Hello TEPSANs,
We are quickly approaching my favorite season of the year…FALL. As we move through September and approach the heart of what many call Shocktober, I want to take a moment to acknowledge you—the passionate, driven, resilient leaders on the front lines of our schools.
We often say that August is about preparation, but September and October are about endurance. The excitement of the new year begins to shift into the daily grind of decision-making, staffing challenges, behavior concerns, and systems management. And yet, it’s in these months—when the calendar is full, and the energy is low—that your legacy begins to take deeper root.
Let me remind you of this truth: “You are not just managing a school. You are shaping lives.”
Every day, in the quiet consistency of your leadership, you’re leaving fingerprints on the future. Through every hard conversation, every coaching moment, every smile in the hallway, you are pouring into the next generation. This is not small work. This is legacy work.
I know the emails don’t stop. I know the to-do list grows faster than it shrinks. I know the expectations keep rising. But even in the chaos, you are making a difference that cannot be measured in data points alone. You’re modeling courage, empathy, and excellence for your staff and your students.
So, pause when you can. Breathe and give yourself grace. Take the time to be present—with your team, with your students, and with yourself. Balance isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity if you’re going to sustain this good work.
When it gets overwhelming—and it will—look into the eyes of the children who walk your hallways. They are the living legacy of your leadership. What you do matters. Who you are matters.
Let’s keep going. Let’s keep leading. And let’s keep Leaving an
Unforgettable Legacy—one student, one decision, one day at a time.
Dana Harley Boyd is an Elementary Executive Principal in El Paso ISD.
