The doors open and the cold air of winter fills the halls of Cypress Springs High School, yet she still stands there, with a smile on her face, greeting every student, welcoming them with pride to their second home. Through 36 years of dedication, commitment, hard work and an unwavering love for her passion; December will mark a well deserved end to Principal Dr. Cheryl T. Henry’s remarkable journey in the field of education.
Traces of her are everywhere. We see bits and pieces of the love dedicated to our campus and we can trace it back all the way to our proud principal who, since she became principal, declared that she would strive every day to make Cy Springs a better place than when she found it.
“My blood, sweat and tears are in this school,” Dr. Henry said. “I never wanted to end my career anywhere else.”
At first, Dr. Henry aspired to become a pediatrician, not always knowing that she wanted to dedicate her life to the field of education. But, once she got a feel of what being involved in the lives of children truly looked like, as well as reflecting over her own middle school experiences, she decided she wanted to go big or go home.
“It’s a very impactful time when kids decide which way they want to go,” Dr. Henry said. “I wanted to be a teacher to help students decide to go the right way.”
Her passion for partaking in the lives of the children rose to the light, and fueled her with a newfound inspiration that she had never felt before, one which led her through the next 36 years of her career in education that started with teaching social studies. From there she became a Department Chair then Dean of Students. Next was Organization Facilitator, School Health Manager, Assistant Principal, TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) Specialist, then Director of Instruction. Dr. Henry finally began her career as a principal at Campbell Middle School for five years before transferring to Cy Springs.
“Once I decided I wanted to be a teacher, I knew I wanted to be a principal,” Dr. Henry said. “I didn’t know how long it was going to take, but I knew I wanted to run my own school.”
In her 10 years of service to Cy Springs, Dr. Henry has established significant landmarks of school pride with the goal in mind to make students proud to be a Panther and to look forward to coming to school. Such things include the water tower back in the bus lot that didn’t always have Cy Springs painted on it. There is also the iconic Panther statue in front of the school, whom the class of 2017 named Legacy, that Dr. Henry raised money for and the Silver Anniversary scholarship endowment with the CFISD scholarship foundation.
In addition, she has led several beautification changes around campus including the painted murals and flora outskirting the school.
“I’m proud of these things because they are lasting and they will be here forever,” Dr. Henry said. “A campus should do a good job of letting people know who we are. As a school, we had many different images in the past, but in truth we just had not told our story yet. Campus beautification has greatly improved our image and our story.”
Dr. Henry has implemented changes that have forever shaped the outlook of the school in the eyes of parents and students alike. In the diverse community that Cy Springs fosters, Dr. Henry says that Cy Springs has taught her more than what she has given to it. She admires the fact that here at Cy Springs, there is not a one size fits all to limit any of her Panthers.
“The best part of the day is the students,” Dr. Henry said. “There is some place for everybody to belong here and I really love that about our school. Our students are very resourceful and they do their best to meet the standards set before them.”
As a leader, Dr. Henry has also set some standards for herself in order to bring the very best for the student body all day every day. Looking back, she hopes her legacy won’t just lie on the surface, but at the very core of her efforts.
“To be a leader in a high school is not for the faint hearted,” Dr. Henry said. “You have to be purposeful about everything and I hope the students remember me as someone who cared and wanted the absolute best for them. Everything I did was to make Cy Springs a better place.”
Dr. Henry also wants people to know about the great staff at Cypress Springs, whom she holds close to her heart, as they have been with her through her various years of leadership.
“No one person can do anything without a strong team and we have the best team of teachers and leaders here at Cypress Springs,” she said.
Now that Dr. Henry is retiring, she says it’s not a goodbye, but rather a chance for the new principal, Dr. Plas Williams Jr. to get used to his new position.
“It’s funny because I said I would never retire in the middle of the school year,” Dr. Henry said. “But the greatest impact for the new leader will be when they can plan for a full year after experiencing a half one. I know the new principal is going to do a good job, but I want Cy Springs to give him a chance to do what he needs to do.”
Dr. Henry also bestows her care for the class of 2026, and wishes that they continue to practice Panther pride, even after she is no longer principal.
“Although I will not be leading your graduation, I will be there,” Dr. Henry said. “Besides working hard and representing, I want them to remember that every day is a new day no matter what adversity they face. There is always a new beginning and a process to trust.”
With retirement being a new beginning for herself, the newly available free time allows Dr. Henry to engage in all types of hobbies and activities with her family, sharing her desire to learn how to cook new things and bake, practice a new language and go on lengthy family vacations along with her husband. But although Dr. Henry is leaving physically, she knows she will never leave Cy Springs mentally. Her heart is here alongside all the traces of her and her legacy.
“It has been the honor of my life and career to be here so I always will be,” Dr. Henry said. “Once a Panther, always a Panther. I am red, white and blue to the bone.”
