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Dr. Wilcox - Risky Benefits Podcast no ad

• David Holloway-Boyd • Season 5 • Episode 4

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Welcome to another episode of Risky Benefits! This week, our special guest is Dr. James Wilcox, who served as Superintendent of Longview Independent School District from 2007 to 2023 and now works as an Employee Benefits Consultant for FBMC. Dr. Wilcox shares fascinating insights from his long career in education, reflecting on the changes in the school system and the pressures today's students face. He discusses the importance of planning and innovative thinking in both education and employee benefits. Additionally, he provides tips for school districts on improving financial health and leveraging legislative opportunities like Texas Senate Bill 1882. Tune in as Dr. Wilcox shares his experiences and advice on creating a positive impact through education and benefits consulting.

To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.

Hey, thank you for listening in to risky benefits, a podcast that informs you on all things benefits. We've got a saying around here. Benefits isn't your main business. It's ours.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

Hey everyone, thank you for listening to Risky Benefits and welcome to this week's episode. Our guest this week is Dr. James Wilcox, Dr. Wilcox served as the superintendent for Longview Independent School District from 2007 to 2023. And now we are honored to have Dr. Wilcox on our team as an employee benefits consultant for FBMC. So today's going to be super interesting conversation because, you don't often get to have conversations with people who have spent a career on the inside of the organizations and helping to develop and build within communities, young Children and different people within, say, the public sector of the market. You know, being from the independent school district, like you have a very unique view on what's going on in the world because you see it kind of the man, the manifestation of the family in the working world, right? They send their kids in, into schools and you keep them safe. You keep them fed. You keep them educated. I mean, there's a lot that goes into it. Let me just thank you for coming in. You're welcome. Yeah, I'm really happy to have you. And maybe if you don't mind, could we just start with you telling the audience just a little bit about yourself personally?

C0004:

Well, we have four wonderful children. We're my wife Jan and I are definitely blessed to have four children that are grown and all have successful careers and we couldn't be more pleased and happy and we also have 18 grandkids and great grandkids. Oh my goodness. Who are all extremely more intelligent than their parents and their grandparents. And so we're totally blessed by our oldest son is corporate vice president for new core steel. As a matter of fact he is the mill manager. Right down the road here a little bit in Winterhaven, right out of Orlando. Okay. And he built Nucor's first plant in Florida several years ago and then stayed on there to run the operation. Our middle son's a school superintendent in Texas also. Okay. And our only daughter. is an assistant superintendent in Texarkana, and she is extremely bright. And then our youngest son, who also fills in as our ranch manager, we Jen and I raise Akausi cattle in Hooks right out of Longview. Okay. And Akausi is Japanese for brown cow. So it's a variation of Wagyu beef. Okay. I couldn't afford to buy any, so I said we'll raise our own. Okay. Yeah, he is also Assistant Director for Palliative Care for Christus St. Michael's Hospital System there in Texas. We're blessed. So, the apples, they did not fall far from the tree. No, we were, we're, Janet and I, but we are extremely lucky and blessed. Wonderful kids.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

It's cool. I have three Children. Kyla has two Children and I think sometimes like we're in that we're we haven't made it yet, so to speak, right? And it is when I hear you say blessed. I know I understand what you're saying because I because of the fear associated with what's going to happen to us. How are they going to do growing up? Yeah. So you being on the other side of that's got to be a tremendously Yeah. Less feeling what is the age range of your grandchildren and

C0004:

oh gosh, I have one from one month to 40 so yeah Christmas what's Christmas? Oh, wow. It's Christmas is shits It's not all that You can't work.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

I'm just imagining like the Walton family. Oh my gosh. You know, it's like, goodnight Billy Bob. It's like everyone's yelping at the house. Very loud. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. It's funny you say that because like I think through the holidays with my parents and I'm sure they're used to the house being pretty quiet. There's no kids in their house anymore and when they come spend time with us and all the family comes together. I have to imagine that the volume is different. Oh yeah. Than what they're accustomed to. Huh. It definitely is. Well this is awesome. Yeah, so go ahead Kyle, we'll get it rolling. Yeah, so can you tell the listeners a little bit about your background and how you got into the business side of your career?

