Back to School: Digging deep, reaching for greatness

GUEST COMMENTARY DR. KRISTIN CRAFT BOERNE ISD SUPERINTENDENT
Today, 06:00 AM

At Convocation this year, I had the chance to speak to our staff about this year’s theme: Rooted in Tradition, Reaching for the Stars.

In education, we spend so much time focused on growth – of our district, of our students, of our staff.

This year, I decided it was time to prepare our team to dig into our roots: where we come from, what nourishes us, and what’s possible when we work together as parts of a system.

In Boerne ISD, traditions give us strength. From parades that shut down Main Street to Senior Walks and everything in between, we are able to grow and flourish because of the incredible foundation this community provides. Our shared history inspires each of us to be in community with each other in ways that build one another up. Our common purpose is to make our region of the Hill Country as vibrant as possible.

Last year, Curington Elementary School kindergarten teacher Shay Lea Strain welcomed Violet Byler, left, back to school while hugging Taylor Burkholder and Harper Cammer outside her classroom on Tuesday’s first day of school. File photo

Throughout the year, we’ll be digging deeper into what sets us apart from other communities. While things can feel bleak in the world at times, I often tell my team that in Boerne, it’s always sunny and 75℉. I think most of us feel this way because we realize that our local problems aren’t the problems we hear about on the news. We’ve worked hard to make that our reality.

The school district does have a role to play in ensuring that our students have the kind of education that expands their minds, but protects their innocence and lets them stay kids for as long as possible. We owe it to the parents and families we serve to keep their children safe and protected and silly and carefree for as long as possible.

Boerne is a place where kids are safe walking to school. It’s a place where kids look out for one another, ride bikes until dark, and learn how to be good friends. It’s also a place where Little League teams make it to the World Series, elementary schools have dance teams performing at major sporting events, and high schoolers get incredible internship opportunities.

Everything is at your fingertips in Boerne – when you’re ready to reach for it.

We’re so excited for what this new year brings to each and every student in our schools Together, we’re going somewhere much brighter than ever before.