Paragon Prep in Austin, TX

Dear Paragon Parents,

This past Thursday, our staff gathered for professional development, and I walked away reminded of just how special our Paragon team really is. Mrs. Behr opened our morning with a story about her daughters, who had come home Wednesday excited to share meaningful connections they’d made with their Paragon teachers. Haley reflected on something that really resonated with me: when we first choose a school for our children, we think about academics, programs, and opportunities. What we don’t fully realize is how much the people in that school will shape our children. When our kids come home excited about something a teacher or coach taught them, we are reminded what a privilege it is to have these amazing people helping raise our children.

That led perfectly into my question for our staff development on Thursday– When does a story become a lesson? We all have people in our lives whose words have stuck with us. Parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, and mentors whose little sayings become the voices in our heads when life gets challenging. For me, I still hear, “If you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time to clean!” and “Do what you gotta do, then you do what you wanna do.” Not exactly poetic masterpieces, but they have served me well!

I asked our staff to share the words they carry with them. What do they hear in their heads when things get hard? What’s their personal “let’s go” statement? What followed was a beautiful collection of wisdom, humor, and heartfelt inspiration from the very people who influence your children every day. Coach Matt shared, “You are never too young to be an everyday hero.” Mr. Miller offered, “There’s no growth in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growth zone.” I was blown away by the thoughtfulness and wisdom in the room.

And here’s what struck me most: these aren’t just inspirational quotes. They’re the personal philosophies of the people teaching, coaching, encouraging, and loving our children. These are the voices our kids hear every day, and someday, some of those words may become the voices in their heads when they face life’s challenges. What an incredible responsibility and privilege that is!

I’m collecting these wonderful sayings and have a little project in mind to turn them into something uniquely Paragon to share with our community, so stay tuned! In the meantime, think about the words that have stayed with you throughout your life, and maybe share a few with your children this weekend. You never know which simple saying might become a lifelong lesson.

Wishing you the best this week,

Lindsay Hay, M.Ed.

Head of School