The Central Texas floods on July 4 were a terrible tragedy — the loss of so many lives, the grief of families and friends, the sorrow in our communities. The most profound losses, of course, were the children. They had been looking forward to attending their beloved camp for a month with old and new friends, or to a family vacation along the river.
Survivors face lifelong wounds as they process what they saw, heard and lost. It’s enough to test anyone’s faith and resolve.
It’s hard to find a silver lining. Nothing can bring back those we’ve lost. Yet as I watched the news and heard stories of heroic rescues — young counselors risking their lives for others, school employees, bus drivers, principals, and superintendents jumping into action to save hundreds — I felt hope.
Two stories in particular moved me. One father, searching for his son, helped others cope with their own grief. His quiet strength gives me hope in humanity. Another man, searching for his parents, told reporters he was overwhelmed by the public’s unity. Filled with grief, he said if their deaths brought our divided nation together, even briefly, their lives were not lost in vain. His words brought me to tears.
As school districts raise money and offer support, I’m reminded of the generosity of the people in our profession. Thank you for providing counseling to students and comforting your communities. Thank you to the educators, administrators and bus drivers who showed up — as you always do. You welcome every child, hold yourselves accountable to your communities, and serve selflessly in good times and bad.
A special thank-you to the educators and leaders in Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, Comfort, and Center Point. You have carried the greatest burden and given the most.
It’s often said that when things are at their worst, people are at their best. We’ve seen countless examples of that during this ordeal. Perhaps one way to honor those we lost is to set aside our differences and strive for unity — not just in hard times, but always. In that regard, never forget: You model that for our society every day.
-TASA Executive Director Kevin Brown, Ed.D.
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