Paragon Prep in Austin, TX

Good morning, Paragon families! Ten school days. That's what stands between us and summer — and I have to say, I am feeling every single one of them this morning in the very best way. Yesterday was nothing short of a marathon of joy. From the spring musical to the talent show, the pool party to the middle school dance, our community packed an extraordinary amount of fun, pride, and memory-making into a single day. I went home thoroughly exhausted and completely full. Watching our students perform, cheer each other on, and celebrate together reminded me exactly why this work matters so much. These are the moments that make the memories that we will all carry with us long after the school year ends. Before we dive into the week ahead, I am thrilled to share some exciting news. The results of our Claim the World for Paragon flag design competition are in — and we have a winner! Congratulations to Amira Makiya of Rutgers, whose stunning flag design rose to the top and will now represent Rutgers in the most exciting way possible: this summer, Amira's artwork will travel the world as part of our Claim the World initiative, carrying the Paragon spirit to every corner of the globe. Amira, we are so proud of you and cannot wait to see where your flag lands! Check out her winning design below. And now, we finish strong. These final ten days are not filler — they are an opportunity for one last, meaningful push in learning before we send our students into summer with full hearts and sharp minds. The energy, creativity, and community spirit we witnessed yesterday is exactly the fuel we need to close this year the Paragon way. I am deeply grateful for every family, student, and staff member who has made this year so remarkable, and I cannot wait to celebrate what's ahead together. Here's to the final stretch! With gratitude, Lindsay Hay, M. Ed. Head of School

Dear Paragon Families, There is a moment in every school year that feels like a deep exhale — a pause in the middle of all the doing to simply say: we see you. Friday's assembly gave us that moment twice over, as we crowned the final SEL Award winners of the 2025–2026 school year. These awards are not given lightly. They are not about grades or trophies or statistics. They are about the "be kind" in our motto — the part that is hardest to measure and most important to celebrate. Watching our community stop and honor the humans behind the hard work is one of my favorite things we do all year. This year's faculty winner of the Problem-Solver Award was none other than Mr. Joey, Paragon's Dean of Students — and if you know Mr. Joey, you know why this one hit different. He is not the kind of person who seeks the spotlight or campaigns for recognition. He is the kind of person who is already three steps into fixing something before anyone else has realized there is a problem to fix. In fact, in a moment that felt almost scripted by the universe, Mr. Joey was literally in the middle of solving a problem when his name was called as the faculty winner. He looked up, completely surprised, and got to work accepting an award for the exact thing he had been doing a second before anyone was watching. That is Mr. Joey in a nutshell. What makes this moment even more meaningful is that Mr. Joey holds a distinction no other staff member in Paragon history can claim: he is the only person ever to win the Charlie Award, our annual recognition for friendship and the only award chosen by students for students. To now add the Problem-Solver Award to that legacy is a reminder that the best people in a school community show up fully, in every direction, every single day. We are so lucky to have him. That spirit — the one that keeps your head down, stays in the work, and doesn't need anyone to be watching — is exactly what we hope every student at Paragon is absorbing. It is not always the loudest person in the room who makes the biggest difference. Sometimes it is the one who is already solving the problem before the assembly even begins. We see that modeled every day by people like Mr. Joey, and we see it reflected back in our students in ways that make us genuinely proud. Which brings us to Monday — because if there is a group of Paragon Knights who have embodied that exact ethos all season long, it is our JV soccer team, who are heading into the AIPL championship game with everything on the line. They have worked hard, played hard, and done it with the kind of quiet determination that has given them a perfect season with no losses. Come out to the game, bring your school spirit, and let them feel the full weight of this community behind them. Go Knights! With joy, Lindsay Hay, M. Ed. Head of School

We are honored to announce that Paragon Prep’s Head of School, Lindsay Hay, has been named Education Insider’s Head of School of the Year for 2026. This recognition reflects her dedication to fostering a supportive school community, strengthening academic excellence, and leading with intention and care. Read the full article below.

Dear Paragon Families, As we head into these final weeks of the school year, I can tell our students are ready to move on to the next grade. The signs are everywhere! They seem to have grown two inches overnight, patience is running a little thin all around, and emotions between friends are running a little higher than usual. Sound familiar? You're not imagining it. This time of year brings a unique kind of emotional overload-- for kids and adults alike. Our students are caught between two very real feelings at the same time: the excitement of being ready to grow up and move forward, and the uncertainty of what comes next. A new grade, a new school, a new summer adventure-- whatever is on the horizon, the unknown has a way of sneaking into our subconscious and bringing out feelings we can't quite name. The result? Everyone is a little more reactive, a little more sensitive, and a little less patient than usual. And that is completely normal. Not to mention, we are all exhausted from a busy schedule and the push to get all the things done. So hang on, Paragon families! We are almost there, and we will get through this together. Please know that what you are seeing at home is not a reflection of anything going wrong. It is actually a sign that your child is growing, feeling deeply, and processing a big transition. That is healthy, even when it does not feel that way in the moment. In the past few weeks, I have been busy doing my end-of-year classroom observations, and I have to tell you-- watching our teachers work with your children is genuinely the highlight of my day. Even if it is a tumultuous time of year. This week I stopped by our PreK room and watched our littles diving into letters and sounds, building the pre-reading skills that will set them up for everything that comes next. It was amazing to see. And in Kindergarten, I watched our students plant a tree for Earth Day-- how wonderful is that? These are the moments that remind me exactly why we do what we do. You are doing a great job, Paragon families. If you are feeling the weight of this season — or your child is — please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here, we see you, and we are in this together until the very last day. With joy, Lindsay Hay, M. Ed. Head of School

Dear Paragon Families, What a week it has been! Our 4th and 5th graders just returned from Outdoor School, and if the sunburned noses and tired smiles are any indication, it was nothing short of amazing. After two days at camp fishing, swimming, conquering the archery range, and tackling the ropes course, our students came back exhausted in the very best way. Experiences like Outdoor School are so incredibly valuable for our students, and moments like these remind me why we continue to provide them. When kids step away from their screens, their routines, and the familiar walls of our classrooms, something remarkable happens. They detach, they breathe, and they discover things about themselves they never knew were there. Whether it was a student who was terrified of heights conquering the ropes course, or a kid who had never held a fishing pole reeling in their first catch-- these are the moments that shape who they are becoming. On a personal note, I am stepping away briefly this weekend to travel to Lubbock to visit one of my sons at Texas Tech. This will be my first time visiting since I registered him for classes 2 summers ago. I still remember my boys on their first day at Paragon in 2012. Michael was in the first 2nd grade class at Paragon. with his future best friend Ryan, who is now one of his roommates at Tech, along with another Paragon grad, Ian. I am so excited to see our Paragon grads in college, especially as we prepare to see our high school graduates soon on Founders Day. It is funny how life has a way of running in full circles. Here I am, in the business of beginnings and endings every single day-- first days of school, last days of school, watching children grow year after year-- and yet nothing quite prepares you for the milestones of your own children. This is the greatest reminder of why education matters. Every teacher, every administrator, every caring adult in a child's life plants seeds that grow long after the school year ends. I hope we never forget that. So as I head into this final stretch with a full heart and maybe a little exhaustion, I want to encourage each of you to hold on-- just five more weeks. Five weeks to make more memories, to celebrate growth, and to remind our students that they are seen and valued. Let's finish strong, together. I cannot wait to see what these last five weeks hold for all of us. With joy, Lindsay Hay, M. Ed. Head of School