C0004:

I started out, my degree is actually in business administration with emphasis on sales. Initially I was going to be a heavy equipment salesman and sell one earth giant earth moving machine a year and then spend the next six months in Hawaii. And, uh, a little thing called Vietnam came along and my war protest was to drop out of corporate and become a school teacher. So, okay.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

And that got you into the field. That's super interesting. What did you teach?

C0004:

Broadfield Social Studies. History, Government, Economics, and Psychology. Okay. And that was that was really good. I've been I've taught special education. I've taught honors classes. Been an assistant principal, principal chief financial officer, and been a superintendent for 40 years, so.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

That's amazing. Remind me, ask and. Just definitely off script, but just be I'm sure it's intimate to you because you spend so many years in it I mean how over that span of time did you see the school world? Change was it crazy to watch like was it a dynamic shift in just the way that the educational

C0004:

Yeah, probably the biggest change was not by the kids, but by the adults, because, more accountability came in and I'm a big fan of accountability. I don't mind people measuring what our kids are learning as long as it's a effective instrument. The kids are the same but they're different in that you had mentioned earlier, the pressure that our kids are under to compete and to be successful and to do things that when I went through school, we didn't imagine, you know, I did not imagine being on a private league and playing baseball, not all over the state, but all over the country, you just went out and made the high school team. And, ignorance was bliss. You're as happy as could be. And now. The kids, there's a tournament every weekend and then the parents have to come up with money to fly you and pay for your stay in Vegas or Florida or Texas or wherever it is. And it's just so much more pressure. On the students, but they're basically the same other than they have been exposed to so much more that makes them different. It's it's a little frightening for me. I grew up in a kinder, friendlier time. Yeah. It's, that's changed the kids hadn't changed more than, how they deal with the pressure and social media and things like that. You know, it's brutal. Back in the old days, one or two of your friends would rib you a little bit about something stupid that you did or whatever. And now it can take on a life of its own and live forever. That's a lot of pressure for A young person to deal with.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

You know it's funny you say that, I here locally in Tallahassee we've got family friends who recently, I think, you've got a child who's hanging out with friends, they videotapes them saying some silly things, Mm hmm. And then somebody posts it, and now you've got kids who are suspended. Yeah. And it's like, Golly, man I just never, gosh, I think about if I, how many stupid things I said as a kid. Yeah. So to your point, the pressure associated with making a mistake is higher too, right? And because unfortunately the world we're in and some of the safety precautions and some of the unfortunate things that have happened, if you say the wrong thing the consequences are way different. Absolutely. So it's definitely Thanks for sharing that. Thanks for sharing that. It's neat to hear somebody who's got more perspective on it than I do. My kids are in the system as far as the educational system. You lived and breathed it for years and I'd love to get that perspective. I'm sure our listeners do too. So you retired from a life of serving and education, what FBMC that inspired you to keep working on The Pursuit? Because you've stepped out, but now you're, you're kind of not back in the game, but kind of back in the game.

C0004:

Yeah, I was really looking for something that would allow me to still interact. Not as much with students anymore, but with teachers and professionals, and I love education. I love public ed. My wife is a retired teacher. My sister is, my daughter in law's are, and the list goes on and on, and I still have a place for them. And, you would think 52 years, you should be tired of it. But, really. You can only play golf and fish so much. And my wife suggested one day that it might be nice if I found something else to do.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

Well, we're happy to have you. Let me be clear. I'm glad that the something else is us. And honestly, when I think about, especially on the employee benefit side, right, how that impacts a person's life obviously it can either create a lot of interference. Or it can reduce a lot of interference. And if those are the people that are teaching our children and you're helping those people, I can't really, that's a pretty important job. Absolutely. Right? So, I think you found a good spot.

