TYLER, Texas — This week is a big one for the back-to-school season in East Texas. More than a dozen school districts will welcome students back Wednesday morning, including Tyler ISD.
"You don’t get into this profession unless you understand that we are a kid-centered institution and we are a kid-centered organization," said Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford.
With all that’s been going on in preparation for the start of school, he said that excitement and anticipation is high for students, staff and families.
"Kicking off everything, everything from Friday night lights to the first day of school for maybe the first child of a family walking into their first kindergarten class," Crawford said.
First-year teacher Jaydyn Martin attended both Hubbard and Three Lakes Middle Schools as well as Tyler High School. She is now a kindergarten teacher at Bell Elementary.
She’s just as excited to welcome in those first-year students and watch them grow in the same district that poured into her as a student.
"Being able to build relationships with these students, because I know it might be a little scary in the beginning since some of them have never been to school," Martin said. "But I can’t wait to go into the end of the year and to see their growth. I’m really here and really excited to see their growth."
While Martin may be new to the ropes of teaching, Dr. Bobby Markle, principal of Caldwell Arts Academy, is going into his ninth year with Tyler ISD and he has loved to see so much growth over the years.
"We are pretty much maxed out at enrollment with well over 600 kids. So our growth has just been tremendous," Markle said. "School is more than just books. It’s something that really is a lifelong journey for these kids and their development."