March 13, 2020. We had joked all week about the perfect storm those of us in education know is all too real. A full moon, Friday the 13th, and the week before spring break. What could possibly go wrong?  

The superintendents in my county had met in-person (the old days!) with emergency services and the chief medical officer March 12. We were preparing for a possible precautionary one-week shutdown, just in case, to curb the COVID-19 outbreak. I began prepping my leadership team for the possibility. Just like 9/11, I remember the exact moment when I realized this was much more serious than we first thought. Although Millsap ISD is in Parker County, I joined the Tarrant County (Fort Worth area) superintendents’ call the afternoon of March 13 to get the latest news. County leaders were advising and requesting a two-week closure beyond the end of spring break. District after district complied. Life as I knew it hasn’t been the same since.  

There’s a saying among superintendents: “We don’t get ready, we STAY ready.” A superintendent is on the clock 24/7/365. It’s what we sign up for. So, what did I do? I went into emergency operations mode. I knew my first step was communication. By the time school was out, I had advised the board of trustees (always first), my leadership team, the staff, the students, and then the public. One of my first thoughts was: “I have to let staff know it’s going to be OK. We are family, and we got this!” I called an emergency staff meeting at 4 p.m. It was vitally important they saw me calm, confident, and with a plan. I assured them everyone would continue to get paid, but it would take flexibility and creativity to accomplish the feat before us. I wasn’t sure yet what that entailed, but I promised to keep them apprised. I couldn’t believe their sense of peace as they left the meeting. Little did I know it was the last time I would get to hug them this school year.  

When I was ATPE state president during 2012-13, I often stated, “All our yesterdays bring us to today, and all our todays will take us to tomorrow.” The entirety of my previous leadership experiences, including those with ATPE, prepared me for the weeks following March 13. In a matter of hours, public education was reinvented, with over 1,000 food distribution centers established across Texas, remote counseling services set up, and educators accepting the call to invite students into their homes in a way we never could have imagined. Parents across the world instantly realized “Those who CAN, teach.”   

Only hours before writing these words April 17, our governor showed true leadership in announcing the closure of Texas’ schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. Although I respect his decision for the long-term health of our great state, I mourn. My arms ache for my littles. My ears long for the sound of children’s laughter and teenagers’ bantering. My tears fall for the memories seniors will forever be deprived. And, yet, my heart swells with pride at the endless displays of love I witness from staff every day. They, like you, are determined no unseen thief will steal our opportunity to show each child they are not forgotten, they will not be left hungry, and their minds will continue to grow. We are the glue that holds our democracy together.  

I have taken every opportunity possible to thank my Millsap Bulldog nation—students, staff, parents, the board, and the community—for coming together to support each other during this crisis. I thank you, ATPE family, for selflessly showing the world that even without STAAR or a predictable future, we exist for the 5.4 million children in Texas who rely on us for constancy, assurance, and care. This superintendent applauds you.  

Deann Lee has been the superintendent of Millsap ISD schools since August 2016 and was the assistant superintendent from 2014–2016. Prior to working at MISD, Lee served in Paris ISD for 23 years. There, she held several positions, including special education supervisor and federal programs director. A tireless advocate for education, Lee served as the 2012-13 state president of ATPE.