C0004:

Well, thanks. I think we have too. And employees, especially teachers, well, everyone these days, there's a financial crunch. And to say, I need to take this scarce resource, Monthly paycheck and spend part of it on something that may or may not directly benefit me, but it will in the long run and to help educate people about it's well, it's going to rain again. You know, it might be really dry right now. But it will rain again, and you need to prepare for that rainy day. And hopefully you do, but that's a tough decision for a lot of people to make.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

Yeah. It's the ant in the grasshopper. Yes. I remember that book. Jackson loved it. Storing up, right? Storing up for a rainy day. That's cool. Yeah. So what are some successes and challenges that you've seen in school districts over the years? And what advice might you give?

C0004:

Oh, God the biggest success that I've seen folks. It's always the kids. It's always the students. And it was many years ago, back early in my career, and I was at a conference and they were the main presenter was a young lady from Sweden, and she was a pre K teacher. And she was talking about how They taught their kids four or five different languages all at the same time, and I was just going, wow, you know, I struggle with English myself. So at the end they were answering questions and one lady who thought she was a lot smarter than she really was sort of sarcastically said to her, said, well, How many languages do you think you should teach children? How many can they learn? And she said, they'll learn as many as you teach them. Mm hmm. I thought, you know, I thought about that still, obviously, 50 years later, that still rings true to me. Children will learn anything you teach them, and that can be good and that can be bad. Yeah. They're just a little sponge, and they will take anything you give them. So that's a big responsibility to ensure that it's the right thing. It's a big responsibility.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

That's, uh, that's, I hadn't sat down and thought about it in that context. I know obviously that we have an impact on our kids and so on and so forth. But to your point, it's like, there's really no end to what they're capable of. Right, and it's really how much do you want to expose them to and or what do you want to expose them to? Like my son is a 3d printer. We've been teasing about this, right? He's 10, right? Yeah, and so we got it to form because we're like, well the world he lives in and he's interested in that stuff So we get it and he is inventing stuff and making stuff with this tool and it's like what is he capable of? You wouldn't all know. I don't. That's right. I don't. Everything. Right? And I think that's true for any of our kids. It's like, what are they truly capable of? Yeah. We did a podcast last year and we were talking about the creativity and that, kids are very creative and that we are always tampering their creativity without me realizing we're doing it. But Like, take a kid. I think the example we used at the time Was like a kid coloring and it's like, why is that cow blue? Well, why wouldn't it be blue? That's these rules on them and their creativity is just getting hampered and then they get into the working world. And we're like, well, we need you to think outside of the box, but we've spent a lifetime telling them that the cow needed to be blue. Yeah. Or brown or whatever. Yeah. Mm-hmm I just, it's, it is interesting. Thanks for saying that. Yeah. I think that's a enlightening thing for people who are listening to really consider Dr. Wilcox. What do you hope to share with others to positively make a difference, on a on a day to day? As a benefits consultant, is there something that you really hope to share with people and or how you want to impact them in a positive way?

C0004:

The goal is to have the same impact that I did when I was in education and that's to encourage people. That and you alluded to you have to think outside the box if you want to be an effective leader, and that's what I want people to realize that the grasshopper there is, you know, tomorrow, and it's going to come if you plan for it or not, and so you really need to have a plan, and I don't care, you know, if right now with the Super Bowl coming up, the chiefs, uh, you know, if you're going to be a leader, you need to have a plan, and that's what I want people to realize that the grasshopper there is, you know, tomorrow, and it's going to come if you plan for it or not, and so you really need to have a plan, and I don't care, you know, if right now with the Super Bowl coming up, the chiefs, uh, And the Philadelphia Eagles both have a plan and who can implement it, but I assure you the best plan will win the game and that's the same thing. It is in folks life. They can think, well, I'm going to do this, blah, blah, blah. And I don't need to worry about or have a plan for tomorrow. Well, that's a really dangerous way to look at, not just your life, but your family's life as you move forward. That's awesome. Thank you. Some wise advice there.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

Absolutely. Kind of switching gears a little bit, but can you give us an example of how districts in Texas could bring real money into their budget?

