“The spirit is here! All the excitement is here.”

Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa spoke for everybody in attendance at the Reynolds Elementary 50th Anniversary celebration, as she welcomed community members and students, as well as current and former teachers, principals, and staff on Friday.

“This is a welcome home celebration,” she said. “This kind of special occasion – where we get to celebrate a neighborhood school that has had a profound impact on the surrounding community for five incredible decades – is part of what makes Spring ISD special.”

Others in attendance at the celebration included other district officials like Board of Trustees members Carmen Correa, Assistant Secretary Rhonda Newhouse, and President Justine Durant. 

“I’m really proud of the community and the support that we’ve always had here at Reynolds,You can feel it when you walk in the building,” Durant said. “We’ve always seen remarkable things from Reynolds Elementary, and I know that will only continue.”

The celebration program included two performances from the Reynolds Elementary School Choir, as well as recognitions for former principals, assistant principals, and staff. Current principal Tim Livingston, who has been with the school for five years, said the day was all about honoring the past and celebrating the future of Reynolds Elementary.

“We look forward to the future with hope and anticipation,” he said. “We know that the seeds that were planted with Oak Creek Elementary have continued to flourish with Reynolds Elementary. Here’s to the next 50 years of growth, learning, and success!” 

Former principal Carolyn Mays also spoke, offering reflections on her time at Reynolds over 15 years ago. Mays joined Spring ISD in 1991, first as a counselor at Westfield and then as an assistant principal at Beneke Elementary. She joined the team at Reynolds – then known as Oak Creek Elementary – as assistant principal in 2000, serving with then principal and eventual namesake Pat Reynolds for six years. She became principal in 2006. 

Now retired, Mays – who called the district “near and dear” to her heart – currently serves as a Spring ISD mentor. She wore a lanyard that she wore throughout her time at Reynolds. The lanyard is red, with white letters, and it says “Children First.”

“That’s what Reynolds is all about,” she said. “Everyone that has been here before, and everyone that is here now all believe in the same thing: they always put children first.”

Dr. Meena Julapalli, who was stepping foot back in the school for the first time in nearly 30 years, spent third through fifth grade on the campus. A pediatric dermatologist and children’s book author, Dr. Julapalli still lives in Spring and remembers her time at the school fondly.

“I can’t stop smiling, my cheeks are getting sore,” she said. “It’s surreal.”

Dr. Julapalli spoke directly to the students currently attending Reynolds during the program, encouraging them to embrace their time at the school.

“Your time here at Reynolds Elementary is going to stay with you long after you’ve left these halls,” Dr. Julapalli said. “Each and every one of you is limitless. Take this precious time to discover what brings you joy. Honor your teachers and let them invest in you, and help you see what you can become. The rest is up to you.”