Haughton Middle School Assistant Principal Ashley Sanchez has something in common with the
fictional character of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. They both say “There’s no place like home.”
Sanchez is a born and bred Haughton Buccaneer who somehow found her way to Tiger territory
when she landed her first teaching job 19 years ago at Benton Elementary. She thrived there
before being offered the opportunity to “Cowboy Up” at Platt Elementary and return home to
teach in Haughton. A few years later, her educational career took Sanchez to Apollo as
Instructional Coach, then as Assistant Principal. Last December, she jumped at the chance to
once again go back home and become Assistant Principal at Haughton Middle, where Sanchez
says she never plans to leave. As they say in Haughton, “Once a Buc, Always a Buc.”
“I love being a Buc!” Sanchez exclaimed. “I love my community and being able to invest in my
community. My husband and I grew up in this community, met in high school, are raising our son
in this community, attend church here, and it just makes sense for me to put my energy into
investing in HMS!”
That is not to say Sanchez was not nervous about the transition from elementary to middle
school. She did not pretend to know the curriculum and was honest and open about that with
teachers.
“I think that helped a lot. I didn’t go in acting like I knew what I was doing because in my mind I
didn’t have a clue,” Sanchez professed. She went on to say, “I can remember being on duty in
the lunchroom one time thinking ‘good gracious, what do I do?’ Now I don’t think twice about it. I
will admit that the behaviors are quite different and the pace is 10 times faster. Those were the
hardest parts for me to grasp. However, I have been blessed with the best admin team who has
helped me every step of the way.”
What Sanchez did bring to the table was a lot of fun and high energy, which has been welcomed
by the HMS faculty, students and parents alike.
“My elementary background has been beneficial,” Sanchez explained. “I’ve used it to remind our
teachers that our students are still just kids. They want to have fun. They want to be loved. They
love stickers! They love to be silly! They are just bigger. In elementary, I always focused on
getting students to love school. We try so hard to teach and have fun all at the same time. Why
do we stop having fun when we get to middle school?”
Deborah Lawrence is one of her assistant principal’s biggest fans.
“Mrs. Sanchez came with lots of new ideas and the atmosphere immediately changed,” she
said. “She is our resident photographer who captures photos at most of our after-school events.
She worked with community members to provide treats for the staff. You always see her smiling
and building relationships with students and staff members. HMS is lucky to have Mrs.
Sanchez!”
Others say Sanchez brings a ray of sunshine to campus, offers encouragement and has set
school spirit on fire. Parent Megan Lopez also credits Sanchez for building relationships with
students, in particular her son.
“She has helped my child as if he was hers to make the best possible decisions at school, (and)
be the best he can be,” Lopez said. “If he is having a rough day, she will go out of her way to
make sure he continues on the right path. (She) Has the soul and treats students as if they were
her own.”
“I have always believed ‘they don’t care what I know until they know I care.’” Sanchez
elaborated. “I kept this in my mind every day I taught and every day I’ve attempted to lead. I put
in the extra because I want them to be loved, to feel seen, to feel important and to know they
have someone cheering them on.”
Sanchez went on to say “Having a student hug you so tightly that you know you are their safe
place makes it worth it … Having students tell me hard things so I can help them makes it worth
it … I don’t hide why I believe God brought me to middle School. Last spring, I lost my teenage
niece. It’s an experience I wish on no one, but it has become part of my ‘why.’ If I can be
someone’s safe place/person, if I can help someone feel loved and needed, then every part of
my job is worth it. If I can help a lost student, then my day is successful. If I can save a family
from the heartache my family is still enduring, then I am fulfilling my purpose. I see Livvy in
every student at my school and it is why parents say ‘she treats our kids like they are hers.’”
Her sincere heart does not go unnoticed and is one of many reasons why Sanchez has quickly
catapulted to MVP status at Haughton Middle and is Bossier Schools’ latest recipient of the
Gold Star award.
“Mr. Warren (principal) and Mr. Braden (assistant principal) have been the biggest supporters of
all of this and truly deserve this award as much as I do,” Sanchez added. “Their dedication to
HMS, their love for the students, and their leadership helps provide me with opportunities to do
the fun things! Their willingness to try something new, to trust my crazy ideas and being a part
of the fun is why people love being at HMS … I am beyond humbled to accept this award. My
heart and my cup are full.”
Editor’s note: Know someone who works for Bossier Schools that is deserving of recognition for
going above and beyond? Nominate them for the Gold Star award, proudly sponsored for the
12th year by Bossier Federal Credit Union. Visit https://bit.ly/3MOZSRY to tell what sets them
apart and be watching for our next Gold Star surprise.