<div style=”width: 480px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; font-size: small;”><img src=”/cms/lib/TX01918331/Centricity/Domain/4/news-feb17-bhmoratory.jpg” alt=”Oratory contest winners, from left, are Giovanni Brothers, Lance Williams and Rodney Watson Jr.” /><br /> Oratory contest winners, from left, are Giovanni Brothers, Lance Williams and Rodney Watson Jr.</div>
<p>HOUSTON – Feb. 1, 2017 – Spring ISD elementary schools began celebrating Black History Month a day early – Jan. 31 – with an oratory contest for fourth- and fifth-grade students held at McNabb Elementary School.</p>
<p>“Black History Month is an opportunity for our campuses to recognize cultural diversity and the important role that civic leadership plays in our country. We chose to use an oratory contest to not only focus our students on those important topics but to also develop their writing and speaking skills,” said Dr. Jennifer Warford, elementary social studies director.</p>
<p>Finalists from 14 campuses each presented a three-to-five-minute speech on the topic of “Barack Obama – Our First African-American President.” Six students advanced to the final round, which was broadcast by the district on Facebook Live.</p>
<p>The winners are: First Place – Lance Williams, Winship Elementary School; Second Place – Giovanni Brothers, McNabb Elementary School; and Third Place – Rodney Watson Jr., Beneke Elementary School.</p>
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