Greetings, La Porte ISD Family. Today is a great day to be a Bulldog!
I love this time of year. As fall approaches, we embrace the season with excitement and nostalgia. The tradition of Friday night football games and the echo of volleyballs in the gym create a vibrant backdrop to our school days. Students are deeply immersed in their studies, from exploring shapes in the youngest grades to tackling advanced math and science as they prepare for life beyond high school. This time of year truly captures the spirit of growth and community, making it one of my most cherished seasons.
One of my favorite events of the season is the annual announcement of AP Scholars. This year, we proudly celebrate 31 of our outstanding students, including several recent graduates, who have earned this prestigious recognition for their exceptional academic achievements and dedication. Their hard work and commitment to excellence truly embody the spirit of our school community and inspire us all.
I hope you are inspired, as I am, by La Porte graduates such as Terrell Bernard and J.B. Sauceda — both of whom continue to make us extremely proud. Terrell was recently named as a Buffalo Bills captain for the NFL season; J.B. recently debuted his first ever Texas Country Reporter episode, which includes an homage to La Porte legend Sonja Angelo. While the syndicated Texas Country Reporter is broadcast locally and nationally, the episode are also published on their YouTube Channel. Watch for J.B.'s inaugural episode to be posted there soon. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills produced an outstanding biopic on Terrell and his ties to La Porte. Watch it here.
At our school district, we pride ourselves on fostering innovation, and our social media channels are no exception. We've recently introduced exciting new features like Jackson Moments, where I conduct brief, engaging interviews with our students, and the LP Lens, which invites everyone to submit short videos on various topics. These initiatives are designed to be both fun and informative, offering a delightful way for us to connect and get to know each other better. If you haven’t yet had the chance to check them out, I encourage you to dive in and experience the creativity and enthusiasm of our community firsthand!
Superintendent Shout-outs
- Shout-out to our La Porte High School Bulldogs of the Month, who were treated to a cookout by Principal Dr. Kade Griffin this past week. Bulldogs of the Month are students who exhibit positivity, respectfulness, integrity, dedication and always strive for excellence.
- Kudos also go to our volunteers. Whether you are helping on the sidelines, as a member of the Watch D.O.G.S, or as a HELPS Mentor, we are grateful to you for your commitment to our students. If you would like to join the group of dedicated parents and community members who volunteer at our schools, please complete a volunteer application.
- A huge shout-out to our School Nutrition Department. In my travels this past week, I heard from a number of students that they are loving the free breakfasts and lunches. Preparing menus and food for thousands of students is not easy. Ensuring that everyone enjoys the meals is even more daunting. But our culinary professionals have it down pat, and there are plenty of kiddos who are thankful.
Finally, amid all of the positives that we have experienced since the start of school, our hearts were broken this past week following the tragedy in Apalachee High School in Georgia. We continue to keep that community close to our hearts, and I want to assure you that the safety and security of our students and staff remain our top priorities. In addition to technology, entrance barriers and regular practicing of emergency drills at our schools, our Board of Trustees also was among the first in Texas to invest in a team of law enforcement officers to be present on every campus — all day, every day. Of course, we also rely on you and your student to help us. Please encourage them to report a danger or threat to a trusted adult such as a teacher or campus administrator. They can also use our Anonymous Alerts app, which is available in the App Store and on Google Play. Your partnership is crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of our school community.
In your service,
Walter Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
