Spring ISD Hosts a Full House for 2024 State of The District Event
Not even the threats of early morning showers could keep more than 250 Spring ISD stakeholders, business partners, parents, elected officials, and community leaders from Thursday’s 2024 Spring ISD State of the District breakfast event, held in the Randall Reed Center at the district’s Planet Ford Stadium.
With demand at a new high, organizers rearranged tables to try and make room for the many attendees eager to hear from Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa about recent successes, current challenges, and plans for the future in Spring ISD.
One of the most prominent themes of the day – touched on early by Spring ISD Board of Trustees President Justine Durant – was the vital importance of the many partnerships that empower and support the work of Spring ISD teachers and students.
“I’m so excited to be here, and I can’t express how grateful we are for your support,” Durant told attendees during her remarks prior to the superintendent’s keynote. “We cannot do what we do in Spring ISD without the support of our external partners, so we want to thank you for allowing us to be able to soar, and grow, and continue to set a stage for success for our students.”
The superintendent’s keynote highlighted Spring ISD’s mission to serve the community as a district of choice and opportunities, with Hinojosa touching on topics ranging from Spring ISD’s current five-year plan and strategic priorities, to academic growth, nationally ranked campuses, and the expansion of specialty programs and schools in Spring ISD, as well as the expansion of award-winning and nationally recognized programs like Carl Wunsche Sr. High School’s Coding Initiative – which is set to begin establishing new coding clubs in middle schools.
Also on display during the keynote were a few of the impressive recent achievements in athletics and in the arts, with multiple varsity teams making the playoffs – including all three of the district’s high school football teams – while Spring ISD’s music ensembles continue to receive national recognition and the district continues to be named a Best Community for Music Education in national rankings for a decade and running.
Hinojosa also highlighted the dozens of colleges and universities in Texas and across the country – from prestigious in-state schools to Ivy League campuses – where the district’s recent graduates are currently enrolled. She also mentioned the hundreds of early acceptances already rolling in for this year’s seniors in the Class of 2024, and emphasized the importance of college-readiness partnerships – such as that between Spring ISD and the Houston-based EMERGE Fellowship – in making those successes possible.
The presentation also featured an update on the progress of 2022 Bond projects, as well as a number of individual student success stories that gave attendees a chance to hear directly from Spring ISD students themselves.
Winship Elementary fourth-grader Abigail John took to the stage to talk about how the Spring ISD Rising Writers initiative has impacted her – including through the inspiring example of previous participants who went on to become published authors.
“I love to write because it allows me to express my feelings and thoughts,” John told audience members, explaining how her earliest efforts as a writer had eventually led her to complete and publish her first book last summer.
John said she learned to love writing during her first-grade year, when a stomach illness kept her out of school for long periods of time, forcing her instead to spend time in doctors’ offices and hospitals, having tests done and waiting for results. Her teacher at Winship, Mary Garcia, helped John learn to read and write, and encouraged her to journal about her thoughts and feelings, which helped make the time pass more easily.
Later in the program, Dekaney High School senior Diego Chapela-Perez joined Hinojosa on stage to tell attendees about how being part of the Dekaney Saxophone Ensemble had expanded his world as a musician.
“I cannot express how grateful I am to Spring ISD for all the opportunities that they have provided me with,” said Chapela-Perez, going on to explain how his music studies in Spring ISD had opened the door to winning top prizes in state and national competitions, receiving multiple college scholarship offers, and reaffirming his talent while giving him the tools and experiences needed to be great at what he loves.
“Band is like a big family; it’s a safe place where no one has to feel excluded or judged, and our band directors lead by example,” Chapela-Perez said. “It’s been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Friends, our village is strong, and with your continued support and strong faith, anything is possible for the students in our district.”
Christian Nwosu, a Dekaney senior who serves as president of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee – was also on hand to talk about how his years in Spring ISD had afforded him the opportunity to excel as an athlete and varsity football player, as a member of his high school theater troupe, and as an all-around student. Combining his passions, Nwosu is headed this fall to Harvard University on a scholarship to play football while also pursuing his academic dreams.
“During my time at Dekaney, I’ve been fortunate to achieve success as a top-performing high school athlete as well as an award-winning actor, but most importantly, I am a scholar that has achieved academic merit,” Nwosu said, going on to acknowledge the coaches and teachers who have believed in and encouraged him. “I learned early on that it’s not only about winning on the championship field or winning a championship on the stage. It’s about learning how to win in life, and that, ladies and gentlemen, is the Spring Way!”
Partnerships and community support were featured throughout, with Hinojosa noting special partnerships with ExxonMobil, the Houston Endowment, Prairie View A&M University, and Sam Houston State University that are bringing expanded opportunities to district students and new graduates.
Hinojosa also gave a shout-out to the many groups that, year-in and year-out, help the district do its best work to support students – the Spring ISD Ministerial Alliance, the Spring ISD Education Foundation, and parent and student advisory councils.
Nicky Sucacin, a parent of seven children currently enrolled in the district from elementary to high school, currently serves as PTO president at Hirsch Elementary and PTO secretary at Twin Creeks Middle School. She took time from her busy morning to come hear Hinojosa’s address.
“It was really good,” said Sucacin afterward, commending Hinojosa’s leadership and adding that some of her favorite parts of the State of the District event included “learning about what the district is doing, and how much the staff is doing for the kids, and how involved the district is. Also, meeting other people with a common bond, being part of a community.”
In addition to the main address from the superintendent, attendees were also treated to performances from the Spring High School Jazz Combo – directed by JD Guzman – as well as the Dekaney High School Saxophone Ensemble – under the direction of Abraham Nunez. The Spring High School Navy JROTC Color Guard was on hand for the presentation of colors, and Westfield High School senior April Acevedo sang the national anthem.
A pair of student emcees welcomed the capacity crowd, kept the program moving, and helped thank major event sponsors, including the Education Foundation of Harris County, architectural firm PBK, and this year’s title sponsor, Amplify. Eddie Idemudia, an eighth-grader at Dueitt Middle School, and Delilah Romero, a senior at Spring High School, shared about their experiences as students in the district, and helped remind audience members what lies at the heart of Spring ISD’s work each and every day – its students and their success.
“We’re so grateful for each and every person here today,” Idemudia told attendees. “We’re so happy to share with you what we already know – Spring ISD is a district of choice and opportunities, and a premier destination for a wonderful education.”
Source: Spring ISD
