The Allen ISD Leadership Academy spent the day touring key departments and visiting Ereckson Middle School to gain insight into district operations and student programming.
Operations in Action
The day began at the Allen ISD Service Center, where attendees heard from Brent Benningfield and Brian Neely about the structure and responsibilities of the Operations Department. Participants then toured various departments, including Purchasing, Records and Asset Management, and Student Nutrition, meeting with department leaders who provided an inside look at their teams’ daily work and impact across the district.
“Our warehouse team processes more than 2,150 work orders every year,” said Luis Rosado, Purchasing Director. “From moving furniture to delivering textbooks and supplies, these guys are out there every day making things happen.”
Keith Taylor, Coordinator of Assets and Records Retention, described how textbook shipments, furniture salvage, and district supplies are managed seasonally, noting the scale of work handled by a small team. “It’s always evolving,” he said. “Our staff takes care of everything from records to paper deliveries to supporting construction projects.”
Jeff Caguioa, Assistant Director of Student Nutrition, highlighted how centralized food distribution and on-site storage help campuses maintain consistent service. “We aim to offer seasonal fruit options and maintain high nutrition standards,” he said. “Our delivery system ensures schools get what they need, when they need it.”
Brent emphasized the importance of employee retention across support departments. “It’s a competitive job market,” he said. “But our employees stay because of the strong team culture and the sense of purpose they find in their work.”
The Allen ISD Leadership Academy spent the day touring key departments and visiting Ereckson Middle School to gain insight into district operations and student programming.
Operations in Action
The day began at the Allen ISD Service Center, where attendees heard from Brent Benningfield and Brian Neely about the structure and responsibilities of the Operations Department. Participants then toured various departments, including Purchasing, Records and Asset Management, and Student Nutrition, meeting with department leaders who provided an inside look at their teams’ daily work and impact across the district.
“Our warehouse team processes more than 2,150 work orders every year,” said Luis Rosado, Purchasing Director. “From moving furniture to delivering textbooks and supplies, these guys are out there every day making things happen.”
Keith Taylor, Coordinator of Assets and Records Retention, described how textbook shipments, furniture salvage, and district supplies are managed seasonally, noting the scale of work handled by a small team. “It’s always evolving,” he said. “Our staff takes care of everything from records to paper deliveries to supporting construction projects.”
Jeff Caguioa, Assistant Director of Student Nutrition, highlighted how centralized food distribution and on-site storage help campuses maintain consistent service. “We aim to offer seasonal fruit options and maintain high nutrition standards,” he said. “Our delivery system ensures schools get what they need, when they need it.”
Brent emphasized the importance of employee retention across support departments. “It’s a competitive job market,” he said. “But our employees stay because of the strong team culture and the sense of purpose they find in their work.”
Peer Support in Action: Ereckson Hope Squad
Following the operations tour, the Academy visited Ereckson Middle School, where members of the campus Hope Squad shared their work in peer-led suicide prevention and student support. Hope Squad is a national program that trains students to recognize signs of mental distress and refer their peers to trusted adults. Members are nominated by classmates for being kind, trustworthy, and approachable.
“Our members are nominated by peers for being trustworthy and kind,” said Annie Gallagher, an eighth grader in the program. “We’re trained to listen, support, and connect students to help.”
Hope Squad students described their role in creating a more inclusive and supportive campus environment through monthly meetings, spirit activities, and awareness events.
“We host mental wellness booths at lunch and support events like Just Say Hello Day and the Out of the Darkness Walk,” said Ariana, a fellow eighth-grade member. “We also meet regularly to plan projects and check in with each other.”
Students also shared their experience at the Texas-sized Hope Squad Convention in Arlington, where they connected with Hope Squad members from across the state.
“One of the best parts is getting to meet students from other schools who are doing the same things we’re doing,” said Caleb, another student panelist. “It shows you how big the impact can be.”
The group also reflected on how the no-phone policy at middle schools has changed their daily routines. While students offered varying perspectives, staff noted that the change has contributed to fewer distractions and behavioral incidents.
A Day of Connection
The day concluded with a Q&A session, during which Leadership Academy participants asked questions about student life, program impact, and middle school transitions.
View the full photo gallery at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCHp52