C0004:

Well, we held this unique position in the state when I retired and was that, not only were we in, an A rated district in the state of Texas with 92 percent low SES student population, but we also had a very healthy fund balance. And there is a money crunch just across the United States for districts and, you know, how they supply, the needs of their students. There was a motivational speaker from Dallas who went all over the world for years. And his name was Zig Ziglar, and Zig was a very effective motivational speaker, but he was also a deacon in First Baptist Church, Dallas, and one of their biggest tithers. And so,, the reputation, that Texas has for conservatism is certainly earned and deserved. Oftentimes Baptists have a bad connotation of wealth and money and Zig Ziglar used to always say, you know, money isn't everything, but it ranks right up there with oxygen. I get it. I get it. And, from the conservative life that he led, you know, that's, that's a pretty strange statement. But then you think about, we discussed earlier all the things that kids can do and what we can teach them, all that takes money. You need to pay good, innovative, free thinking teachers, and you need to keep the best ones in the classroom and,, money and everything. But it ranks right up there because they have a family to take care of. Also, absolutely. And, So, that, that's what we try to do.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

Dr. Wilcox, I've heard you speak of the Texas Bill of 1882. I don't know too much about that, but I was going to ask you today, for those who are listening, is that kind of relevant within that space? Or how did that impact the Texas kind of districts?

C0004:

well, Senate Bill 1882 was passed,, I think four sessions ago now to expand, an idea that's here in Florida as well as Texas, and that's privatization of public ed. Okay. And, I have a public school background, and you say, well, why would you get in bed with the enemy? Well, it's not necessarily the enemy. That's who's in charge right now and, Senate Bill 1882 was set up to reward districts that privatized part of their education system, and it was designed to bring in outside, private for profit providers, but there was nothing in there that denied a local district Developing its own charter partners, which is what, what we did in Longview. And,, honestly,, that was seven or eight years ago. And we're the only district in the state of any size that. really does that. And we did it to provide more opportunity for our students. There's a money crunch. And so,, our commissioner of education and our legislator said, well, why don't we use a carrot instead of a stick? Now they're pretty much using the stick approach now. But eight years ago it was, it was a combination. And so We utilized 1882 to, bring a different approach to education of our kids. Okay. And, but to also generate more revenue to, to allow them to have more opportunities. And,, we generate several million more dollars a year, by following the guidelines and the philosophies of Senate bill 1882. And there's a number of hoops the agent. The state education has for districts to follow if if they want to receive this funding. And I think,, still a public school advocate, but we are a district and we do utilize the resources of the state meant to privatize us. but the end result is, we have. High achieving students. And that's what we're there for., I don't feel like I'm sleeping with the enemy. I think I'm providing a better opportunity for students, but it is.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

And I, you know, if I'm being. If you're being kind of transparent about your thoughts on some of this stuff, it's like, look, I have friends who, I have a friend whose father runs a private school, right, and he's kind of established them throughout the company, country rather, and then he started to open them overseas as well. I think he started in the Boca area in South Florida. But I do remember when I first asked him about like what made the school special. What it sounded like to me was he was an attorney and he had a very descriptive idea around I want kids to learn. if they're in biology class, and we're talking about marine biology, I want to take them out on a boat, and I want to put them on snorkels, and have them go down and see what we're talking about. And that's just one example, right? But so, when you say, the money helps, right, he can only do that because they can fund that trip. Sure. And a kid that has more exposure. As we said earlier, and as a sponge, he's going to have an easier time connecting to the words that are in the book if I can take them to that place and let them experience it. Make it relatable. Right. So I think his belief was, is, okay, then that's how I'm going to create this education process. I'm going to create it so that every time we're educating on something, I can give them actual exposure to it. And that takes money. and so could I, you know, am I sending my children to this school? No. Would I love for my kids to have those exposures? Yes. Will I try to give them those exposures in life? Yes., is that something that a general school could, could afford to do? Well, maybe one of those trips a year. Or maybe they could figure out if they're doing creative things, like what you just said, Dr. Wilcox, they could figure out how to at least do something. You know And something is better than nothing. It's just, you know, we can agree to that. So I love that. And the next question I was gonna ask you was more revolving around your leadership philosophy in guiding, say, Longview Independent School District, or any school district, for that matter. but I'm starting to get some insights just on listening to you speak on what some of what that might be. But maybe if you don't mind, just elaborate on kind of what was your leadership philosophy.

