As Mr. Cady prepares to leave, it’s difficult to put into words the impact he has had on our school community. Through conversations and reflections, it’s clear his leadership was never just about running a school; it was about building a place where students felt they had a community to rely on.
His favorite thing about Mead is the student body and staff presence. In his words, MHS brings a community full of “kind, hardworking, and smart students. The staff is full of really hard working, dedicated teachers and counselors and support staff.”
Throughout his time here, he emphasized not only academic success, but also the growth in character and relationships he’s seen. “I think I’ll miss just the strong sense of community at this high school,” he says. “Everything from our performing arts and our fine arts community to our athletics community [and] our academics…all of the events I was able to go to, and just the support, and to see students having fun and learning has been really special.”
Mr. Cady spoke about the importance of creating an environment where students felt safe to take risks and express themselves. One of his favorite weeks at Mead was homecoming week, where he was able to see students express themselves not only at the dance and football game, but with their outfits every spirit day.
What made his leadership especially meaningful was his presence, whether that was greeting students in the hallway, attending events, or listening during difficult moments.
Mr. Cady’s goal was to invite community because he believes “that just showing up and being yourself, and helping people, and smiling, and connecting with people makes a positive difference in their day and their life.” It’s clear that his mark on Mead won’t be defined by a single achievement, but by the students he supported in his year here.
Closing out, Mr. Cady adds, “I’ve just appreciated the opportunity to serve the students and staff and families at Mead High School, and it will always hold a special place in my heart.” As he moves on to his next chapter, we say goodbye with gratitude. While he may no longer walk these halls, the community he helped build this school year continues to grow.
