Thanksgiving is a perfect time to reflect on gratitude in the face of challenges

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I find myself reflecting on gratitude – especially in the face of the intense challenges we have encountered this year. Even amidst these obstacles, we have been given the opportunity to rise to every challenge. The act of gratitude teaches us to appreciate the blessings we have received and promotes the desire to pay it forward.

The first half of this school year has been an extremely challenging time, but I am proud of how the HISD community has responded. From the work our nurses districtwide have been doing to keep our students healthy and safe, to the cleaning crews in charge of sanitizing our facilities at a moment’s notice, to our wraparound specialists working hard to support the social and emotional needs of every student – I am forever grateful.

And we can’t forget our teachers and principals for being heroes to our children in the face of virtual and face-to-face learning. You have been a rock for your students in a time when they need you more than ever.

It’s important to acknowledge the positives in our lives. There is no mission greater to me than the educational and social/emotional well-being of the 196,000 students in the Houston Independent School District. I consider that duty to be my true calling in life.

And for me, paying it forward means taking a moment to truly thank each one of you for your incredible partnership in keeping education at the forefront each step of the way. To our parents, we could not do what we do as educators each day without walking hand in hand with you to support your child on their academic journey.

Thank you for the time you have dedicated to ensuring our students have always had the resources and support they need to continue to learn. And thank you for supporting our efforts to provide quality education to all HISD students. And a special thank you to our students for inspiring us every day to do our very best for them.

I wish you all a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. Please take this time to safely connect with your loved ones and know that I am grateful for you this holiday season.