720 East Park Boulevard Suite 202, Plano, Texas 75074, United States
It can be a struggle for commercial property owners to find dependable, high-quality commercial roofing contractors in Josephine, TX. Big cities like Dallas have plenty of commercial roofing options. Unfortunately, many "experts" are unreliable, undertrained, and unable to meet the strict demands that many business owners have.
At Atlas National Roofing, we understand how crucial it is to have a well-installed, functional roofing system for your property. Perhaps more importantly, our team has the knowledge and experience needed to produce at the highest level of business. We mix traditional Josephine, TX values, unmatched craftsmanship, and a passion for commercial roofing to give our customers the very best products available.
We serve a wide range of clients, including property managers, retailers, building operators, and industrial builders who need trustworthy commercial roofing techs to maintain, repair, and monitor their properties.
As your reliable contractor, our goal is to make your experience as simple and streamlined as possible, whether you're in need of commercial roof repairs, maintenance, renovations, or a full replacement. We're happy to work closely with owners and managers who must adhere to regulations and budgets.
We provide warrantable work, honest assessments, and a team of pros with each project we accept. And with real-time updates and easy-to-understand invoices, you're never left in the dark when Atlas National Roofing is on the job.
We specialize in many types of commercial roofing services:
At the end of the day, our goal is to provide the highest-quality commercial roofing solutions and superior service for every client - no questions asked. Here are just a few reasons why customers choose Atlas over the competition:
We're committed to delivering the highest quality roofing services and always respond quickly to your unique needs.
Our commercial roofing crews are true experts who have years of training and real-world roofing experience. We only recruit dedicated, conscientious team members at Atlas National Roofing.
Without the proper tools for the job, your project will be a disaster. That's why our contractors use up-to-date equipment, allowing them to work safely, efficiently, and up to the highest industry standards.
Some of our commercial roofing specialties include:
Let's be honest: roof replacements are no small task, especially for commercial and industrial properties. Of course, regular care and maintenance go a long way in extending the life of your roof, but with time, even the toughest roofs have to be replaced. When it does, you need a roofing team that understands the complexities of commercial roof replacement. And when it comes to the highest quality roof replacement services, Atlas is the top choice in Josephine, TX.
A new roof for your company helps protect your staff, inventory, clients, and business from loss, while increasing your property's value. Additionally, our replacement systems help lower your ongoing maintenance costs and boost your building's energy efficiency.
When you trust Atlas National Roofing with your replacement project, we will work closely with you to understand the scope of your business and its budgetary requirements. Our mission is to provide you with the best roof replacement options for your needs, completed promptly, so you can focus on growing your business.
Our re-roofing services include:
Whether you have a low-slope or steep-sloped commercial roof in Josephine, TX, Atlas provides expert repairs for your commercial property. Issues like roof leaks can damage your inventory, deter customers from doing business with you, and interrupt your day-to-day operations. If your roof needs dependable, effective repairs, we're here to help.
Our roof repair service team works with multi-family property owners, single building owners, property managers, and maintenance supervisors in various industries. We approach each project with safety in mind, fierce attention to detail, and the latest repair techniques. That way, we achieve maximum quality assurance and long-lasting repairs for your property.
Here are just a few ways we can help with your repair project:
Investigating and repairing a commercial roofing water leak necessitates advanced skills and training. Understanding and mastering the dynamics of commercial rooftop water intrusion takes specialized training and years of experience. We're proud to say that when Atlas National Roofing is on the job, you're working with one of the top repair teams in the industry.
Oftentimes, manufacturers require building owners to uphold a preventative maintenance plan for their roof's warranty. Some providers even offer warranty extensions for those who have a program in place. Investing in preventative maintenance from Atlas now can save your major capital expenditures down the line.
Having a reliable maintenance program in place is important for your commercial roof. That's why Atlas offers contracts for regularly scheduled maintenance and repair visits. Contact our office today to learn more about how our team can maintain your commercial roof on an ongoing basis.
