Meeting needs ... together

GUEST COMMENTARY

DR. KRISTIN CRAFT

BOERNE ISD SUPERINTENDENT

In Boerne ISD, our every decision and action shape this beautiful place we’ve chosen as our home.

As a mother and a lifelong educator, the tragic flooding that recently struck our Hill Country has been devastating to witness.

During tragic times, I often find myself thinking of a famous quote from Mr. Rogers. He said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” When there are needs, our community helps. And we don’t do it in half measure — we help with our whole hearts.

Beginning on Friday of last week, our chief of safety and security and chief of student services worked to find out whether any of our students were at Camp Mystic. We prepared ourselves and gathered together our resources in the event that our students and families needed us.

This is who we are, and this is the Boerne advantage.

On Monday, our human resources department and administrators identified which employees have family in the impacted areas. We called every one of them to check in on them and offer support and resources.

This is who we are, and this is the Boerne advantage.

On Tuesday of this week, we had a new bus driver begin working for the district. He and his son just relocated to Boerne so that his son could attend Champion High School. The employee is a veteran and retired police officer, and we are delighted he’s chosen our community as the place he wants to live.

He spent his first day of work loading up a box truck with supplies that were donated by our community and driving it to the command post setup at Sisterdale Volunteer Fire Department.

This is who we are, and this is the Boerne advantage.

These are just a few of the countless examples of commitment to service and dedication to community that have happened in the past few days. I’m so proud to live and lead here.

We must continue to invest in this community and steward it courageously. When our district succeeds, families succeed. When families succeed in Boerne, our places of worship are strengthened, small businesses flourish and our commitment to community grows This community is one that sees needs and finds creative solutions to meet them. This week, when I remembered to “look for the helpers,” I was profoundly moved to realize that they were my colleagues, neighbors, and friends – and I knew them all by name.

Kristin Craft, Ed.D. is Superintendent of Schools for the Boerne Independent School District.