My name is Kevin Croft, and I am overjoyed that I will serve as the first principal of LCISD's newest campus, Maxine Phelan Elementary. I was raised in Sugar Land, attended Fort Bend ISD (Sugar Land JH and Kempner HS), but moved to LCISD as fast as I could.

On a personal note, I have 4 kids; Kodi (20 years old), Kanyn (13 years old), Hudson (5 years old), and Holland (3 years old). Additionally, I have 17 nieces and nephews that I see regularly. Basically, if your student is going through ANYTHING, I have been there. Beyond school and my family, which I spend the mass of my time, I enjoy working out, riding mopeds, cruising in my micro-truck, carpentry, playing guitar and all things kid-like; scooters, puzzles, games, bounce houses, trampolines, Bob Ross, dinosaurs, action figures, etc. Essentially, anything that supports my wife's statement, "He is a 230 pound man-child."

I earned my bachelor's degree and master's degree from Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, Home of the Mighty Mountaineers. In my career, I have had the honor of teaching English I, II, III, IV, Critical Thinking, AP Seminar, Theater Arts, Speech & Debate, UIL, Baseball, and Public Speaking...all before I was promoted to AP of George Ranch HS, Polly Ryon MS and then principal of Polly Ryon.

During my tenure at Polly Ryon, the campus dynamics remained a staple on the maroon track for culture and climate. Additionally, Polly Ryon has received an "A" rating from the state and are in the top tier for STAAR scores within LCISD for the last 3 years. It has been a tremendous ride over here on the maroon track, but I am overjoyed to make the magic happen for our Phelan students, staff, and parents.

In the educational world, principals and teachers all have stories that transpired into major influences on their educational path. Mine was a little different. I did not enjoy school, so my career has been focused on creating a learning environment that engages all students, inspiring an intrinsic curiosity, and above all else, establishing a true love of learning.

To accomplish this task, I use 3 Major Instructional Rocks:

1) Kids Come First.

Kids, academically and socially, must be at the forefront of all actions. The idea is to plan with the intention that every minute, of every day, is used to improve a students educational learning experience. I believe that if we develop an environment where kids love coming to school, we are already winning.

Bottom-line: if it is good for kids, IT's GOOD.

2) Expectations.

I have never met a student who did not want to meet their true potential. They may not know how or they may not believe in themselves, but that is where Phelan Elementary steps in. I believe EVERY kid can and will learn, and my expectation is that we WILL provide this opportunity for success. Personally, I live by the 100/100 rule where I give 100% of myself, 100% of the time. I hold myself to high expectations, I hold my teachers to high expectations, and I hold my students to high expectations. When a leader models an urgency in learning, the people follow. John Wooden quoted, "The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own example."

3) High Quality Teaching.

Teachers use high quality, proven, Tier 1 instructional strategies to develop strong academic foundations. I believe that we MUST create an environment conducive to learning at the highest levels through engagement, innovative activities, student interests, and teacher passion.

In summation, I am over the moon about this journey, meeting our students and you, as well as developing our namesake in LCISD. My life has been dedicated to serving others and I feel blessed that I get to continue this campaign with you and your students.

I hope everyone has a tremendous day. See you very soon.

Principal,

Kevin Croft