Irving ISD is proud to announce that it has been named a Texas Way District of Distinction by the University Interscholastic League (UIL) and the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association (THSADA). This distinction honors school districts that go above and beyond in modeling sportsmanship and community involvement across their athletic programs.
“I am so proud of the Irving ISD Athletic program for earning the prestigious Texas Way District of Distinction,” says Irving ISD Superintendent of Schools Magda A. Hernández. “This honor is a testament to the values we strive to instill in all Irving ISD students – character, honor, integrity and service. Our student-athletes, coaches and athletic leaders are showing that success is not only measured by wins and losses, but by the character we display on and off the field and the positive impact that we make in our community.”
The Texas Way Initiative is built on three pillars:
- Respect – because it’s who we are, and it’s not determined by what the opponent does.
- Control of Self – acknowledging that while we may not control every situation, we are in control of our responses.
- Spirit of Competition – which has nothing to do with the scoreboard and everything to do with displaying good sportsmanship under all circumstances.
“This is a tremendous honor for Irving ISD Athletics to be recognized as a District of Distinction. Our coaches, staff and student-athletes have worked extremely hard to embrace character training, and the impact has been clear as we have elevated the culture of sportsmanship across our programs,” says Mike Luttrell, Executive Director of Athletics for Irving ISD. “Our goal has always been to create a positive game-day experience for athletes, coaches and officials, while instilling values that extend well beyond the playing field. Good sportsmanship is not just about athletics – it’s about building character and life skills that our students will carry with them every day, long after their time in school sports.”
To earn the distinction, the department focused on sportsmanship and strengthening community relationships.
A key part of the district’s success was its commitment to community service. As part of this initiative, Irving ISD had 247 participants – including athletic directors, coaches and student athletes – volunteer at the Irving Marathon. They assisted with water stations and encouraged runners throughout the course.
The skills gained from this experience not only benefit student-athletes in competition, but also in academics and the game of life.
“Respecting others contributes to positive campus culture in the hallways and classrooms at school, and it strengthens the idea of getting along with others regardless of differences,” says Irving ISD Director of Athletics Natasha Stewart. “Our programs compete against one another on Tuesday and Friday nights all year, but for this initiative, we joined forces to come together as one team. For this reason, rather than being Cardinals Tigers and Vikings, we were the Irving ISD Athletics Department – which resulted in a big win: the District of Distinction honor.”
