It’s UIL competition season, and as usual, I’ve found myself spending a lot of time in concert halls, athletic fields, baseball diamonds, and even the goat/lamb barn cheering on our incredible Raiders and Pirates as they showcase their amazing abilities.
Last week, I attended the Bi-District One Act Play competition where Wylie High School took the stage, and took home the victory! It was a great performance, and our students were recognized with tons of hardware. One standout moment was watching Kimmy Irby win the best award, “Best Performer” for the entire competition for the second time in a week. Her performance was nothing short of extraordinary.
Watching Kimmy brought back years of memories. I’ve had the joy of seeing all the Irby sisters, Alison, Elizabeth, and now Kimmy light up the stage with their passion and presence. Each one has left a mark on our district and on my heart. As Kimmy prepares to cross the graduation stage this May, I’ll miss the bright smiles, the hopeful energy, and the legacy of excellence the Irby girls have shared with us.
What the Irbys may never know is the personal impact they’ve had on my life. They’ve inspired me through their kindness, courage, and character on the stage. Traits that remind me of something Robert F. Kennedy once said. In one of his most memorable speeches, he spoke of how small acts, whether of kindness, bravery, or simple belief, can create ripples of hope, like pebbles thrown into still water, spreading far beyond the initial splash.
Last year, the author of that very speech made for Kennedy passed away. It made me pause and reflect—could he have ever imagined how far those words would travel, or how deeply they would affect someone like me?
As part of the Wylie Way, we’ve been focusing on the character traits of gratitude and celebration. We encourage our students to reflect on those who have made a positive impact in their lives, those “ripples of hope,” and to recognize them with a simple yet powerful gesture: a Ripple of Hope card.
I sent one to Kimmy. And I also sent one to the widow of the speechwriter whose words moved me all those years ago. In both messages, I shared how their presence, whether on stage or through the written word, had made a meaningful difference in my life.
I hope our students feel the joy and appreciation in receiving those cards, just as I’ve felt the deep impact of their actions in my own heart. May we all pause to recognize the ripples we create around us and be reminded of the extraordinary power of even the smallest acts of hope.
How hopeful is your child? Take a moment to log in to our WYLIE ISD ACHIEVEMENT PROFILE to view their happiness scores from last week’s Day of Happiness and also check out their hope scores from earlier this school year. You can log into your child’s Achievement Profile by using their district username and password.
I invite you to spread gratitude by writing or texting someone whose life has given you hope.
We’re growing happy, hopeful kids—it’s the Wylie Way!
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