This magazine isn’t about easy wins or surface success. It’s a snapshot of the hard work happening in Byron—work carried by students, staff, and families who show up, do the job in front of them, and take care of one another.

In these pages you’ll see the people who make school feel safe and steady. A school resource officer who knows names and routines. An athletic trainer who’s there when a moment turns serious. Transportation professionals who get students to and from school with professionalism and pride. None of that is accidental. It’s the product of training, judgment, and a culture that values reliability.

You’ll also meet students who set goals and grow into them. Some are chasing big dreams while keeping two feet planted in this community. Others are learning what it looks like to take on more—academics, leadership, service—and still be good teammates and friends. The lesson is the same either way: aim high, do the work, stay grounded.

We’ve made changes where they matter. Our food service team has rethought lunch to be healthier, more welcoming, and more responsive to student feedback. It’s not flashy, but it affects every school day, and we take it seriously.

The arts are doing what they’ve always done here—building confidence through practice and performance. Younger students are finding their voices on stage. Older students are learning to lead, mentor, and carry a show together. That’s skill, but it’s also character.

Athletics remains a classroom of its own. You’ll read about runners who measure progress one practice at a time, about teammates who learn to lean on each other, and about a student who stands a little taller because others helped him get there. Wins matter; habits matter more.

If there’s a thread running through this issue, it’s simple: Byron’s strength is shared. Safety is shared. High expectations are shared. Pride is shared. That’s how our school district moves forward—by aligning daily effort with long-term purpose and keeping the door open for every student to grow.

Thank you for reading, for holding us accountable, and for partnering with us. If a story here sparks a question or an idea, reach out. We are at our best when we listen to one another and keep building together.

With Tiger Pride,

Buster Barton
Superintendent, Byron CUSD 226