Wichita Falls superintendent shares his road to college with students
Education becomes a lifeline as communities show up, invest in kids, and prove that disciplined effort, caring adults, and clear commitments can turn even the hardest beginnings into powerful future.
Jack Browne, Wichita Falls Times Record News
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Life is hard. And when life is hard, education becomes more than a pathway. It becomes a lifeline.
UNESCO puts it plainly: education equips people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate fully in society and make informed choices about their lives and communities.
That’s not theory. That’s reality. And I saw that reality up close on July 23rd at the graduation ceremony for 78 students in the newly renamed Dr. Blaine Purcell Road to College Summer Program.
MSU hosted the camp and the ceremony, giving students entering grades six through 12 a chance to experience a university environment. For six weeks, these middle and high school students tackled advanced math, strengthened their English skills, and practiced SAT content — not because someone told them they had to, but because they chose to invest in their future.
Their families invested too. Parents filled the Sikes Center with a potluck dinner, pride, and the kind of joy that comes from watching your child take a step you may never have had the chance to take yourself.
WFISD Superintendent Dr. Donnie Lee spoke at the ceremony, sharing his own winding Road to College — a story that reminds us how uneven the starting line can be. Born to a 16‑year‑old mother, he attended 11 schools, always the new kid. His mother married eight times. He spent two years homeless. He failed twice. Teachers mocked him. Most gave up on him.
But one adult didn’t.
At 17, his first stepfather reached out and asked him to spend the summer working with him. That simple invitation changed everything. In a home with three other kids his age, Donnie found structure, discipline, and someone willing to invest in him as a parent.
He stayed. He finished high school — “62nd in a class of 62,” he joked — because a math teacher, Mr. McCloskey, cared enough to ask why he wasn’t doing his homework, because a counselor, Mr. Moser, explained Free Application for Student Aid and scholarships, and because adults stepped in and showed him what was possible.
From there, Lee earned scholarships to junior college, then graduated from Stephen F. Austin University with a teaching degree. He noted that the 13 years it takes to earn a high school diploma is longer and harder than the years required for the degrees that follow.
And he’s right. The first mountain is often the steepest.
After sharing his story, Dr. Lee joined Gonzalo Robles, founder of Café con Leché, who developed and runs this summer camp, now in its 13th year. More than 300 WFISD students — fifth through twelfth grade — participate in the broader Road to College program during the school year.
They and their parents receive training and coaching in the discipline, focus, and practical steps needed to secure scholarships while preparing for college.
Not every student finishes the full program. But every student leaves with experiences, skills, and confidence that reshape their future.
This year, the program was renamed in honor of the late Purcell, a long‑time supporter whose contributions helped build the scholarship fund that continues to open doors for students who might otherwise see college as out of reach.
Education matters even more today as the world accelerates around us. Knowledge now doubles roughly every 12 hours.
We’re only a quarter of the way into this century of the information economy, and the pace isn’t slowing. Lifelong learning isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Preparing our children for the challenges ahead isn’t just a family responsibility. It’s a community responsibility. It’s a global responsibility. When we invest in their future, we invest in ours.
The winding path to your future may not be straight, smooth, or predictable. But with education — and with adults willing to show up — that path leads students somewhere worth going.
Whether you’re winning customers, donors, or community support, success compounds when communication is crisp and commitments are honored.
A dream is a powerful starting point, but dreams need nurturers — people who support, adapt, and evolve the idea as reality unfolds.
Most people aren’t asking for perfection. They’re asking for partnership. Give them that, and they’ll reach for the stars without fear of criticism, rebuke, or dismissal.
Jack Browne is a community activist and former technology executive who believes in the power of connection, service, and lifelong learning.
P.S. Stephen F. Austin University has two resonating memories for me.
First my grandfather was one of the first 24 professors at Stephen F. Austin University as it was formed. His mother born right before the Civil War called teachers and other able bodied men to service, never knew how to read or write. This inspired him to leverage his WW I military service benefits to become a teacher.
Between my junior and senior year of high school, I attended a summer six week session at Stephen F. Austin, taking pre-caculus and English. It was an awakening to the higher expectations of college classes as well as a muturing experience.