A functional roof is a crucial component of your commercial building's structural integrity. It will protect you from the elements and add aesthetic appeal to your property when properly maintained. However, when your roof falls into disarray, a variety of problems can occur. Keep your eye out for the following signs that your commercial roof needs repair:
Commercial roofs are made with materials meant for outdoor conditions, but too much moisture or heat can cause blistering that allows moisture in, weakening your roof's structure. When this happens, your roof ages prematurely, thereby reducing its ability to protect you and your customers or tenants.
Standing water can have incredibly damaging effects on your commercial roofing system. It can cause leaks that deteriorate your roof's integrity, which leads to water intrusion. When water intrudes on your property, it can cause a litany of health hazards associated with mold and bacteria. When you spot standing water on your roof, your roof's support system may be seriously compromised, especially with wooden materials.
Having a drainage system that works well is crucial for the health of your commercial roof. If scuppers or drains are clogged with debris and waste, water pools on your roof. Gaps in flashing can also cause water to permeate the building. Additionally, worn seams and cracks can give water access inside. Keep a sharp eye out for signs of clogged drains and gaps in your roof's flashing. If you notice these signs, you could need commercial roof repair.
Facility managers and commercial building owners know they'll have to consider roof replacement eventually. This type of service often requires a significant investment and halts day-to-day operations while the new roof is installed.
Fortunately, restoration is a cost-effective alternative to re-roofing for some commercial property owners. By implementing our advanced roof restoration systems, we can help restore your facility's roof membrane, extending its life and saving your money.
However, there is a window of opportunity for roof restoration. If 25% or less of your commercial roof needs to be replaced, restoration could be an attractive option for you.
Our licensed roofing technicians promptly identify problem areas and provide accurate estimates for resealing cracks, crevices, and gaps. Our team can also help eliminate and prevent roof leaks, further extending the lifespan of your commercial roofing system. We make it a point to carry out our roof restoration projects in a way that doesn't interfere with your daily operations or business productivity.
Atlas National Roofing takes a step-by-step approach to discover whether your property is suitable for restoration:
Gather Info: Our team will gather as much info about your building and its roofing system as possible. If suitable, we'll speak with your management team to determine factors like the age of your roof and the impact of previous repairs.
Inspect from Below: This step involves inspecting your underlying roof deck. That way, we can identify concerns like areas of water penetration and advanced degradation of your current roof deck.
Inspect from Above: We'll "walk your roof" to get an understanding of your commercial roof's overall condition. We want to be sure that restoration is a feasible option for your roof.
Assessment: We'll consider everything we've learned from the previous steps and advise you on your restoration options. We'll touch on your current roof and which coatings are appropriate. We can also talk about environmental concerns, how long restoration will last, the potential for tax credits, and the best restoration options for your geographic location.
With the rise of platforms like YouTube, DIY enthusiasts seem to be everywhere. However, regardless of how many DIY videos you study, your skills won't be on par with a professional commercial roofing contractor. Many DIYers claim they can save money by cutting out the pros, but this tactic usually leads to costly mistakes that cause more harm than good.
If you're in need of quality commercial roofing, it's always best to leave it to a reputable, experienced company like Atlas. Here's why:
Building codes in Josephine, TX are regulations drafted to govern how commercial construction projects are handled. When you don't adhere to building codes and try to construct a new roof with an untrained crew, mistakes are made codes are violated. That means you'll have to incur all the losses associated with demolishing the roof, as well as the cost of doing it right.
It makes sense, then, to hire a team of professionals to get the job done right the first time. At Atlas National Roofing, our contractors are always up-to-date on the latest commercial building codes to ensure your roofing projects are completed without any hiccups.
This benefit sounds like a no-brainer, but it deserves to be highlighted because of how important it is. Your safety and your customers' safety should be top of mind when you own a commercial property. Hiring licensed, trained commercial roofing experts keeps you safe by:
Having a properly maintained roof day in and day out. When your commercial roof is in good shape and working correctly, you and your customers are safer.
Commercial roof repair is a dangerous job for novices. A quick search online will bring up dozens of cases in Josephine, TX where DIYers get injured trying to construct or repair their commercial property's roof.
The highest quality craftsmanship only comes with years of hands-on commercial roofing experience. You could watch every roofing DIY roofing video online, but the quality of your work will never match that of a professional with years of work under their belt.
