The Legacy of Community: Schools That Make Us Proud to Come Home

There is something special about homecoming. It’s more than a football game or a dance. It’s the moment when the entire community gathers—parents, grandparents, alumni, and students—sharing the same bleachers, cheering for the same team, and celebrating the same schools.

As an alumnus, I remember that pride. It’s what inspired me to return to this district with my two kids. I wanted them to grow up in a place where schools are more than classrooms, they are the heartbeat of the community. They are where children discover who they are, what they can achieve, and how they’re connected to something bigger than themselves. That sense of tradition and belonging is part of what makes this district special.

Homecoming is a reminder that our schools do more than educate, they unite. It’s the moment when generations cross paths: a grandparent sharing memories of their own school days, a parent pointing out the band they once marched in, a student looking ahead and imagining their own future here. The pride we feel at homecoming is proof that schools shape identity, not just transcripts. They teach us what it means to belong to something larger than ourselves.

That sense of belonging doesn’t show up on a test. You can’t measure pride in a bubble sheet. Yet it’s what motivates students to learn, to grow, and to come back years later as proud alumni themselves. Homecoming is a living example of how schools shape more than grades, they shape the kind of community we want to build and sustain.

Of course, I also know there are tough choices ahead. Budgets are tight, and there will always be pressure to focus resources on reading, math, and science. These subjects are essential, no question. Every child deserves a strong foundation in the basics. But if we put every dollar into core academics and nothing else, what do we risk losing?

We risk hollowing out the experiences that make schools meaningful. Arts, music, theater, athletics, and student activities all give kids outlets to explore who they are and where they belong. Counseling, electives, and career pathways help them see possibilities for their future. These are not extras, they are essential parts of what makes school worth coming back to, year after year.

Homecoming reminds us of what’s at stake. It’s proof that our schools are about more than academics—they are about community, pride, and legacy. As a parent, an alumnus, and a candidate, I believe our responsibility is to protect that balance. Yes, we should prepare kids for tests. But even more importantly, we should prepare them for life—for belonging, for connection, and for pride that lasts long after graduation.

That’s the vision I carry with me: schools that make us proud to come home.