{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://saaacam.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/nk3610xj6x/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Melvin Echard Interview"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/571/original/full-color_2x.png?1735841768","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Publisher"]},"value":{"en":["The African American Network TV (TAAN TV)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003ePrincipal of Roosevelt High School Melvin Echard discusses his personal life and reflects on his path to becoming a school principal. He considers how he uses his position to support and encourage students while reflecting on what he hopes his legacy in public education could be. \u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eAll materials are for noncommercial educational or research uses only. Please contact SAAACAM for any questions regarding usage rights.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["created"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Interview"]}},{"label":{"en":["Format"]},"value":{"en":["MP4"]}},{"label":{"en":["Keyword"]},"value":{"en":["Education, Roosevelt High School, Northeast Independent School District, NEISD, Principal, School Administration, 300 Voices in 300 Days"]}},{"label":{"en":["Subject"]},"value":{"en":["Public Education (topical term)","School Administration (topical term)","Principal (topical term)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English (primary)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Access Ss"]},"value":{"en":["access_public"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003ePrincipal of Roosevelt High School Melvin Echard discusses his personal life and reflects on his path to becoming a school principal. 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We're celebrating San Antonio's Tricentennial: 300 Voices in 300 Days. I have the pleasure of interviewing today Mr. Melvin Echard, who is going to share his story, his life and his contributions to this great city. So with that being said, how are you doing today?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  0:20  \r\nOh, it’s a great day. Actually, today's my birthday, and I'm glad you had me out to visit.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  0:24  \r\nOh my gosh. Well, happy birthday to you. \r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  0:26\r\nThank you. Thank you.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  0:27\r\nYes. Thank you for joining us on your birthday. Hopefully you have some big plans today?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  0:33  \r\nWell, they're big plans. We have a game tonight. We need to beat Churchill High School. So that will cap my day quite nice.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  0:41  \r\nOkay, we'll be cheering you on, then, later on. So tell me, where were you born?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  0:46  \r\nI was born in Neubrücke, Germany to- my father was Army, and so I was born overseas in Europe.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  0:53  \r\nOkay, so military brat. \r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  0:55\r\nYes ma’am.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  0:55\r\nYou’ve moved all over. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  0:57  \r\nYeah, I had a chance to move over, but at seven that's what brought us to San Antonio. My dad's last duty assignment was actually at Fort Sam Houston. So he was a medic there. And so, we retired in San Antonio. So that's home for me.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  1:09  \r\nOkay. And so tell me, what do you do currently?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  1:13  \r\nWell, currently I'm an administrator- the principal at Roosevelt High School in Northeast Independent School District.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  1:19  \r\nOkay, so some of your students may get to watch this interview. So you watch what you say, then. [laughs]\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  1:23\r\nI’ll be careful.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  1:25\r\nYes, yes. How do you like that job?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  1:27  \r\nOh, I love it. You know, it's down the street from where I grew up in the Glen. And so it's part of home. My dad's name was actually Roosevelt as well, so there's a lot of irony in the job. And so, little known fact, but Theodore Roosevelt's birthday was yesterday, mine’s today, school is fifty-one years old today and I'm fifty one. So I kind of feel a calling associated with my current assignment.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  1:52  \r\nAbsolutely. Absolutely. So tell me so you grew up here and you have- your family is here? You're married with children, or–?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  2:01  \r\nAbsolutely, I consider this home. Again, my father was prior service, but he did retire here. And so from seven until adult, you know, this has been home for me. And then, of course, I went into the service. But ultimately, this is my choice to raise a family and have a life. Now my kids are grown, twenty-eight and thirty-two, so a lot of time has passed, a lot of great memories here in San Antonio.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  2:28  \r\nWell, I'm sure you're like dad to so many with being the principal there at Roosevelt. I'm sure you’re a mentor, teacher, everything else to all of those students. So you work now, currently as a principal, but you also served as former principal at other schools, or–?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  2:46  \r\nAbsolutely, I was the principal in Judson ISD at Metzger Middle School and also the deputy principal at Judson High School. So, great to be able to go back home and serve, but, you know, right now my heart’s with Roosevelt High School.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  2:59  \r\nAbsolutely. Tell me, now what are some organizations that you're a part of here in this city?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  3:04  \r\nWell, I- Region 20. They have a TASSP, or Texas Association of Secondary Principals, which I was the principal of the year, this previous year. And I'm a member of Community Bible Church and very proud to fellowship over there. So those are the big organizations that I'm a part of.