Rockwall ISD Superintendent Dr. John Villarreal has an annual tradition of taking a picture with a group of students he met during his first year as superintendent in 2016. He met this group of students when they were third-graders at Howard Dobbs Elementary School. These Rockwall students made a lasting impression on Dr. Villarreal, so he revisited them, and their yearly photo tradition began.
This special tradition has stayed alive for years, as the once third-graders transitioned into graduating seniors. The students had the chance to reminisce on their educational journey since elementary school by taking one last photo with their superintendent. At their last photo-meetup, Dr. Villarreal signed the students’ yearbooks and told them, “You will always have a home in Rockwall ISD.”
One of the parents of a student participating in this tradition expressed their gratitude to Dr. Villarreal for this meaningful experience. “Thank you for taking [the] time to make something special for [these] kids,” parent Ana Mejia said. “It was a really special moment that they [will] never forget.”
Source: Rockwall ISD Facebook
Blog by: Nina Cairo, Intern, UT Austin
