The life and career of\u00a0Mr. George E. Moore\u00a0reflect an enduring devotion to others, first to his students, then to his community, and now to his fellow retired educators. His path affirms his conviction that teaching is both a calling and a lifelong commitment, and the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) is honored to share his inspiring journey with other members.<\/p>\n
Raised in a farming family in Marshall, Texas, Mr. Moore learned early the values of hard work and perseverance, principles that would carry him through a remarkable career in education. Over the years, he served as a biology teacher, Assistant Principal at Westlawn Elementary, and Principal at 15th Street Elementary, Pine Street Middle School, and Texas Middle School. His leadership later extended to the district level as Assistant Superintendent for Campus Operations and Assistant Superintendent for Alternative Education in Texarkana ISD.<\/p>\n
In recognition of his significant impact on students, teachers, and the broader community, Mr. Moore was inducted into the Texarkana ISD Hall of Fame in 2020. His professional accolades are extensive, including honors such as the\u00a0Wilbur Award for Outstanding Work in Education (1994),\u00a0ATPE Award for Outstanding Leadership (1998),\u00a0TASSP Texas Principal of the Year (2005), and finalist for the\u00a0NASSP National Middle School Principal of the Year (2006). Beyond education, his civic service has been recognized by organizations including the\u00a0NAACP,\u00a0City of Texarkana, and\u00a0Texas A&M University\u2013Texarkana.<\/p>\n
Answering the Call to Advocacy <\/strong><\/p>\n When reflecting on how his experiences in education and the challenges he faced along the way influenced his dedication to TRTA, Mr. Moore admits his introduction to TRTA was unexpected. \u201cI wish I could say my teaching career naturally led me to TRTA,\u201d he reveals. \u201cBut the truth is, I didn\u2019t even know the local chapter existed until my wife, Carolyn, joined.\u201d<\/p>\n Carolyn quickly became active in the Texarkana-Bowie County Retired Teachers Association, eventually serving as president. When she needed a second vice president, she turned to her husband. \u201cI told her, \u2018Don\u2019t look at me; I already have too much on my plate,\u2019\u201d he jokes. \u201cBut after a little arm-twisting, I found myself elected\u2014unopposed, of course!\u201d<\/p>\n What began as a small role grew into a passionate commitment to advocacy. After attending meetings and hearing TRTA Executive Director Tim Lee speak, he realized the profound need for legislative action on behalf of retired educators. \u201cLearning that so many retired teachers live on less than $20,000 a year\u2014and are denied Social Security benefits due to WEP\u2014was eye-opening,\u201d he says. \u201cA legislative trip to Austin made it clear: this is about standing up for those who spent their lives shaping minds and now need a voice.\u201d<\/p>\n Today, Mr. Moore serves as Chairman of the Children\u2019s Book Committee for the local chapter, continues to secure community sponsorships for TRTA initiatives, and was recently appointed to the\u00a0TRTA State Legislative Committee.<\/p>\n Lessons for a New Generation<\/strong><\/p>\n Reflecting on his career, he shares timeless wisdom for both new and retired educators. \u201cTo new teachers, I always said, every student you teach has a story. Show them you care. Students never forget what you do\u00a0to<\/em>\u00a0them or what you do\u00a0for<\/em>\u00a0them,\u201d he emphasizes.<\/p>\n He encouraged his faculty to be present, kind, and real. \u201cTeaching is both a science and an art,\u201d he says. \u201cI can teach you the science, but not the art. The art is about fairness, kindness, and a smile that tells a student you notice their effort. Students don\u2019t care how smart you are\u2014they care that you care.\u201d<\/p>\n And to those entering retirement, his advice is just as powerful: \u201cDon\u2019t retire to do nothing. Use your experience and wisdom to mentor young teachers, recruit students into education, volunteer, and enjoy life\u2014preferably with a lunch that wasn\u2019t prepared in the school cafeteria.\u201d<\/p>\n A Retirement Redefined<\/strong><\/p>\n When asked how retirement is treating him, Mr. Moore shares, \u201cI didn\u2019t retire\u2014I simply redirected my focus.\u201d<\/p>\n His community involvement since retirement reflects the same dedication that defined his career in education. A\u00a0former member of the Texarkana Crime Stoppers Board, he continues to play an active role in local initiatives, including the\u00a0Project 2026 Committee, which helped pass a\u00a0$180 million bond for Texarkana ISD\u2014an effort he supported by producing a radio advertisement promoting the bond election.<\/p>\n Mr. Moore currently serves his\u00a0seventh year on the Texarkana College Board of Trustees\u00a0and continues to mentor students through the college\u2019s\u00a0A.C.T.I.V.A.T.E. Program (Achieving Completion Through Innovation, Vision, and Team Engagement), which supports first-generation and economically disadvantaged students.<\/p>\n A\u00a0proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., he also mentors young men through the fraternity\u2019s\u00a0Guide Right Program. In addition, he is\u00a0co-authoring a book,\u00a0And Still We Rise,\u00a0which documents the history of ten Black elementary schools in Marshall, Texas, that fed into H.B. Pemberton High School.<\/p>\n Mr. Moore is frequently invited to share his experiences and insights as a\u00a0guest speaker\u00a0at community and educational events, including\u00a0PREMIER High School\u2019s graduation,\u00a0Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church\u2019s graduation, and\u00a0Canaan Baptist Church\u2019s 150th Anniversary celebration\u00a0in Marshall, Texas.<\/p>\n Finding Peace and Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n Away from the boardroom and community events, Mr. Moore finds peace at his 17-acre farm in Marshall. \u201cOur cabin sits by a two-and-a-half-acre pond. I love riding my Kubota tractor, taking the side-by-side for a spin, fishing, and spending time with our miniature donkey, Mini,\u201d he shares.<\/p>\n Still, his greatest joy comes from family. \u201cThe most meaningful part of my life is spending time with my wife, Carolyn, and our son, Chad. Their presence makes every day richer. Whether we\u2019re working, playing, or simply enjoying the quiet, those moments are what I treasure most.\u201d<\/p>\n A Legacy That Inspires<\/strong><\/p>\n Through every chapter of his journey, from classroom to community, from teacher to advocate, Mr. Moore embodies the heart of what it means to be an educator. His story reminds us all that the work of teaching doesn\u2019t end at retirement; it simply takes on new forms of service, leadership, and love for others.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you dedicate your life to education,\u201d he says, \u201cyou never stop teaching\u2014you just change the classroom.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The life and career of\u00a0Mr. George E. Moore\u00a0reflect an enduring devotion to others, first to his students, then to his community, and now to his fellow retired educators. His path affirms his conviction that teaching is both a calling and a lifelong commitment, and the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) is honored to share his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":72359,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[637],"tags":[638],"class_list":["post-72358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-story"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n