After all, commercial roofing involves much more than a few nails and some elbow grease. You must consider factors like installing ventilation outlets, roof coatings, and drainage options. Every commercial roofing contractor at Atlas is vetted and has years of training and experience, to handle the most complex commercial roofing projects in Josephine, TX.
Budgets are a big deal in the world of commercial roofing. Going over budget can mean the difference between completing a project and waiting for approval on funds. That's why our management team provides accurate estimates, detailed schedules, transparent deadlines, and consistent communication with our clients.
As business owners, we know how hectic day-to-day life can be and how maintaining your roof can be a huge headache. In a sense, these situations are why we founded Atlas National Roofing - to be the proverbial aspirin for your commercial roofing pains. Whether you need simple repairs for your storefront or a total roof replacement for a multi-family building, we're here to exceed expectations.
Our approach is simple - deliver the highest quality, professional roofing services in Josephine, TX. Our keys to great roofing are:
Contact our office today to learn more about our full-service roofing solutions. If you're looking for a commercial roofing company that will help you maximize your investment, you're in the right place.
NCAA Women’s Championships: Claire Curzan Breaks 1:50 to Lead 200 Back Prelims; Rhyan White Misses A-FinalStanford’s Claire Curzan has flown somewhat under the radar at her first NCAA Championships, mostly thanks to record-smashing performances in her first two individual events. Curzan placed fourth in the 100 butterfly final as three swimmers got into the 48-second range while Kate Douglass and Maggie Mac Neil both smashed the NCAA record, and then Curza...
NCAA Women’s Championships: Claire Curzan Breaks 1:50 to Lead 200 Back Prelims; Rhyan White Misses A-Final
Stanford’s Claire Curzan has flown somewhat under the radar at her first NCAA Championships, mostly thanks to record-smashing performances in her first two individual events. Curzan placed fourth in the 100 butterfly final as three swimmers got into the 48-second range while Kate Douglass and Maggie Mac Neil both smashed the NCAA record, and then Curzan took third in the 100 backstroke behind Gretchen Walsh’s NCAA record of 48.26.
But Curzan has posted impressive results in the 200 back all season, including a time of 1:47.43 at the Pac-12 Championships last month that was within three tenths of the fastest time ever and ranks her fourth all-time behind Regan Smith, Beata Nelson and Kathleen Baker. Now, Curzan enters the NCAA final as the favorite after swimming a time of 1:49.48 to win the final heat. Curzan was flying for the first 150 yards, flipping in 1:20.98 with 50 to go, and although she slowed slightly at the end, she comfortably held off Tennessee’s Josephine Fuller to take the win. Fuller ended up touching at 1:50.12 for the third-best time of the morning.
Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon was only seeded eighth entering the event after she skipped the event at the Big Ten Championships, but she blasted a time of 1:50.03 to lead the way in the second-to-last heat, and that time was good enough for the second-best time of the morning behind Curzan. Cal’s Isabelle Stadden (1:50.44) and NC State’s Kennedy Noble (1:50.88) also swam 1:50s in that heat, with those times good enough for fourth and fifth overall, respectively.
In the first of the seeded heats, NC State’s Emma Muzzy held off Texas’ Olivia Bray for the win, 1:51.00 to 1:51.18, but behind them, there was a surprising result as Alabama’s Rhyan White fell to third place in 1:52.70. White, the World Championships bronze medalist in the 200-meter back, is the eighth-fastest performer in history at 1:48.06, but she has not approached that form in several years. White ended up qualifying for the B-final in the 15th spot.
Virginia’s Reilly Tiltmann narrowly held off Indiana’s Anna Peplowski in the final heat to earn the last spot in the A-final, 1:51.23 to 1:51.32. Tiltmann joins Bacon, Stadden and Muzzy in returning to the A-final from last season while Stanford’s Lucie Nordmann ended up 14th (1:52.54) and Virginia Tech’s Emma Atkinson fell to a tie for 20th (1:53.21).
