Perry broke his commitment to students
My students deserve a standing ovation. District 10 City Councilman Clayton Perry does not.
Perry let my students down by his driving choices, and here’s why.
I founded the Johnson High School Parent Teacher Student Association Smart Driving Club more than 10 years ago. My daughter was a new driver, and I was concerned for her safety. Since then, students have worked on campus and in the community to remind drivers the importance of smart choices behind the wheel.
Through the years, we have held safe driving events on campus, and worked with numerous law enforcement agencies and safety groups to start a safe driving conversation and try to break the culture of distracted and impaired driving.
Students have worked with the North East Independent School District, local leaders and representatives at the state level. Students develop messaging, do peer-to-peer activities, work with elementary schools, and support the efforts of groups such as Texas Department of Transportation and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, all with the hope that friends, family and strangers would be encouraged to be safe, responsible drivers.
We rely on many members of the community to help us start and share safe driving conversations. We do not focus this message solely in the Johnson community. We reach far across the city to share our message and to engage as many drivers and passengers as possible.
Perry was given the task of role model as a leader in our community. We stood in front of Perry during City Council sessions. He pledged his support. He has been to the Johnson campus during safe driving events. Perry has applauded our advocacy efforts.
Now I have to explain to my club students why this local leader decided to make poor choices behind the wheel. Now I will have to explain to these young adults, who once were excited to occupy seats at City Hall and be honored for their tremendous efforts, that this elected adult chose himself over the safety of his community.
I tell my graduating seniors, you do not have the right to put yourself and others in harm’s way; you do not have the right to create the opportunity for another tragic story. Perry let my students down and disrespected the years of hard work we have put into our campus and community.
San Antonio is one of the five worst cities in the nation for drunken driving. Drunken drivers cause an average of 2,000 crashes per year in San Antonio. Those crashes kill 53 people a year on average.
Accidents will always be part of the human condition; car crashes are preventable.
We will never end the streak of crash fatalities in Texas if we do not all accept the responsibility of safe choices behind the wheel. That means every single time you get behind the wheel. And this means every single driver.
Melinda Cox created the Johnson HS PTSA Smart Driving Club in 2012. She has volunteered since then with students to help break the culture of distracted and impaired driving.