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  3:25  \r\nYes. And I'm sure you stay really busy. Anytime you work with the high school you have, like you said, the game tonight, you have all kinds of activities going on. And just probably never a dull moment.\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  3:37  \r\nNo. Actually, yesterday I just stood in the parking lot and took a picture of the school, and it was about six o'clock, and it was just amazing at that snapshot how busy a high school campus is. So with a concert going on, sub-varsity game, and then today have a lot more activities. So it's 24/7 at the high school. So that's the context of dealing with approximately 3,000 students.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  4:01  \r\n3,000 students. Wow. Yeah, Roosevelt always has been a really big school here, and everybody knows about Roosevelt here in this city. \r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  4:09\r\nRough- Rough Riders.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  4:10\r\nYes, the Rough Riders. Yes. So tell me, what contributions have you made to the city?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  4:18  \r\nWell, most of it, I would say, is as an educator, and I hope for the larger part is undefined, because I'm always trying to build a legacy and be a positive role model to anyone around me. Our goal at Roosevelt and everywhere I work is to bring on the best talent that has the highest impact on those that we serve. So I'm hoping that most of what- my contributions are undefined and will unroll themselves and serve me well in retirement.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  4:45  \r\nYes, and you've made so many contributions yourself and you've been such an influence, I'm sure, to so many. Who's been most influential in your life?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  4:55  \r\nThat's a great question. Politically correct, I start with my wife ‘cause I was married at 18.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  5:00\r\nThat’s right.\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  5:01\r\nAnd I've been married all these years. She's behind the scenes here, so I need to add that part. And of course, my kids minister to me. It’s kind of ironic when your kids get to a certain age–and again, my son's twenty-eight, my daughter's thirty-two–but they hold me accountable for a lot of things that I shared with them coming up. So my immediate family is certainly the most influential to me. And then, of course, at work, I don't want to miss anybody, so I better stop there.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  5:29  \r\nYes, yes. And, you know, you said something. I have two grown children, myself–twenty-two and twenty-eight–and they do speak to me and share things with me. And I'm thinking, well, that's what I said to you many years ago. So you know that, what you're teaching them, they're actually holding that in and they're using it later in life. And it's kind of funny how the tables turn, but it's nice. It's nice to hear that, I'm sure.\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  5:55  \r\nWell it’s funny. My daughter even sent me a picture of a lion because she saw me that way, but my exercise of workouts don't fit that descriptor. So she's trying to challenge me that way.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  6:06  \r\n[Laughs] Yes, of course. Now, tell me, what are you most known for in this city? You've been here for a long time, and I'm sure you've done a lot of things. What would you say when someone hears your name, Melvin Echard? What are you most known for?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  6:22  \r\nIn truth- I think about that all the time. And in truth, the feedback I get is associated with my Master’s status or my job as principal at Roosevelt High School. People that know me well just call me Melvin. And so I'd like to think there's no singular answer, but kind of a dichotomous situation, but most associated with my work in public education. When you go to any store and shop, you go to a fast food restaurant, not even fast food, but you're- you tend to run in [to] somebody that you've impacted. And so I would have to say, my job as principal.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  6:58  \r\nWonderful. And thank you again, for that. What an awesome impact you're having. What do you most like about the city of San Antonio? There's so much going on, lots of tourists here, you know, come to our great city. What do you most like about San Antonio?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  7:16  \r\nI think its diversity. I believe that we're one of the most diverse cities in America, in truth. And so I think we also share that well, and some of the things we see on the national media, I don't see it to that degree here. I think we've made a lot of strides, and even this event, we’re leading up to three- you know, 300 years in San Antonio is pretty remarkable. And the fact that you're doing this interview has shown a lot to me, and kinda makes me- validates what I'm trying to say.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  7:52  \r\nYes. And Mr. Eckhart, I know you've done a lot of awesome things and you've had a lot of successes in your life. What would you say has been most challenging for you over your lifetime?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  8:08  \r\nI would say it's probably a series of accepting the next calling. I think it's very easy to be complacent. I think that's my default position, but I tend to be called to some things that are a little bit higher. And to be able to accept that, thrive in it, have faith that I will be successful, and know that it's much bigger than me; though that cycle has a constant reminder of my place and it's not for me, but the contributions that I can make when given a platform.