C0004:

Well, you know, teachers, educators, by definition, are pretty much traditionalist, and we like to do things the same way we did them last year, but I don't think that's the way education should be. Okay. I think it needs to be a little outside the box, and if you, if you will, maybe that term's overused. too much, but, we need to look at new things and experiment with new things. And if it's not right, you can tell pretty quickly with the students. And, you know, I don't think education should be the same way I was educated. we need to embrace the technologies and opportunities we have now, because that's the world that our, that our kids live in. when I went to school, it was you read the chapter and answered the questions. in my wife's class, when she came in while she was check and roll, there was an internet research question on the board and you look it up and as soon as she finished check and roll, they would discuss that. I mean, just. She taught world geography and there was something up there on Rio de Janeiro and you would, by the time she checked roll, you'd looked it up and have an answer to the question. we need to provide those kind of opportunities for growth, in our kids because they'll, they'll absorb anything we give them.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

So what is your perspective on guiding through challenges in the K 12 market?

C0005:

Well, just as with the kids, the K 12 market is not what it was 10 years ago. You have to understand that in your company, FBMC, we have to understand that the market's changing. And we need to have products that people are looking for and that they need. And we need to have people in the field that know how to present that, to them. And then we need to have, the back office, if you will, that can implement those things, correctly. Because one little mistake in one district used to not go far. But now I can go around the world and say, you know, they did this and they came in and they were supposed to enroll me in that and they didn't do it and I don't like it. So, the same thing is for the kids. We can't do business like we did 10 years ago. It has to be evolving and we have to have people in leadership and management that understand that. And hey, when you make a mistake, just. Correct it as quick as you can and then try something else different, as you move forward because the same old same old is not going to be the future of this company or any company that thrives.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

Yeah That's great feedback. dr. Wilcox. We save a question at the end just for you And it's you know anything related to what you're doing now for fbmc what you're doing within Texas. is there anything else you'd want our listeners to know?

C0005:

Oh gosh. the people business is still wonderfully interesting to me and doing the right thing for them. when I was a school leader, I looked at the main thing other than the students, what we could do with them. What can I do? For my people to enjoy working here and enjoy what they're doing and, be a benefit to themselves and to the future. And I think that's the same thing that we're striving for and at BMC. And if I can be a tiny, tiny part of that, then, this is the right place for me to land.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

That's awesome. And so I guess one of the things I'd like to do is just throw out a plug for you. So Dr. Wilcox is in Texas, operating with the school districts. he's a mentor. If you're a superintendent out there and you want to talk to somebody who's been there done that, who's got a view on it, who might be able to help you. Reach out to Dr. Wilcox. I would say on the employee benefits consulting side, a lot of these school districts have questions. They're not sure what to do. You've got the Texas retirement system, opportunities to stay in that program, opportunities to come out of that program. What are the consequences? and I know Dr. Wilcox has, has lived it. has an opinion on it and can give guidance on his thoughts on it. So please reach out to Dr. Wilcox and, let him be an advocate, for you to help you on the benefits side. and, anything else you'd say in that vein? I feel like I hit it.

C0005:

No, I just say, I'm just glad to be a part of FBMC and what we're trying to do to, make people's life more secure. and their future more pleasant for them and their family. I think it's a great opportunity.

fbmc-marketing_2_02-07-2025_102724:

That's awesome. Well, thank you so much for coming in. thank you to the listeners that are out there. if you have any questions, please contact us or just look on our homepage at www. fbmc. com. And remember, you can find us and subscribe on any podcast app. Thanks.