Event 16 Women 200 Yard Backstroke================================================================== NCAA: N 1:47.24 3/23/2019 Beata Nelson, Wisconsin Meet: M 1:47.24 3/23/2019 Beata Nelson, Wisconsin American: A 1:47.16 3/10/2019 Regan Smith, Riptide US Open: O 1:47.16 3/10/2019 Regan Smith, Riptide Pool: P 1:49.30 11/21/2020Rhyan White, Alabama Name Year School Seed Prelims ================================================================== === Preliminaries === 1 Curzan, Claire FR Stanford 1:47.43 1:49.48 r:+0.57 25.75 52.99 (27.24) 1:20.98 (27.99) 1:49.48 (28.50) 2 Bacon, Phoebe JR Wisconsin 1:51.22 1:50.03 r:+0.63 26.00 53.60 (27.60) 1:21.82 (28.22) 1:50.03 (28.21) 3 Fuller, Josephine SO Tennessee 1:50.12 1:50.12 r:+0.74 26.15 54.07 (27.92) 1:22.25 (28.18) 1:50.12 (27.87) 4 Stadden, Isabelle JR California 1:48.75 1:50.44 r:+0.95 25.96 53.87 (27.91) 1:22.47 (28.60) 1:50.44 (27.97) 5 Noble, Kennedy FR NC State 1:50.24 1:50.88 r:+0.69 26.31 54.52 (28.21) 1:22.76 (28.24) 1:50.88 (28.12) 6 Muzzy, Emma 5Y NC State 1:50.96 1:51.00 r:+0.84 26.35 54.49 (28.14) 1:22.86 (28.37) 1:51.00 (28.14) 7 Bray, Olivia JR Texas 1:50.09 1:51.18 r:+0.74 26.08 54.49 (28.41) 1:22.97 (28.48) 1:51.18 (28.21) 8 Tiltmann, Reilly SO Virginia 1:51.05 1:51.23 r:+0.70 26.30 53.84 (27.54) 1:22.02 (28.18) 1:51.23 (29.21) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Peplowski, Anna SO Indiana 1:51.81 1:51.32 r:+0.62 26.07 53.78 (27.71) 1:22.24 (28.46) 1:51.32 (29.08) 10 Lindner, Sophie 5Y UNC 1:53.46 1:51.72 r:+0.79 26.93 54.95 (28.02) 1:23.15 (28.20) 1:51.72 (28.57) 11 Hetrick, Paige JR Louisville 1:51.70 1:51.84 r:+0.65 26.03 54.12 (28.09) 1:23.05 (28.93) 1:51.84 (28.79) 12 Brooks, Caitlin SR Kentucky 1:52.38 1:52.35 r:+0.69 26.31 54.38 (28.07) 1:23.06 (28.68) 1:52.35 (29.29) 13 Gorecka, Weronika SR Akron 1:53.33 1:52.43 r:+0.66 26.62 55.19 (28.57) 1:23.55 (28.36) 1:52.43 (28.88) 14 Nordmann, Lucie SR Stanford 1:53.70 1:52.54 r:+0.71 25.96 54.09 (28.13) 1:22.98 (28.89) 1:52.54 (29.56) 15 White, Rhyan 5Y Alabama 1:51.53 1:52.70 r:+0.76 26.42 54.77 (28.35) 1:23.88 (29.11) 1:52.70 (28.82) 16 Bentz, Caroline JR VT 1:53.78 1:52.76 r:+0.80 26.53 54.80 (28.27) 1:23.57 (28.77) 1:52.76 (29.19)
SAN ANTONIO – Today a federal jury convicted a Dripping Springs woman for defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) of over $300,000. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Josephine Casandra Perez-Gorda, 39, defrauded the VA and SSA by overstating the severity and extent of her spouse’s disability from October 2011 through August 2017. Mr. Perez, now deceased, was an Army veteran who participated in the fraud. ...
