09/23/2026
I am glad to report that I finished my term as “Principal for a Day”! I spent the day shadowing Principal Gaither at Apollo JH in Richardson ISD. I chose this location because I was a student there from 1991-1994. I was excited to see what changed and what was the same. I already knew that teachers, staff and administrators have difficult but very rewarding jobs. I’m in awe at everything they handle. 5 days a week! My notes!
1) Campus is under construction for two years while they transition to middle school, 6–8th grade. I can’t wait to see it!
2) Portables are much fancier and nicer than what we had. It’s a giant module with six classrooms per portable!
3) I think the principal is getting 20,000 steps a day but she doesn’t count.
4) The teachers’ lounge is very cool.
5) The band hall is exactly the same.
6) Our kids are in great hands. The principal has a philosophy and everyone there has adopted it. They treat your kids as they would treat their own! 👏🏾⭐️🎉📚
7) The classrooms are very high-tech and they also have an E sports class.
8.) The students love learning, they are supported and optimistic. They have classes to learn what professions they may want to pursue!
9) The kids couldn’t believe I was a student there… in the 1990s and thought I was only 30! Then several of them reported that their moms were born in 1991 🤷🏽♀️
10) I’ll be back next month for their Hispanic Heritage Month event as my first act of community support for AJH.
Honorable mention: Ms. Bynum taught art for 40 years, retired, got a hall named after her and is now back as a sub! 👏🏾🎉🎨🖼️
