Meet Robert Selders, Jr.
Robert Selders, Jr., was born in Tacoma, Washington, and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, but also moved around quite a bit with stops in California, Texas, and Tennessee.
Parents Dr. Robert & Dee Selders, Sr., an Air Force and Vietnam War veteran, taught Robert and his siblings Sonja and Dr. Michael Selders the value of an exceptional education and being flexible. Repeated relocations to various military bases around the country taught them that strong relationships are invaluable, diversity enriches life, there’s no substitute for hard work and discipline, there’s no job that is beneath you, and ALL history matters.
Robert was one of four valedictorians from Washington Marion Magnet High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He earned a full football scholarship to Southern University in Baton Rouge and majored in Electrical Engineering. His football career was cut short due to ACL injuries to both knees in subsequent seasons. Determined to continue as a college athlete, he walked on the baseball team and earned a full baseball scholarship to finish his college education. Robert also earned a General Motors Scholarship and became an intern at Delco Electronics in the summer from sophomore to senior year. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and went to work for Delco Electronics in Kokomo, Indiana.
Later, Robert attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a Delco Electronics Scholar, graduating with a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, while he continued employment with Delco Electronics. He relocated to Rowlett, Texas, in 1999 to work for Lucent Technologies in Mesquite, Texas.
him to start 3Q Fitness CrossFit Garland
While working as a full time electrical design engineer, Robert felt strongly it was God's purpose and calling which led him to leave his engineering career to pursue his passion -- full force -- for helping others improve their quality of life and achieve their health, fitness, and sports performance goals.
Valuing high quality education in all pursuits, Robert completed a Master of Exercise Science Degree (emphasis in Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention) from California University of Pennsylvania, and became a Performance Enhancement Specialist with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He also completed a host of certifications and courses to hone his craft and become a recognized expert in the fitness and sports performance enhancement industry.
Until March 2009, Robert worked as a very successful electrical design engineer, his chosen profession. His passion and calling to help others led him to start 3Q Fitness CrossFit Garland, a health and fitness facility located in historic downtown Garland, serving the tri-cities of Garland, Rowlett, and Sachse for nearly 13 years.
In 2009, Robert became a member and parent co-chair of Garland ISD’s Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC). In 2012, he completed Leadership Garland, Class 31 (the Best class For Real) as an entrepreneur and business owner to learn more about the governance infrastructure as well as leadership growth opportunities in Garland. It was during Leadership Garland’s Education Day, the work he was involved in on SHAC, and inspiration he received during a conversation with his high school English teacher (Mrs. Jacquelyn Stevens) that helped him decide to run for the Board of Trustees. He campaigned and was elected to the board in 2015; he ran unopposed for re-election to the Board of Trustees in 2018.
Since becoming a Trustee, Robert has become a Center for Reform of School Systems Fellow, done strategic work in the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE), become one of the state’s Master Trustees through the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Leadership Program, attended numerous local, regional, and national conferences on Governance and Student Advocacy, and is currently the Treasurer of the North Texas Area Association of School Boards (NTAASB).
As a testament of Robert’s commitment to board service and awareness of our nation's current climate, he enrolled in a Texas A&M-Commerce graduate school course called Social Justice through Education Policy in order to engage with the Texas legislative process as it happens, analyze some of the most significant challenges and policy solutions for achieving excellent and equitable public schools for all students, and better understand the formal and informal processes and systems that influence education policy making in Texas.
During Robert’s tenure on the board ...
Garland ISD has substantially completed its 2014 Bond Program which saw the completion of the state-of-the-art Gilbreath-Reed Career and Technical Center and the Natatorium, and a host of infrastructure projects to improve GISD campuses and facilities. He’s adopted programs to increase early literacy/writing, to support post-secondary readiness with College For All, and to successfully transform struggling campuses via the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) initiative. He has also been a champion of adopting equity policies to remove barriers for all students, in addition to other efforts that increase community and student voices on initiatives that matter to and are most important to their success.
Robert and the Garland ISD Board of Trustees, in partnership with the GISD community, dedicated leaders, administrators, educators, personnel, and families, have earned the Texas Education Agency (TEA) B-rated district, with an "A-rating" on the district’s radar very soon.
Robert is the proud husband of Keila Selders and father of Myah who is a 2019 Garland High School graduate and sophomore Computer Science major at Clemson University, Nina, a sophomore at Garland High School and Ava, an 8th grader at Austin Academy. He and his family are members of Christ Unveiled Church in Garland, TX.
He is a strong advocate for children and community and upon
re-election, Robert Selders will continue his pursuit of excellence, drawing on his board experience, Local, regional, and state relationships, and personal passion for the benefit of ALL Garland ISD students.
Garland ISD is quickly becoming known in the North Texas region, the state, and nation as a model school district...and there's so much more to come. Your support of Robert Selders Jr. for Garland ISD Board of Trustees - Place 6 signifies a commitment to an exceptional education for every student that Garland ISD serves.
View Robert Selders on the Garland ISD Board of Trustees Website
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