SAN ANTONIO – Today a federal jury convicted a Dripping Springs woman for defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) of over $300,000. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Josephine Casandra Perez-Gorda, 39, defrauded the VA and SSA by overstating the severity and extent of her spouse’s disability from October 2011 through August 2017. Mr. Perez, now deceased, was an Army veteran who participated in the fraud. The Perezes claimed Mr. Perez was paralyzed from the waist down from an injury he suffered while on active duty. The ruse included applying for and receiving a specially equipped vehicle, a specially adapted home and additional compensation based on his disability rating. The investigation began after KENS5 ran a news story titled, “Homes for Our Troops Questions Veteran’s Paralysis after Video.” The news story involved a specially adapted house in Dripping Springs that was gifted to the Perezes by the non-profit foundation Homes for Our Troops in December 2013. Although Mrs. Perez claimed her husband was “paralyzed from the belly button down,” Mr. Perez was seen walking around the neighborhood and playing basketball. VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) agents videotaped Mr. Perez walking around without assistance. Mrs. Perez furthered the scheme by completing all the VA and SSA paperwork claiming Mr. Perez was paralyzed in both legs. Mrs. Perez was found guilty of 11 counts of wire fraud; one count of mail fraud; one count of health care fraud; three counts of false statements related to a health care matter; one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; and one count of theft of government funds. Sentencing is set for December 20, 2022. She faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud and mail fraud charges; up to 10 years in prison on each of the health care fraud charges and the theft of government funds charge; and up to five years in prison on each of the false statements related to a health care matter. U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas, VA-OIG SAC Jeffrey Breen and SSA-OIG SAC Jason Albers made the announcement. The VA-OIG and SSA-OIG are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Surovic and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Miller are prosecuting the case. ### |
Everything was lined up for Josephine Decker. Two years after breaking through on the art-house circuit with Madeline’s Madeline, the Park Cities native was ready for something bigger.The filmmaker’s latest project, a haunting portrait of famed but troubled author Shirley Jackson, starring Elisabeth Moss, had garnered acclaim on the festival circui...
Everything was lined up for Josephine Decker. Two years after breaking through on the art-house circuit with Madeline’s Madeline, the Park Cities native was ready for something bigger.
The filmmaker’s latest project, a haunting portrait of famed but troubled author Shirley Jackson, starring Elisabeth Moss, had garnered acclaim on the festival circuit and was primed for a theatrical release this spring.
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted distributor NEON to pivot the release exclusively to digital platforms. While some directors might view that move as a consolation prize, however, Decker enthusiastically gave her blessing.
“I was excited about doing an unconventional release during this time when people are seeking connection through entertainment,” Decker said. “I love going to the cinema and connecting with work there, but I’ve grown up in such an indie-film world that I’ve never made movies that were playing in [wide release]. When you’re one of the first films to come out this way, it’s a story.”
The film is an intimate glimpse into the artistic process that finds Shirley (Moss) battling mental illness, alcoholism, agoraphobia, and other afflictions while living in Vermont in the 1960s. She’s visited by an aspiring writer (Odessa Young) whose husband (Logan Lerman) has landed a job alongside Shirley’s outspoken professor husband (Michael Stuhlbarg). As the relationship between the two women deepens, it affects Shirley’s work in surprising ways.
“It never felt like a biopic. We’re not trying to tell her entire life story,” Decker said. “I feel really grateful that we got the chance to delve into Shirley’s storytelling the way that we did. She’s such a genius. You cycle through a bunch of different realities when you’re inside of her work.”
Decker said she had just finished reading one of the author’s most famous horror works, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, when she received the screenplay by playwright Sarah Gubbins, which is based on Susan Scarf Merrell’s novel.
Then Decker spent a year reshaping the script with Gubbins prior to production. By carefully mixing fantasy and reality, she tried to strike a balance between Shirley’s unsympathetic nature and viewers’ need for an emotional entry point.
“We wanted to make the film feel more like a Shirley Jackson story,” Decker said. “There’s definitely a coldness to her. She’s a character who creates a lot of distance around her, so we have these moments where we could feel her writing and feel more connected to Shirley, and feel that we were going through something with her.”
During a time when people are watching more movies at home than ever before, Decker is confident Shirley can find an audience. She hopes the film prompts a resurgence in the popularity of Jackson’s books, too.
“I hope that connecting to Shirley’s story of being locked up in her house is something that, to some degree, a lot of people can relate to,” Decker said. “The house and the people in it, she finds a whole world to explore that unlocks her. Maybe similarly, something will come unlocked for the viewers of our film, and also connect them to her writing. If you really want to leave your body, go into a Shirley Jackson story.”
