Principals adopt schools in Texas through a Google Doc

Andrew Reed | 09/06/2017

Idaho educators and students are using technology to provide assistance to Texas schools impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Two Blaine County schools and a West Ada school jumped on board with an “Adopt a School” program that is managed through a Google Doc.

Brad Henson, the principal at Alturas Elementary in Hailey, learned of the growing Google Doc from the district’s communication team. He immediately went to the end of the Google Doc and took the next school on the list in need of help.

“I was humbled by the response of schools signing up to help,” Henson said. “As I scrolled through the document, I was amazed at the size of the districts and the amount of schools that were affected by the storm.”

The program was launched by an elementary school principal in north Fort Worth. Hundreds of principals from across the nation have signed up to help more than 260 schools in Texas through a grassroots effort called “Principals Helping Principals.”

Henson’s school adopted Black Elementary in Cypress, Texas. The school principal hasn’t reached out to Henson yet, but on the Google Doc the school is asking for school supplies and gift cards to share with displaced students and staff.

“I imagine the principal at Black Elementary is quite busy,” Henson said. “We stand ready to support them.”

The Google Doc is a spreadsheet with spaces for principals to record whether they are a school in need or a school that wants to help. Principals from West Ada’s Ponderosa Elementary and Hailey Elementary have also adopted a school through the document.

“There is more to school than academics, this is teaching students how to grow as a person,” said Kathy Crowley, the principal at Ponderosa Elementary. “I couldn’t imagine if I lost everything. I strongly believe in helping other kids and teachers.”

Below is a list of Idaho schools that are collecting school supplies or fundraising for Texas students.

Blaine County School District