Springboard Oct. 2026
President Justine Durant called the meeting to order, followed by Trustee Winford Adams Jr. reading the Spring ISD Purpose Statement. The award-winning Westfield Mustang Army JROTC led the presentation of the Colors. The pledges were led by Cadet Sergeant Ziyanta Rosado. Cadet Major Larry Ponce served as the Color Guard Commander carrying the U.S. flag, while Cadet Staff Sergeant Francisco Escobar carried the Texas flag. Cadet Sergeant Angie Mendoza and Cadet Sergeant DianaGuevara served as the left and right rifle bearers, respectively. The Westfield Mustang Army JROTC is led by Colonel Thelma Piper.
Spotlight - National Principals Month
Chief of Staff Dr. LaTracy Harris recognized Spring ISD campus leaders in celebration of National Principals Month, highlighting the important role principals play in shaping student success, strengthening schools and building strong communities.
“National Principals Month shines a spotlight on the transformative power of school principals,” Harris said. “These leaders, with their resolute vision and unwavering dedication, aren’t merely running schools. They’re molding futures, shaping communities, and paving pathways to success for every student.”
Harris emphasized that the role of a principal extends far beyond administrative responsibilities, with campus leadership directly supporting effective teaching, classroom learning and student outcomes.
“Their influence radiates outward, touching all facets of the school and significantly influencing student outcomes,” Harris said.
Harris also noted that National Principals Month provides an opportunity not only to celebrate principals and their contributions, but also to recognize the challenges they face and the importance of providing the support and resources they need to thrive.
Point of Pride Chief of Staff, Dr. LaTracy Harris has been nationally recognized by K-12 Dive as one of its Rising Leaders for 2026-2027
Superintendent Dr. Kregg Cuellar recognized Spring ISD Chief of Staff Dr. LaTracy Harris for earning national recognition from K-12 Dive as one of its “Rising Leaders: 10 Standout Assistant Principals and District Leaders You Should Know in 2026-27.”
The national education publication highlighted Harris’ leadership in helping drive cultural transformation across Spring ISD, recognizing her ability to build trust, strengthen collaboration and support the district’s turnaround efforts.
“This is a well-deserved national recognition for Dr. Harris and the leadership she brings to Spring ISD every day,” Cuellar said. “She has been instrumental in helping us strengthen our culture, build trust across our organization and ensure that culture remains at the center of the transformation happening across The New Spring ISD.”
Harris' work has supported the district’s continued focus on culture, accountability and opportunity, alongside significant academic progress, including an 11-point increase in Spring ISD’s overall accountability score and 30 of the district’s 40 campuses showing improvement.
Cuellar also celebrated Harris’ one-year anniversary as Chief of Staff, praising her dedication, accessibility and commitment to students and families.
“She makes my job much easier as superintendent,” Cuellar said. “I call her the firefighter. She’s always accessible, and she’s always serving in the best interest of our students. Dr. Harris, well deserved and congratulations.”
President Durant also congratulated Harris, recalling their first encounter in 2014 or 2015, when Harris impressed her during a grievance hearing with her preparation and professionalism.
“It was one of the best presentations I had seen, and I remember turning to Dr. Watson at the time and saying, ‘That’s a future leader,’” Durant said. “I’ve had my eye on you for a long time, and we are really grateful and blessed to have you here. Congratulations.”
Superintendent Dr. Kregg Cuellar opened his report by recognizing National Principals Month and celebrating the campus leaders who serve Spring ISD students, staff and families each day.
“I know firsthand the responsibility that comes with leading a campus,” Cuellar said. “Our principals make difficult decisions, support their teachers and staff, and show up every day with one goal in mind: doing what is best for students.”
Cuellar credited Spring ISD principals with playing an essential role in the district’s continued progress, noting that the gains being seen across Spring ISD would not be possible without their leadership, hard work and commitment to excellence.
“To each of our principals, thank you for believing in our students, leading with purpose and holding high expectations for what we can accomplish together,” Cuellar said. “I am proud to serve alongside you.”
Cuellar also recognized several other observances during October, including School Custodian Appreciation Day on Oct. 2 and National Coaches Day on Oct. 6, as well as National Night Out, which brought schools, families and law enforcement partners together across the community.
“These occasions remind us of something important: Schools are built by our incredible people,” Cuellar said. “Our custodians create clean, safe and welcoming environments, our coaches instill teamwork, discipline and perseverance, and our community partners help strengthen the connections that keep our schools safe.”
Cuellar then highlighted the district’s recent Teacher Incentive Allotment Recognition Banquet, where Spring ISD celebrated the dedication, excellence and impact of 567 TIA outstanding educators.
“These teachers are doing the work of helping our students grow, achieve and see what is possible for themselves, and we are proud to recognize that impact,” Cuellar said. “To all of our TIA educators: congratulations. I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that I see you, I value you, and I am deeply grateful for all that you do.”
Cuellar also reminded the Spring ISD community about upcoming opportunities to learn more about Proposition A, ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
“I encourage our families, staff and community members to attend, ask questions and stay informed,” Cuellar said.“ Community members can visit propa.springisd.org for more information.”