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  8:40  \r\nMhm. That's good. And this is a little bit off-script, but I have- I have to ask this. I'm just curious. I'm doing my own exploration on all of this. We have a lot of challenges going on with our young people in this country, and I have right here in front of me a principal. You work with these young people each and every day. And if they are watching this interview, if they have an opportunity to watch, what would you say to them to encourage them to be successful in their lives?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  9:10  \r\nI think the biggest thing is to really explore your passion and what it is that you want to do and guard against people who see you in maybe a stereotypical fashion. We often talk about the kid that walks in that’s 6’4”, 6’5”–and especially of color–sometimes we want to take them down to the football coach. Sometimes we want to take them over to the wrestling or track coach, but I think sometimes we have to find out what they do instead of how we see them. And I think everybody has that talent inside that’s bubbling, and I think we have to explore that. I hope we have enough opportunities for kids to see they could serve for their country in our JROTC program, they can create a robot in our Engineering and Technologies Academy, they can design things in our DATA program. And so when we look at the vast array of things and opportunities that we have for kids, I hope they explore that as opposed to falling into a default position that someone else sees them performing at. And that's a lot of words, but at the heart of it, know yourself and just pursue your passion.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  10:24  \r\nThat's very, very good. And I hope that students- and not even high school students, but just our young men and young women, you know, struggling in life to find their own way–we are dealing with our millennials here, and so they think very differently than we do. And, you know, it takes just, sometimes, the right words, the right type of encouragement, right role models and mentors to get them on the path where they need to go, where they feel supported.\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  10:53  \r\nWell, and absolutely, because I can say all that, but without mentorship, without a diverse staff that sees that in people and- and cultivates that in them, then we're just talking. We have to be about service. So I believe the- the yoke has to be shared with a lot of people who believe in our kids. And hopefully we attract and maintain those- those adults that have a common vision that I have.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  11:20  \r\nYes. Now, about your school, do you have a mentorship program in place there? Are there organizations that work with students through your school, or–?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  11:30  \r\nWell, great question. At our school, every teacher knows what we consider the 2.5. And- and what that means for a Roosevelt teacher is, in your classroom, there's two to three students, in your classroom that will come to you, they will select you, they'll ask you questions that aren't in the curriculum, they'll ask you about your por- personal life. We ask that you accept that calling and go to that kid’s game. Spend a little extra time in tutoring, call home, make those positive impacts, and accept that. We do have outsour– programs. Rackspace is a good partner. They- they do mentor some of our kids. But with almost 3,000, every kid has to be touched and we can't miss one. And so our teachers in every classroom have that kid in their class reaching out to them, I just asked that they accept their call. So at Roosevelt, if someone wanna say, “Who's in your 2.5?,” they would be able to tell you. And that's how we base on the least of these, how well we treat them, will shape our culture as a campus. And so, that's kind of our mentoring program. We can't wait for others to come in and do it. In addition, we hire Roosevelt graduates to come back to our school. My last two assistant principals are Roosevelt graduates. It’s so important for our kids to see that. My last art teacher, my head soccer coach– and I don't want to make it all about me, but I think if you're not deliberate in students that graduate from Roosevelt, they've gone off and been successful, now it's time to come back. And so we're gonna go to the next level and have people that will replace me that I feel confident, when I hand the baton, that we go to the next level.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  13:15  \r\nThat's awesome. That is awesome to hear. And it does take a community in raising our students. I feel like, at one point, we kind of got away from that a little bit, and hopefully, we're turning the tables and getting back on track with that. And so lastly, I'd like to know, why do you think it's important as an African American to share your own story?\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  13:39  \r\nWell, I think most people have to have a basis in which to compare themselves, to see that things are achievable. And it’s so easy to see someone that looks like you, comes from a similar background to you, to take away any excuse that suggests that you can't be successful. So when I'm talking to the football team, I usually find a way to let them know I grew up down the street and I was successful. And I want them to know that they can be successful.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  14:08  \r\nWonderful. And I'm sure they can relate to that when you engage on that level.\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  14:13  \r\nI hope so you know, there's always a few just ready for me to go.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  14:16  \r\n[laughs] Self-disclosure, that always works. Sir, thank you so much for joining us today, sharing your life and your story and all of the contributions that you've made. And I know some students at some point are going to be watching–\r\n\r\n\r\nMelvin Echard  14:30\r\nI hope so.\r\n\r\n\r\nSaundra Nichols  14:30\r\n–and they'll hear that, and I hope that they are inspired by what Mr. Echard has just said. Again, this is Saundra Nichols on TAAN TV and we're celebrating San Antonio's Tricentennial: 300 Voices in 300 Days.\r\n\r\n\r\nTranscribed by https://otter.ai","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://saaacam.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2808/collection_resources/127840/file/239699#t=0.0,888.064"}]}]}]}