FWISD Opens the School Year with a Much-Needed Message of Hope.

There was a noticeably different energy inside Dickies Arena as Fort Worth ISD educators gathered Wednesday morning to kick off the 2026-27 school year.

After two opening convocations that many felt missed the mark, including last year’s cancellation, teachers, staff, and administrators arrived with cautious expectations.

Superintendent Dr. Peter B. Licata helped set a positive tone early, but it was Fort Worth ISD graduate and Oscar Dean Wyatt High School alumnus Colton Blake who delivered the moment many will remember.

Returning home as the keynote speaker, Blake took the stage with a message centered on being “Called. Crazy. Committed.”

His words struck a chord with educators preparing to begin a school year unlike any other as the district continues under the Texas Education Agency’s oversight.

One quote, displayed across the arena’s massive video board, drew an especially strong response: “We cannot prepare today’s children for tomorrow’s world using only yesterday’s methods.”

Later, Blake offered another reminder that resonated deeply throughout the arena: “Being called doesn’t require pretending everything is okay.”

For many educators facing uncertainty, those words acknowledged the challenges without ignoring them. Throughout Blake’s address, applause, cheers, and standing ovations echoed through Dickies Arena.

Following the event, social media lit up with praise, with many expressing that Blake was the best part of convocation and that it was a win for FWISD to have Colton Blake keynote the convocation.

In particular, a 40-year veteran educator expressed, “I’m a 40-year veteran teacher, and your words inspired me to keep going today and not throw in the towel because of the state takeover.”

Another educator wrote, “Thank you for helping us all start off our year on such a positive note.”

As thousands of educators prepare to welcome students back into classrooms next week, Wednesday’s convocation offered something many said they needed most: encouragement, perspective, and a renewed sense of purpose.

We wish all the administrators, educators, staff, parents, and students a successful 2026-2027 school year!