Lastly, Cuellar celebrated Roberson Middle School for being named a 2026 Lone Star Ribbon School, making it one of only 25 public schools across Texas to receive the honor and one of three schools recognized in the Houston area.
“That is an incredible accomplishment,” Cuellar said. “It speaks to the dedication of their teachers and staff, the commitment of their students, the partnership of their families, and the culture they are building together.”
President Durant recognized Trustee Winford Adams Jr. for being selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), an organization that supports school board governance and advocates for public education across Texas.
Durant described the appointment as an honor not only for Adams, but also for Spring ISD and the community the district serves.
“Serving on a school board requires dedication, sacrifice and an unrelenting commitment to doing what’s best for students,” Durant said. “Taking that commitment to the state level demonstrates an even greater willingness to serve, lead and help shape the future of public education.”
Durant noted that Adams’ selection reflects the confidence others have placed in his leadership, experience and commitment to children and families across Texas.
“As your colleagues, we are proud to see Spring ISD represented at this level, and we know you will bring a valuable perspective to the important conversations and decisions taking place across the state,” Durant said. “On behalf of the Spring ISD Board of Trustees, congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”
In response, Trustee Adams expressed his gratitude for the Board’s support and the opportunity to represent Spring ISD and public school students across Texas.
“I really hope to be able to bring another voice to the conversation as I serve the 31,000 kids in Spring, the 1.2 million kids in Region 4, and the 5.5 million students across Texas,” Adams said. “This is important work, and this is a hard time to be doing the work. I really appreciate your trust in me to send me to Austin to do this. Thank you very much.”
Trustee Dr. Liz Jensen shared highlights from her participation in the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Education Conference, where she attended sessions featuring Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath and State Sen. Paul Bettencourt.
Jensen also discussed her participation in the Pacific Research Institute School Board Member Conference, where she presented on the importance of hands-on laboratory experiences in science education. She emphasized the value of experiential learning and engaged fellow school board members in an interactive activity using magnets to demonstrate the impact of science labs on student learning.
“I discussed the importance of labs in science education,” Jensen said. “I had everyone do an activity with magnets to demonstrate the power of labs.”
In closing, Jensen reflected on the recent vigil held in support of the Spring ISD community following the tragic loss of students. She expressed her appreciation for the community’s show of unity and compassion.
“I was touched by the vigil for the Spring ISD community following our student fatalities,” Jensen said. “When official reports are complete, I’m ready to inspect policy for any root cause opportunities.”
Reading of the Trustees' Continuing Education Credit Hours
President Durant recognized all seven Spring ISD Board of Trustees members for exceeding the state’s required continuing education hours, highlighting their commitment to ongoing professional development and effective school board governance.
As part of the annual reporting requirement, Durant reviewed trustees’ completion of training across 11 areas, including school safety, cybersecurity, student academic performance, child abuse prevention, artificial intelligence, parental rights and updates to the Texas Education Code.
All seven trustees not only fulfilled their required training but also completed additional hours beyond state requirements, demonstrating their dedication to strengthening their knowledge and leadership in support of Spring ISD students, staff and families.
“I want to thank all of my board members for not only completing but exceeding the amount of continuing education hours required,” Durant said. “I also want to recognize Jason Sheffer for his support in coordinating training and ensuring compliance with state requirements.”
Board Governance Committee Update
Vice President Natasha McDaniel, chair of the Board Governance Committee, provided an update on the committee’s recent review of Policy Update 127 from the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).
“The majority of the updates are to align with the new Senate bills from the 89th Legislature, such as additions to reflect SB 12,” McDaniel said. “Most of them are things such as language changes and cross-references added.”
McDaniel also highlighted updates related to educator misconduct reporting requirements and the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics. Additionally, the committee discussed whether Spring ISD should incorporate district-specific qualifications for campus principals into its personnel policies, beyond the minimum requirements established by the state.
The discussion also addressed College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) policies, with McDaniel noting that the committee is seeking clarification on language related to reinvesting funding into CCMR courses. The committee plans to revisit the CCMR policies at its next meeting to continue reviewing the proposed language and funding recommendations.
Board Special Education Ad-Hoc Committee Update
President Durant shared that the committee reviewed a new special education dashboard designed to track staff training, identify professional development needs and support ongoing improvements.
“This month, we were 100% compliant for the first time in a very long time with special education requirements from the state,” Durant said. “I wanted to acknowledge all of the staff who have been working really hard to make sure we reached that 100% compliance.”
Trustee Adams emphasized the importance of continuous learning and personal accountability, noting that he has focused additional professional development on special education practices.
“When we talk about student outcomes changing when adult behaviors change, the first adult behavior that must change is my adult behavior,” Adams said. “I’ve heavily focused on special education so that I can bring what’s happening in other districts and around the country back to the work that we’re doing.”
Durant also highlighted the Board’s participation in national and state education conferences, where trustees presented Spring ISD initiatives, including Building Bridges, Table Talks and the President’s Leadership Cohort. She thanked Executive Director Family & CommunityEngagement Tranita Carroll and Chief of Staff Dr. LaTracy Harris for their support in preparing the presentations.
