What does it take to transform a school where hope feels lost?

In this episode of Transformational Educators, host Matthew Flippen sits down with Dr. Darryl Henson, Superintendent of Hitchcock ISD, to unpack the real story of how he led a dramatic turnaround at Parkland High School in El Paso. When Dr. Henson arrived, the culture was apathetic and fractured. Within one year, the school achieved every academic distinction in Texas, one of only 1.8% to do so.

Through stories marked by courage, conviction, and contagious confidence, Dr. Henson reveals how he rebuilt pride, shifted expectations, and led a hurting campus to become a source of community inspiration. Whether you’re a current leader or aspiring to be one, this episode offers tangible insight into what transformation really looks like.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Parkland’s culture was marked by apathy, low expectations, and a stepchild mindset
• Northeast El Paso carried a stigma that shaped staff and student identity
• Dr. Henson used confidence and bold presence to shift perception and mindset
• Rebranding the school’s colors and logo helped redefine its identity
• “Make kids better” became the unifying slogan for change
• Clear expectations were established: instruction, achievement, pride, clarity, and rejecting mediocrity
• Resistance came, but consistent vision and love overcame it
• Athletics and academics were aligned to foster pride and visibility
• Servant leadership guided every decision, rooted in empathy and accountability
• The campus achieved all seven academic distinctions within one year

BEST MOMENTS

00:01:53 . “It was my job as a principal and as a leader to ignite what was inside of them.”
00:02:55 . “We had to make sure that we were shifting the mindset of just going through the motions of school.”
00:03:34 . “They adopted the internal feeling of, we are the stepchild.”
00:05:28 . “Here I was, a 31-year-old high school principal, full of energy, full of hype.”
00:05:49 . “We have to automatically become allergic to average.”
00:06:51 . “So I have been commanded to be courageous, knowing that God is with me on the journey.”
00:08:52 . “Despite the resistance, which was there, I was very consistent in my message.”
00:11:09 . “We had to know who we were. Who are we?”
00:13:14 . “At the end of the two years, what did the culture feel like then?”
00:14:48 . “That belief from Mr. O’Neill was passed down to me and it passed down to our children.”

Transformational Educators | School Leadership Stories

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