Howard brings message of connection, unity

Superintendent Howard was the Unity Breakfast keynote speaker.

For Superintendent Dustin Howard, a commitment to student well-being and strong community connections is not reserved for special occasions — it is the foundation of his leadership every day.

That philosophy was on full display during his keynote address at the packed Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast.

Students opened the program through music and service, and from the very beginning, Howard's guiding principle was clear: “They’re the reason I do this. They’re the North Star.”

MLK Day, he reminded those gathered, is not just a celebration; it's a call to action.

“I swell up with pride thinking about what we can accomplish together, united,” he said. “How we can change the world for the better, for our kids? We cannot do the work alone. We cannot work in silos. We cannot work only on a few occasions a year.”

That enduring sense of shared responsibility framed Howard's message, just as it directs his everyday work.

“We have the gift of today. What are we going to do today?," he said. "Are we going to be courageous? Are we going to live seven out of seven days? Or are we going to show up once a year to have a celebration of unity?”

Howard emphasized that his own journey — growing up with instability, learning at a different pace, and being shaped by grandparents, educators, and a community that refused to give up on him — uniquely prepared him for the here and now.

"I would not be standing here today without public education,” he said, emphasizing the life-changing power of schools and those who believe in students even when labels suggest otherwise.

"Our work in this community is difficult," he said. "We face tough challenges and decisions that we might not agree on. But what we can all agree on is what we are leaving our kids. Is it better or worse for them? Because that's how I make decisions in my life — is this good for kids?"

Doing what is right for future generations, he acknowledged, is not always easy or popular, but it is necessary.

He shared how small, consistent acts of connection — showing up, listening, earning trust — can change a child’s life forever. “In the simplest interaction," he said, "we can change someone else’s life. Be a light, because you may be the only light in someone else’s darkness.”

Choose joy and kindness every moment, he urged.

“We have the ability in this room to change our world,” Howard said. “After all, who cares about our kids and grandkids more than we do? They are the greatest resource we have. In our school district, we talk a lot about greatness. Greatness is not a destination. It’s a journey. And we choose, every day, the steps of that journey. May we make ours a journey of purpose.”