School Leaders' Think Tank

There’s something unmistakable in the air right now.

It’s not just the hint of summer or the rhythm of year-end final bells. It’s a charge—an energy—that comes when you walk down the hallway and catch the sparkle in a senior’s eye or hear the laughter echoing from a cap-and-gown fitting. Yes, it’s graduation season across the country, and the spirit is contagious.

For our incredible Class of 2025, this moment is more than a ceremony. It’s a culmination of years of hard work, early mornings, late-night study sessions, homecoming games, cafeteria memories, and hallway conversations that shaped who they are today. These students have not only persevered—they have excelled. And now, the time has come to shout their praises from every mountaintop and county road.

Let’s make one thing clear: these graduates aren’t just walking across a stage. They’re walking into purpose.

This class has lived through change, risen to every challenge, and represented our school with pride and grit. They’ve shattered records in academics, athletics, and career pathways. They’ve secured scholarships, military commitments, job placements, and future college seats. They’ve reminded us that rural doesn’t mean limited—it means rooted, resilient, and rising. Although not perfect, they’ve learned from youthful decisions that will help mold their future.

So now is not the time to hold back.

Now is the time to decorate front porches with signs, light up your social media feeds with photos, pack the auditorium with thunderous applause, and celebrate the success of young people who’ve earned every ounce of this moment. Whether it’s your child, your neighbor, your former student, or a young person you’ve watched grow up—this is the time to get in the spirit.

Let’s celebrate their stories. Their growth. Their journey.

And to the graduates of 2025, we are so proud of you. You’ve carried the torch of tradition and lit it brighter than ever before. Keep pushing forward, and don’t forget—you are the best, better than the rest.

The future is yours. Go get it.

With pride and gratitude,

Joshua L. Yeager