Haughton Middle School Assistant Principal Ashley Sanchez has something in common with the fictional character of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. They both say “There’s no place like home.”
Sanchez is a born and bred Haughton Buccaneer who somehow found her way to Tiger territory when she landed her first teaching job 19 years ago at Benton Elementary. She thrived there before being offered the opportunity to “Cowboy Up” at Platt Elementary and return home to teach in Haughton. A few years later, her educational career took Sanchez to Apollo as Instructional Coach, then as Assistant Principal. Last December, she jumped at the chance to once again go back home and become Assistant Principal at Haughton Middle, where Sanchez says she never plans to leave. As they say in Haughton, “Once a Buc, Always a Buc.”
“I love being a Buc!” Sanchez exclaimed. “I love my community and being able to invest in my community. My husband and I grew up in this community, met in high school, are raising our son in this community, attend church here, and it just makes sense for me to put my energy into investing in HMS!”
That is not to say Sanchez was not nervous about the transition from elementary to middle school. She did not pretend to know the curriculum and was honest and open about that with teachers.
“I think that helped a lot. I didn’t go in acting like I knew what I was doing because in my mind I didn’t have a clue,” Sanchez professed. She went on to say, “I can remember being on duty in the lunchroom one time thinking ‘good gracious, what do I do?’ Now I don’t think twice about it. I will admit that the behaviors are quite different and the pace is 10 times faster. Those were the hardest parts for me to grasp. However, I have been blessed with the best admin team who has helped me every step of the way.”
What Sanchez did bring to the table was a lot of fun and high energy, which has been welcomed by the HMS faculty, students and parents alike.
“My elementary background has been beneficial,” Sanchez explained. “I’ve used it to remind our teachers that our students are still just kids. They want to have fun. They want to be loved. They love stickers! They love to be silly! They are just bigger. In elementary, I always focused on getting students to love school. We try so hard to teach and have fun all at the same time. Why do we stop having fun when we get to middle school?”
Deborah Lawrence is one of her assistant principal’s biggest fans.
“Mrs. Sanchez came with lots of new ideas and the atmosphere immediately changed,” she said. “She is our resident photographer who captures photos at most of our after-school events. She worked with community members to provide treats for the staff. You always see her smiling and building relationships with students and staff members. HMS is lucky to have Mrs. Sanchez!”
Others say Sanchez brings a ray of sunshine to campus, offers encouragement and has set school spirit on fire. Parent Megan Lopez also credits Sanchez for building relationships with students, in particular her son.
“She has helped my child as if he was hers to make the best possible decisions at school, (and) be the best he can be,” Lopez said. “If he is having a rough day, she will go out of her way to make sure he continues on the right path. (She) Has the soul and treats students as if they were her own.”
“I have always believed ‘they don’t care what I know until they know I care.’” Sanchez elaborated. “I kept this in my mind every day I taught and every day I’ve attempted to lead. I put in the extra because I want them to be loved, to feel seen, to feel important and to know they have someone cheering them on.”
Sanchez went on to say “Having a student hug you so tightly that you know you are their safe place makes it worth it … Having students tell me hard things so I can help them makes it worth it … I don’t hide why I believe God brought me to middle School. Last spring, I lost my teenage niece. It’s an experience I wish on no one, but it has become part of my ‘why.’ If I can be someone’s safe place/person, if I can help someone feel loved and needed, then every part of my job is worth it. If I can help a lost student, then my day is successful. If I can save a family from the heartache my family is still enduring, then I am fulfilling my purpose. I see Livvy in every student at my school and it is why parents say ‘she treats our kids like they are hers.’”
Her sincere heart does not go unnoticed and is one of many reasons why Sanchez has quickly catapulted to MVP status at Haughton Middle and is Bossier Schools’ latest recipient of the Gold Star award.
“Mr. Warren (principal) and Mr. Braden (assistant principal) have been the biggest supporters of all of this and truly deserve this award as much as I do,” Sanchez added. “Their dedication to HMS, their love for the students, and their leadership helps provide me with opportunities to do the fun things! Their willingness to try something new, to trust my crazy ideas and being a part of the fun is why people love being at HMS … I am beyond humbled to accept this award. My heart and my cup are full.”
Editor’s note: Know someone who works for Bossier Schools that is deserving of recognition for going above and beyond? Nominate them for the Gold Star award, proudly sponsored for the 12th year by Bossier Federal Credit Union. Visit https://bit.ly/3MOZSRY to tell what sets them apart and be watching for our next Gold Star surprise.