Violin Jerry Ming...... Cello Muriel Rancifer...... Violin Adrian Nguyen...... Cello Parsa Tari...... Violin Joy Wang...... Cello Megan Wang...... Violin Luke (Ainiu) Wang...... Cello Yan Ming Wong...... Violin Yan Zhe Wong...... Cello Celina Yang...... Violin Michael Yo...... Cello Kelly Yu...... Violin Dominic Antonelli...... Double Bass Joseph Zhang...... Violin Benjamin Golla...... Double Bass Sarah Chen...... Viola Aarthi Kukaruban...... Double Bass Purvi Hanagud...... Viola Simon Lamarche...... Double Bass Colin Roberts...... Double Bass

Special Thanks: Greg Goodman, Shara Appanaitis, Brian Buffaloe, Brian Moreno, and Kirk Swann CCISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2008 - 2020

Ken Baliker Dr. Laura DuPont Chris Reed Scott Bowen Ann Hammond Arturo Sanchez Jennifer Broddle Ralph Parr Dee Scott Jay Cunningham Charlie Pond Stuart Stromeyer Bob Davee Page Rander Paula Tomasi Michelle Davis Win Weber CLEAR CREEK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS

HIGH SCHOOLS

Clear Brook High School Clear Lake High School Clear Springs High School Clear Creek High School Clear Path Alternative Clear Falls High School Clear Horizons Early College High School

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

Bayside Intermediate Clear Lake Intermediate Space Center Intermediate Brookside Intermediate Creekside Intermediate Victory Lakes Intermediate Clear Creek Intermediate League City Intermediate Westbrook Intermediate Seabrook Intermediate

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Armand Bayou Elementary Art and Pat Goforth Elementary Ralph Parr Elementary Henry Bauerschlag Elementary P.H. Greene Elementary G.W. Robinson Elementary James F. Bay Elementary Walter Hall E-STEM Magnet Elementary James H. Ross Elementary Brookwood Elementary I.W. & Eleanor Hyde Elementary Lavace Stewart Elementary Florence Campbell Elementary C. D. Landolt Elementary John F. Ward Elementary Clear Lake City Elementary League City Elementary Arlyne & Alan Weber Elementary Falcon Pass Elementary Margaret S. McWhirter Elementary Wedgewood Elementary Lloyd R. Ferguson Elementary Sandra Mossman Elementary G.H. Whitcomb Elementary Darwin L. Gilmore Elementary North Pointe Elementary Ed White E-STEM Magnet Elementary