As the third-largest school district in Texas and the largest employer in Northwest Harris County, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District impacts the lives of far more than the 115,000 students and thousands of teachers, employees and administrators across 88 elementary, middle and high school campuses and special program facilities that study and work within our walls. In fact, we’re proud that as a top-rated school district, the work we do within our school system extends beyond the schools and permeates within our neighborhoods and businesses, making the greater Cypress-Fairbanks community a better place to work, live, study and play. The Cypress-Fairbanks community excels because of our CFISD cheerleaders; the individuals and businesses that invest in and support our students and community at large.
Today, we highlight Cameron Dickey, the president and CEO of Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union, a longtime partner of CFISD.
How long have you lived/worked in Cypress-Fairbanks?
Five years.
Why are you so passionate about being a part of the Cypress-Fairbanks community?
As a Cy-Fair resident and father of four kids in the district, I think we have one of the best school districts in the state and I want to do what I can to support it, protect it and contribute to it.
How has Cypress-Fairbanks ISD impacted you, your family or your business?
When my family moved here five years ago, we were moving four kids (pre-K to high school) away from their friends, family and established roots there. In addition to new friends and new memories that we have made here, what we quickly discovered were amazing, talented teachers and district leaders that were invested in teaching and preparing our kids for their next steps in education and for life. We have pictures of our family at our first Cy Ranch football game five years ago and our youngest son asleep on my shoulder. We were in awe of the Berry Center and the investment the district and this community have made in education at each campus.
From a business perspective, I am proud to lead Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union and to be a champion and custodian of the special relationship the credit union has with the district. Sixty-one years ago, 10 employees of the school district–one high-school principal, one elementary principal, six teachers, the district’s business manager and a maintenance man–filled out the paperwork and paid the fee to charter CFFCU to serve the employees of the school district. For several years, we were operated out of a shoe box in a desk drawer at Cy-Fair High School. The heartbeat of those 10 CFISD employees still reverberates through the values of the credit union and prompts us to give back to the district and to support teachers, students and families in our community the way that those original 10 did.
Four years after moving here, my personal and professional lives intersected when Cy-Fair FCU reached an agreement with the district for the stadium naming rights at the Berry Center–where we watched that first football game as a fami–with all of the proceeds from the agreement supporting student programs and teacher salaries in the district’s operating budget.
What piece of advice would you like to give to Cypress-Fairbanks ISD students?
Work hard and truly do your best. There is so much opportunity in this world for people that dig in and do their best.
Second, volunteer and care about the people around you. Life can be hard and I’ve found that it’s easier together. Every person that you meet is a story still being written. In the few moments that you interact with the people around you, try to write something positive into their story.
Lastly, if you’ve always known that you wanted to be an architect and you can take all of the classes and volunteer learning opportunities–from middle school through college–that align with that career, that’s amazing and will serve you well. But if you are 16, 18 or even 23 and still don’t know what you want to be “when you grow up,” don’t worry…don’t give up. I went to college when I was 19 and 20 to study broadcast journalism. And then I got a job in financial services when I was 22 because I was tired of smelling like fettuccine and working weekends and holidays as a waiter. I didn’t know that banking and credit unions would become a career (my career) until I was 24. Keep trying things and be a life-long learner. It will all work out.
What’s your favorite thing to do, see, eat or experience in our community?
My friends and family know that I am a bit of a donut monster. My favorite is S.O.S. donuts at the intersection of Jones and West. Ask for Lee and tell him Cameron sent you. 🙂
Interested in getting involved, being featured as an upcoming Cheerleader (or featuring someone who you think makes our district great) or in learning more about how Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District makes the larger Cypress-Fairbanks community a better place to work, live, study and play for all of us? Visit CFISDSpirit.com to cheer along with our team!
cfisdspirit.wordpress.com 