Washington Elementary

Listen, there’s this one life. This one life where you get to choose where you go and what you do and who you get to be. You get to choose your mindset. Your actions. Your reactions. You get to choose your attitude and perceptions. You get to choose what you say and do and think. You have the power every single day. And whatever you choose. I hope you honor your inner wisdom and make brave choices and follow the path that feels like love and freedom and bliss. I hope you go for it. The dreams. The visions. The things that spark your inner voice to whisper, this is right. I hope you let go of other people’s rules and stories for how you’re supposed to live and learn how to trust what feels genuine deep down in your core.

And I hope that if there’s one thing you trust in this world, it’s your heart. I hope if there’s one thing you honor above all else, you honor what you feel. And if there’s one thing you stay true to throughout your life, it’s to the deep inner knowing that flows through your bloodstream and wraps around your bones and makes you feel vital and alive and whole. And I hope that if there’s something deep within telling you this is right and this is real and this is for me... I hope you trust that feeling. Honor it. At the very least, please give it a chance.

One of the greatest lessons I hope my students leave with is this:
You do not have to have it all figured out to keep going.
You do not have to feel confident to be capable.
You do not have to be perfect to be powerful.

Life will not always be easy. There will be moments of doubt, moments when things feel hard and moments where you question yourself. I have had those moments, too. But growth happens when you choose courage anyway. Confidence does not always come first, courage does. You step forward, and confidence catches up.

So to our students:
Take up space.
Use your voice.
Walk with kindness.
Carry yourself with respect.
Do not shrink yourself to make others comfortable.
Do not step back when you were meant to step forward.

To the Booker T. Washington community,

It has been one of the greatest honors and privileges of my life to serve as your principal. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your children’s lives, your families, your memories, and this incredible school community. Booker T. is more than a school, it is family, heart, resilience, love, and pride.

Together, we celebrated victories, overcame challenges, created memories, and poured into our students every single day. I will forever cherish the laughter in the hallways, the smiles from our students, the dedication of our staff, and the unwavering support from our families and community.

While goodbyes are never easy, I leave with a heart full of gratitude and love for each and every one of you. Booker T. Washington will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will forever be thankful for the opportunity to serve this amazing community.

And y’all know what I always say…

Do your best to be your best.
Don’t just talk about it, be about it.

I LOVE YOU. ❤️