8  |  SCHOOL PLANT MANAGER MAGAZINE  |  FALL 2026
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From the President, continued
Soon, another group of children will 
walk through the doors of their new 
elementary school for the very first time.
Parents will take first-day pictures.
Teachers will welcome a brand-new class.
Students will make new friends.
There will be concerts, science fairs, assemblies, 
field days, victories, disappointments, 
laughter, and all of the ordinary moments that 
eventually become the memories people carry 
with them for a lifetime.
The building won’t create those 
memories. The people inside it will.
As I walked back to my truck that day, I 
realized I had started that walk thinking 
about buildings.
I finished it thinking about people.
That walk reminded me why our 
profession matters.
It’s easy to become consumed by projects, 
budgets, work orders, inspections, 
staffing challenges, equipment failures, 
and deadlines. Somewhere in the middle 
of all those responsibilities, it’s worth 
remembering why we accepted them in 
the first place.
Buildings are our responsibility.
People are our purpose.
Every classroom we prepare gives a 
teacher a place to inspire.
Every roof we replace protects learning.
Every HVAC system we repair creates an 
environment where students can succeed.
Every hallway we clean welcomes another 
child on the first day of school.
Most people will never know how much 
work goes into preparing their schools 
each summer.
They’ll simply arrive expecting 
everything to be ready.
In many ways, that’s the greatest 
compliment our profession can receive.
There is still plenty of work ahead before 
the first bell rings. There always will be.
But after walking through those two 
empty schools, I realized I wasn’t saying 
goodbye.
I was helping prepare the place where 
another generation of memories would 
begin.
Someday, years from now, I’ll walk those 
hallways again. There will be memories 
there too.
I’m grateful to have played a small part 
in helping shape the next chapter for my 
community.
The buildings will continue to change.
The people will continue to move 
forward.
And the memories will go with them.

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