Cameron Brooks served as Josephine's volunteer fire chief for 15 years before an illness flipped his life upside down.Payton Potter, Patch Staff|Updated Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 6:52 pm CTJOSEPHINE, TX — Cameron Brooks's face is well known in the town of Josephine, which sits some 40 miles to Dallas' northeast. Having served as fire chief in the rural town for 15 years, Cameron, who goes by Cam, has interacted with near...
Payton Potter, Patch Staff
|Updated Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 6:52 pm CT
JOSEPHINE, TX — Cameron Brooks's face is well known in the town of Josephine, which sits some 40 miles to Dallas' northeast. Having served as fire chief in the rural town for 15 years, Cameron, who goes by Cam, has interacted with nearly every resident of the town, be it through his duties as volunteer fire chief or one of the many annual events the department puts on for the town.
But since January 2018 his usual presence has been missing from the steel building on W. Hubbard Street that houses the fire department.
Cam was diagnosed with a serious liver condition only 10 days after Christmas and, in the four months since that date, everything has changed.
Foundations
Cam joined the fire department 15 years ago, when the department's meager equipment still sat in a shabby quonset hut. Since that time, and under his leadership, the department has grown to include some 23 volunteer firefighters, two brush trucks and a fire engine.
Cam, like the many other men and women who work for the Josephine VFD, wasn't paid for his duties with the department.
Patti Brooks, Cam's sister-in-law and Josephine's city secretary, has known Cam for more than 10 years.
She was already working for the city when he came on as the department's chief, long before the transformation that made the department what it is today.
"Cam turned this fire department around, got it reorganized, got the reputation back," Patti told Patch. "He was just a huge part of making this fire department what it is."
But Patti's story with Cam is more than a friendship formed at work. Ask any member of the Brooks family, and they can all tell the same story of the night Cam and his wife, Julie, introduced Patti to her now-husband, Andy.
Cam said his brother Andy was recently divorced when he got the idea to set him with Patti. So he and Julie met Patti and Andy at The Lone Star Roadhouse, a cafe and bar in Dallas, where they saw a live band.
"They hit it off real well," Cam told Patch. "The very first night, it was kind of like a set up because my brother was coming off a divorce. They hit it off that night and had a blast. Next thing I know, they were getting married not too long after that."
Patti's rendition of the story echoes that of Cam's.
"They took Andy and I out to see [a band at] The Lone Star," she said. "We went out with Cam and Julie, and the rest is history. But even before I met Andy, I always loved Cam."
It never mattered to Cam that he wasn't receiving a paycheck from the fire department, but he still had to make ends meet for his family.
So, through the years, Cam has worked for Collin County Animal Services and Julie for the local school district, Community ISD, as a bus monitor.
The Resignation
Cam resigned from the department only days before his eventual diagnosis but after months of watching his own health decline.
"Well before January, he was run down and didn't feel good and didn't want to do a lot of stuff," Julie said of Cam's health. "He'd rather just sit there and watch TV or hang around the house. I thought that was unusual."
His lethargy, they assumed, was a symptom of the type two diabetes he had been living with for years. But as his symptoms continued to worsen, he broke down and decided it was time to see a doctor.
"He started kind of changing," Julie said. "And finally, I believe it was Jan. 2 or 3, he said, 'okay you can call the doctor.' That's when it all started."
It was three days later that Cam learned he had a serious liver condition. The disease, Cam said, occurs randomly and causes the liver to fail and rot.
"It's pretty much just something that happened. Basically I pulled the short straw," he said.
Resigning from the department is not something Cam took lightly, and it's something he still seems to mourn.
In his interview with Patch, Cam specified, without being prompted, that, "I couldn't have asked for a better city [in which] to be a fire chief... I had to leave because of my health issues. I'm in real bad shape."
Not only did he leave behind his duties with the fire department, but he and Julie also moved away from Josephine entirely.
Cam said he knows a medical emergency can happen at any time, and he can't risk being taken to the wrong hospital in his condition.
Because he sees a specialty team of liver doctors in Richardson, he asked emergency responders in Josephine if they could take him to that specific hospital.
The ambulance service told Cam no, they could only take him to Hunt County Medical Center in Greenville.
