The honor recognizes school districts that have built a culture of character and leadership and model exceptional sportsmanship, integrity, and community involvement across athletics programs. The award is spearheaded by The Texas Way initiative, an intentional, year-long initiative launched in partnership by four major organizations, including the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA), Texas High School Athletic Directors Association (THSADA), and 2Words Character Development.
To qualify for the District of Distinction designation, Richardson ISD Athletics met a series of benchmarks, including character development, sportsmanship, and community service, among other criteria.
The Texas Way initiative emphasizes three core pillars that challenge student-athletes and fans to elevate their standards both in competition and in their daily lives:
- Respect for Others is a commitment to give respect to all participants (coaches, players, officials, and fans) because of who I am, not because of what they do.
- Control of Self is a commitment to give boundaries to our thoughts, words, and actions, and to control our anger in the face of competition and adversity.
- The Spirit of Competition is a commitment to give everything we have to be the absolute best we can be, and to put our team in the best position to win, but we will not sacrifice our integrity to do it.
“We are honored to be named a Texas Way District of Distinction,” says Lonnie Jordan, Richardson ISD Executive Director of Athletics. “This recognition is a testament to the commitment of our coaches, student-athletes, and community to compete with integrity and represent Richardson ISD with class. We are proud of the progress we’ve made and look forward to continuing to build a culture of outstanding sportsmanship and character in the year ahead”.
Student-athletes in Richardson ISD are taught far more than how to win at the game. Through our programs, we are building leaders and community members and cultivating well-rounded individuals who excel both in sports and in life, fostering a strong work ethic and a dedication to personal and academic success.
