Cross Creek Ranch - The Secret to Huggins Success? Love

What makes an elementary school great? Dedicated teachers and staff, an outstanding curriculum and opportunities for students to shine. Huggins Elementary School has all of that and one thing more. Love.

Huggins has long been committed to creating life-long learners by providing a high quality, differentiated education for all students, as well as helping children build character and become good citizens.

Principal Bethany Cunningham believes that what makes Huggins special is the community of parents and teachers who come together to help students succeed. A community that has rallied around the school during the pandemic.

“I never thought I would be going into my second year as principal during a pandemic,” Cunningham said. “At this moment, I am so proud of the teachers and staff as they go above and beyond for our kids. The parents and the community have been supportive as well. They have donated food to teachers and they always ask what they can do to help.”

Cunningham and her teachers also do whatever they can to support their young students.

That support includes art, music and gifted programs, but Cunningham’s favorite is Huggins’ house system. All of the students from Kindergarten through fifth grade are assigned to one of five houses. The houses are a mix of all grades, creating an environment in which older students can help younger ones.

“It gets kids excited to learn,” Cunningham said. “There is friendly competition between them but the purpose is to build good character and citizenship.”

The House system is one secret of Huggins’ success. The other is love.

“What it boils down to is that there is a true love for kids and we will do whatever it takes for them,” she said. “I held a grandparents luncheon last year. Afterward, I had a grandad come up to me to say that he had been to a lot of grandparent luncheons and a lot of schools but there was something about Huggins that was just special. I’ve heard a lot of people say that Huggins just has this love.”

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