So he and Julie made a preemptive move to live with their youngest daughter in Wylie, where ambulances can easily take him to Richardson.
Julie said the move has helped in more ways than one, and she now relies on the support of her daughter.
"I was really worried about us being by ourselves and everything," she said. "After the second [hospital stay], we went to our other daughter's for a while. That was a relief because there was somebody there to help me. Then we came [to Melanie's]. We have our own room. Cam can stay in there and watch TV; he can come in here and talk to the grandkids. He has a place to go and be alone if he needs to be."
Her daughter's support, Julie said, extends beyond physically helping care for Cam.
"It's been — I guess — a blessing to have her back me up any time I need the help — the support or whatever. Physically, mentally, emotionally — they're there. Our kids are awesome."
The Treatment
Cam visits regularly with his team of doctors, who are working now on securing his spot on a transplant list.
He has already undergone a psychological evaluation, but he still faces a series of tests he must undergo before he'll know if he has secured a spot on the waiting list.
In the meantime, he makes biweekly visits to have extra fluid drained from his abdomen. During his last visit, he said, doctors drained more than 18 pounds of excess fluid from his stomach.
He hopes to receive an affirmative answer about the transplant list by the end of April, but, even if the answer is yes, he'll have to wait for a compatible liver to come his way.
Once Cam receives his new liver, he'll be out of work for at least four months, Julie said. In that time, the Brooks family will be left to pay for insurance out of pocket in addition to covering other medical expenses.
That's why a friend of Cam created a GoFundMe page to help the family cover costs. (You can give to the GoFundMe page here.)
In the meantime, Julie is pleading for others to become organ donors.
"We really want people to know that donating your organs is amazing," she said. "I've been a donor for years."
Back Home
One of Cam and Julie's daughters lives in Josephine, and the couple visit her when they can. Julie said she often sees her daughter between shifts at the school. And while she's happy to see the friendly faces of Josephine, she said she isn't ready to visit the city hall or fire department where Cam once worked.
"We don't go back to the fire department or city hall because it hurts," Julie said, her voice cracking with emotion. "Yesterday I stopped at the store to get a drink and — I'm sorry — we miss everybody and it hurts because we know it's not ours anymore. It's not our reality anymore. The same people are there and hanging out on the sidewalks and stuff like that, but it doesn't feel the same."
Julie said she is doing her best to stay strong for Cam, even as illness shakes the family.
"I haven't broke down and cried like I feel like I need to. I feel like if I let myself do that, I'm partially giving up on him. And I'll never give up on him. Never... He's an awesome man."
Lead image via GoFundM
Donnie Walker, U.S. history teacher at Wheatley High School in the Houston Independent School District (HISD), has a family legacy at the school. His grandparents went to Wheatley. His great-aunt graduated from the same class as Barbara Jordan, the first southern Black woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. His father and mother met at Wheatley.Since Walker joined Wheatley’s teaching staff in 2019, the school has been at the center of a political power play by the state that resulted in an announcement by the ...
Donnie Walker, U.S. history teacher at Wheatley High School in the Houston Independent School District (HISD), has a family legacy at the school. His grandparents went to Wheatley. His great-aunt graduated from the same class as Barbara Jordan, the first southern Black woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. His father and mother met at Wheatley.
Since Walker joined Wheatley’s teaching staff in 2019, the school has been at the center of a political power play by the state that resulted in an announcement by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) last week that they are seizing control of the largest school district in Texas.
Since 2019, Wheatley High School teachers and administrators have weathered a pandemic, all while improving their students’ academic performance, receiving a C state accountability rating last year. HISD earned an overall B rating with a score higher than 611 other Texas districts, including Dallas.
Still, TEA cites Wheatley’s past failures to meet state standards as reason to disband HISD’s elected school board. By June 1, the agency plans to appoint a new board of managers and superintendent, which could remain in charge for two to six years.
“Since 2019, we’ve been doing a wonderful job at holding our students accountable, the community accountable, parents accountable. Unfortunately, politics come into play, and guess who’s at the forefront of the politics. The State of Texas, Governor [Greg] Abbott, they’re not going to look in the mirror and point the finger at themselves. We’re getting blamed for everything,” Walker said.
