Welcome Back, KIPPsters!

KIPP Texas Families, 

We started the 2022-23 school year as joyful and focused as ever, welcoming more than 33,000 students across the state into our 59 brave and belonging schools. I was completely overjoyed visiting almost 30 schools in Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas in the last seven days. Getting to know our new Little and Big KIPPsters and seeing familiar and friendly faces felt amazing. It is great to be back with a strong start!

But don’t just take my word for it. Check out a behind-the-scenes look here to see some of the first few days of school across the state. From red carpet photoshoots to cheerleader welcomes, there was no shortage of joy at our schools. 

My heart is full of so much love and gratitude since school began because there is so much to celebrate! This year’s all about instilling the love for school and bringing joy, and I want to thank our KIPP Texas families and our Big KIPPsters for making these everlasting memories for all. 

One story that touched my heart because it truly shows how special KIPP is comes from KIPP Dream Prep in Houston. School Leader Haley Simonton-Bonilla’s first day of school was extra memorable as her former student, Arianna Lazo, joined the KIPP Team and Family as a Pre-K teacher at KIPP Dream Prep, the school Haley leads. Check out their “then” and “now” photos below!!

To make things even sweeter, Arianna is now Haley’s son’s Pre-K teacher. Such a beautiful circle and a heartwarming story. I wish them and all of our KIPP Team and Family a wonderful back-to-school season. May we continue to make lasting and meaningful connections with our Little KIPPsters, families, and Big KIPPsters.

Lights-camera-action at KIPP Oak Cliff Academy 

Another story I am incredibly proud of comes from KIPP Oak Cliff Academy in Dallas. The red carpet was rolled out as we officially opened the doors to welcome our Little KIPPsters on the campus of Paul Quinn College! Our Little KIPPsters were treated like celebrities! This extra special first day of school kickstarted the excitement for a great school year. KIPP Oak Cliff Academy is the only KIPP school in the nation located on a Historically Black College or University! Now that is something special! Congratulations to all who made this possible, on the ground and behind the scenes.  

To learn more about this partnership, check out the news story here.

Staying safe, KIPPsters

In Austin, our KIPP Texas – Austin Regional Superintendent Justin Scott and KIPP Austin Communidad Special Education Paraprofessional and KIPP parent Liliana Benavidez spoke on the importance of our safety protocols in this news story you can view here. Also, at KIPP Austin College Prep, School Leader Juan Juarez and Assistant Principal of Operations Celia Godinez-Sanchez were interviewed about their safety procedures in a news story you can view here. I want to thank them for sharing our commitment to safety to the community. 

You can view the most updated safety protocols on our website.

Together with our families, we will safely and joyfully make this school year memorable! 

With gratitude, 

Sehba Ali
KIPP Texas Public Schools CEO

We’re off to a great start at KIPP Texas! If you know a family who would like to join our academically excellent schools, we are still accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. They can apply here. Let’s share the joy!