Record details
-
-
I graduated from Mineola High School in 2001 and even though some classmates were anxious to go far away from home, the small classes, close proximity, and affordability of TJC were the perfect fit for me.
At the time, I didn’t realize just how much positive growth TJC’s nurturing climate would provide me at that pivotal point in my life. As a student, I had the opportunity to develop relationships with faculty members that I still hold dear to this day. Dr. Jeffrey Owens ignited a passion for history that I continue to carry.
I remember vividly the fateful morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 when Dr. Owens came into our class and gave us the news that “a small plane was believed to have crashed into the World Trade Center.” What later unfolded as the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil would reshape the course of our nation’s history forever.
I also remember the lighter side of forming special relationships with my TJC professors. They never seemed aloof or too busy with research to be interested in and accessible to students.
My mentor and friend, Mr. Frank Rucker, was my economics professor. Also from Mineola, Frank may have felt it important to teach me a lesson in personal finance. One morning he quizzed me about the bottled water I always brought to his lectures. He asked me how much a bottle of water costs and calculated that I was spending a lot of money unnecessarily. He said he brought a cup from home that he reused every day at the water fountain. It had literally saved him hundreds of dollars over the years.
For the first time in my life, I had finally met someone as financially conservative as my own dad. Lesson noted! In the spring of 2003, I transferred to Texas A&M University from which I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science in 2005.
In my senior year at A&M I realized that teaching, mentoring, and coaching young people was my calling. After graduation, I returned home to begin my teaching and coaching career. This included stops at Quitman, Winona, and Alba-Golden ISDs.
In December of 2010 I earned my Master of Educational Leadership Degree from the University of Texas at Tyler and served as an Assistant High School Principal, Elementary Principal, and High School Principal in the districts of Grand Saline, Alba-Golden, and Quitman. Along the way, I completed my Superintendent Certification Program at the University of Texas and in March of 2016 was named Superintendent of Winona Independent School District.
I am constantly amazed at the journey on which life takes us. I am thankful and blessed that my journey circled back to Tyler Junior College. Two months ago, I returned to the campus of TJC to join Dr. Metke and fellow superintendents to sign a historic partnership called the TJC-Promise Scholarship. This partnership will allow young men and women from our school district the opportunity to earn a scholarship to TJC if they meet the basic requirements for attendance, discipline, academic performance, and community service that are set for them during high school.
This partnership has the potential to change students’ lives forever! The future benefit to our community will be immeasurable. Over the years at TJC, one thing remains the same – TJC is committed to making a difference in the lives of students. I am personally thankful for the difference TJC has made in my life, and I am more excited than ever about the vision we are working together to achieve. It will promote student success across East Texas and change our world for good!
- Biography
- Cody Mize, Superintendent of Winona Independent School District, is working to create a college-bound culture throughout the district so every student can enjoy the opportunities that education opened for him and his family. As a student/athlete in Mineola, Cody served as the Area VI FFA President where he served over 6,000 active members in East Texas. As a stand- out pitcher and first baseman, he played a part in leading the Mineola baseball team to 3 straight district championships in 1999, 2000, and 2001. As a classroom teacher he was honored by the Wood County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as History Teacher of the Year. Cody was selected by his peers as the District 18-AA Baseball Coach of the Year in 2011 as he led the Alba-Golden Panthers baseball team to their first playoff appearance in 27 years. Today, Cody also serves as Pastor of Cartwright Baptist Church in Wood County and is a co-owner of Quitman Oil and Tire Center, located in Quitman, Texas. Cody is married to Mandy Mize, a 5th grade mathematics teacher at Grand Saline ISD. They have two sons, Rylan and Rhett.