Walker said the school has had to address plenty of new challenges since the time his family attended, particularly challenges created by school privatization in the Fifth Ward community.
In 2011 Yes Prep Fifth Ward Secondary School, a charter institution, opened less than 5 miles from Wheatley. Since then, Wheatley has seen its enrollment decline. In 2017, the magnet school Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men also opened in the Fifth Ward.
“You could probably kick a ball in the backyard of Yes Prep and it’ll probably land in our football field,” Walker said.
While magnet schools are still run by public school districts, like charters, they are selective and can draw the highest-performing students away from neighborhood schools, along with the money allotted to those students. Meanwhile, local schools still need to pay for the same fixed costs of operating schools, such as building maintenance.
Wheatley
Public High School
Yes
Prep Fifth Ward Charter School
Mickey
Leland College Prep Magnet School
Wheatley Public High School
Yes Prep Fifth Ward Charter School
Mickey Leland College Prep Magnet School
Chart: Created by Josephine Lee for The Texas Observer Source: Texas Education Agency Get the data Created with Datawrapper
Unlike charter schools, as a neighborhood public school Wheatley is held accountable by federal laws to enroll and educate all students in the neighborhood, no matter their background. Wheatley educates more students receiving special education services, more students in the ESL program, and more students identified as at-risk than nearby private or charter schools.
“A lot of parents have this notion that Wheatley is already a school [with] issues, and what they do is place their children into these independent charter schools,” Walker said, thus siphoning off potential Wheatley students.
When students get kicked out of neighboring charter schools for disciplinary issues, Walker said, they often come to Wheatley, where teachers “rebuild them and prep them for life. We do all the things that these other schools failed to do for these students. They just get rid of them.”
In 2019, more charter school districts than public school districts received an F accountability rating from the TEA. That year, HISD received an overall B rating, but TEA threatened the district with school closures and a state takeover. In a November 2019 audit of HISD, which the state released a few days after announcing its plans to take over the district, the state recommended closing or consolidating 39 HISD school campuses deemed “underutilized.” Like Wheatley, these schools have experienced declining enrollment due to proliferating charter schools in Houston’s low-income communities.
Chart: Josephine Lee for The Texas Observer Source: Analysis of Texas Education Agency data by Patti Everitt Get the data Created with Datawrapper
TEA Commissioner Mike Morath told Houston’s KHOU in a TV interview that he is not ordering any schools in the district to be closed, saying that the law stipulates a choice between state-appointed managers and school closures during a state takeover.
But community leaders are concerned that the state takeover will replace schools in low-income Black and brown communities with charter schools, which will not serve all students in the neighborhood. The Greater Houston Coalition of Justice, consisting of more than two dozen civil rights groups, filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights last Friday.
TEA did not respond to the Observer’s inquiry into whether the agency plans to turn some HISD schools into charter schools.
In a press conference last Wednesday, Bishop James Dixon II, pastor of the Community of Faith Church and president of the Houston NAACP, questioned why the state is targeting HISD when other districts received lower accountability ratings.
“If academic achievement and financial management are the measures by which TEA determines whether a school is desirable, then what is it that the government hasn’t told the public that’s really driving this action?” Dixon said. “Why HISD? Does it have to do with the fact that we are majority brown and Black? Does it have to do with an economic agenda that is designed to close our schools and privatize our schools?”
Walker says that any plans to turn more schools into charters will only deepen existing inequalities in Houston’s communities.
“Charter schools have a right to turn their backs on kids and a part of the community. And if we start on that train and kick kids out and don’t cater to their academic needs, their social needs, these kids will be left behind in society,” Walker said.
He plans to stick around to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“Let’s prove everybody wrong and show that we are taking care of business. So the teachers at Wheatley are still pushing forward strongly to continue the legacy of doing positive things in our community, and continue the progress we’ve made since 2019.”
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Josephine Lee is Texas Observer's 2023 David McHam Investigative Reporting Fellow. She has previously worked as an educator and community organizer. Her reporting on labor, environment, politics, and education has been featured on Salon, Daily Beast, Truthout, and other outlets. She was raised in and lives in Houston.