Our Students’ Success Means Everything

Student success is at the heart of our work as school board members, and nothing is more exhilarating than celebrating that success. We all spent time this spring attending graduation ceremonies, end-of-school events, and other activities marking the official finish to another important year in our students’ education journey. It’s one of the best parts of our jobs as trustees, right?

In the June/July issue of Texas Lone Star, we also are honoring our students and public education in Texas. Throughout the pages of this special edition, we highlight and celebrate some of the great achievements of our students this past year. These stories offer shining examples of how Texas schoolchildren are achieving and succeeding on so many levels — in academics, career and technical education, sports, the arts, leadership activities, and more.

Our students are doing great work at school and in their communities. I also want to acknowledge the skill, hard work, and dedication of school leaders and educators who ensure that students have a wide range of educational opportunities to pursue. We are all fully focused on preparing them to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Schools and Our Communities

Beyond the classroom, there are a myriad of initiatives that are changing the lives of students as well as their communities. These include partnerships, community engagement, cross-campus mentorships, and after school programs, to name a few.

Our teachers, staff, parents, and communities support our students in their endeavors by providing resources, both tangible and intangible. It starts in the classroom, where strong relationships are cultivated and nurtured between teachers and students. At the campus, district, and community levels, needs and opportunities are identified and creative and impactful solutions are developed to give students bright futures.

One Student Project in My District

We are always on the lookout for ways to expand learning opportunities and improve everyday life for schoolchildren. And our students also are sharpening their problem-solving skills.

In Kerrville ISD, one of our amazing students established a program called Project Period. As a junior at Tivy High School, Lulu Stebbins saw a need for access to feminine products for students and decided to do something about it. Stebbins began collecting donations of feminine products from her church and worked with school administrators to provide these products at her campus.

Community support for the project is strong. Donations have come from a local executive women’s club and other organizations, leading to an expansion of the program into the middle school, and recognition with a Kerrville Kindness Award bestowed by Kerrville City Council. While Stebbins graduated in May, the project garnered enough support from fellow students and the community to be continued even after she heads to Texas Tech University in the fall. Great job!

Summer Work

While the 2024-25 school year may be over, the work of school boards continues through the summer. We’re busy approving budgets, ensuring campuses are fully staffed for the fall, and fulfilling our own training requirements. The summer months are a great time to catch up on our required training.

Training opportunities include TASB’s Summer Leadership Institute, which was held in June in San Antonio and Fort Worth. Sessions and keynote speeches covered a number of timely topics, including the legislative session.

Other training opportunities are available online, and a list of available courses can be accessed in the Online Learning Center. And don’t forget that txEDCON will be held Sept. 11-14 in Houston! Hosted by TASB and the Texas Association of School Administrators, this flagship gathering offers trustees and other school leaders the opportunity to network, connect, and access in-depth programming.

Welcoming a New Year

Enjoy your summer and let’s continue to honor the hard work and achievements of our students and educators. The new school year is just around the corner, and I know we all will be excited for students to return. And we will be ready to take on the challenges that come with them as they begin or continue their public school journey.

We are honored to help ensure that their journey is filled with vital learning opportunities. Their education, well-being, and safety are our top priorities. As the new school year approaches, we are filled with hope and optimism for the new year.