Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
Dr. Paula Patterson, Superintendent of Schools
Welcome back!
There is something about the beginning of a new school year that never gets old. No matter how many first days I have experienced throughout my career in education, there is still an energy and excitement that comes with watching our schools come alive again.
On August 5, Crosby ISD welcomed students from our youngest Pre-K students to our graduating seniors back through the doors of our seven campuses. We welcomed returning Cougars, new students, and children who were stepping into a classroom for the very first time. And what I saw was beautiful: smiles, hugs, a few nervous looks, lots of laughter, and an unmistakable sense of excitement about what a new year might bring.
Of course, that first day did not happen by accident.
For nearly two weeks before our students arrived, our Crosby ISD staff worked tirelessly to prepare. Classrooms were decorated. Lessons were planned. Schedules were built. Classes were balanced. Campuses were cleaned and prepared. Details were checked and rechecked. Our staff worked through the countless things that have to happen behind the scenes to make a school year begin successfully.
And our students were preparing, too.
Our Theatre students were organizing costumes and props for their upcoming season. The Big Red Machine spent weeks preparing to live out their mantra, One Band, One Sound. Our athletes were conditioning, taking team pictures, practicing, and competing for positions. Student organizations stepped up to welcome others and serve their schools and community, volunteering at events such as our Back 2 School Bash and Fish Camp.
That is one of the things I love most about Crosby ISD. Our students do not simply attend school here. They are part of it.
After the first day, I found myself looking at some of the numbers that tell the story of our district.
246 — the number of brand-new Pre-K students who joined us this year.
442 — the number of kindergarten students who became the newest members of Cougar Nation.
518 — the number of seniors beginning their final year with us, who will walk across the stage in May and begin the next chapter of their lives.
618 — our largest class this year, made up of sixth graders at Crosby Middle School.
1,310 — the number of staff members who come to work every day with a commitment to our students.
4,870+ — the number of meals served on the first day of school.
6,000+ — the number of students who rode a Crosby ISD school bus that first day, whether in the morning, afternoon, or both.
Numbers can tell us a lot, but numbers never tell the whole story.
Behind those 246 Pre-K students are families trusting us with their children for the very first time.
Behind those 442 kindergarteners are parents watching their little ones take an important first step toward independence.
Behind those 518 seniors are years of friendships, challenges, accomplishments, lessons, and memories that have brought them to this moment.
Behind every meal served is a member of our Nutrition Services team who understands that taking care of a child means taking care of the whole child.
And behind every bus ride are transportation professionals who understand that their most important responsibility is getting our students to school and home safely.
Ultimately, behind every one of these numbers are more than 6,900 students who are the reason we are here.
They are our why.
They are why our teachers prepare. Why our buses run. Why our cafeterias serve. Why our campuses are cleaned, maintained, and cared for. Why our coaches stay late. Why our counselors listen. Why our staff members continue to show up, day after day, ready to give our students their very best.
This first week has reminded me of something I have always believed: a new school year is about possibility.
It is about the child walking into school for the first time and wondering what awaits them.
It is about the senior realizing that this is the beginning of the final year of a journey that started many years ago.
It is about the teacher opening the classroom door and knowing that an entirely new group of young people is depending on them.
And it is about all of us coming together with the shared belief that our students can accomplish more than they may yet imagine.
I am filled with hope for this school year. I am filled with pride in our students. And I am incredibly grateful for the nearly 1,000 people who make up our Crosby ISD family and who have worked so hard to make this beginning possible.
This year, our theme is Committed to Community.
And as we begin this journey together, I am reminded that community is not simply where we live. Community is what we build together.
Our families, our schools, our staff, our students, and our community partners all have a role to play in helping our young people succeed.
So I invite you to stay connected. Come to the games. Attend the performances. Celebrate student accomplishments. Volunteer when you can. Reach out to your child's teachers. Ask questions. Share in the victories, and stand beside us when things get difficult.
Because when we work together, our students feel it.
And when our students feel supported, they have the opportunity to do extraordinary things.
I am incredibly proud to begin another school year with you, Crosby.
Here’s to a year of learning, growth, possibility, and Cougar pride.
Let’s make it extraordinary.
With pride and gratitude,
Dr. Paula Patterson Superintendent of Schools Crosby ISD
Committed to Students
