She might be newest principal within Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) four Special Schools, but Mercedes Love has already left a sizable impression on campus at Academic and Behavior School East and among her peers.

It’s partly because she worked under Highpoint School’s Courtney Waters as an assistant principal before being tabbed as building principal for ABS East last December. The two are close and Love being chosen as a principal reaffirmed what her former boss already knew.

“A lot of my leadership comes from Ms. Waters,” Love said. “When I’m sitting down and just in different scenarios, I tell myself, ‘That sounds like Courtney.’ I’ve taken that with me to the campus where I’m now the leader and it’s benefitted me, the staff and the students.”

But it also goes further back for Love. As HCDE celebrates its four principals during October’s National Principal Month, Love has reflected on an upbringing that set the stage for her in education and making an impact on the lives of students for three decades.

“Both of my parents were educators so it just came natural,” said the New Orleans native, who served as a special education instructional specialist in the Sheldon and Humble independent school districts before joining HCDE in 2015. “Do you remember just playing school? I was always the teacher. My mom taught home economics so we always had a yardstick at home.”

Special education is where Love landed, drawing inspiration from a cousin with special needs. She quickly learned of the impact she had on her students, even when it wasn’t always intentional.

Love recalled a time during her first teaching position when she would lead her line of female students, only to eventually find out they would imitate her walk. The joke lived on for years on campus but it also showed Love that her students were in fact watching her moves and listening to her words.

“You’ll just never know the influence you have over your students,” she said. “The love that we have for them is genuine.”

Love was full speed ahead when she joined the ABS East family.

From the Black History Month celebration in February to the school’s Field Day in May, Love and her staff have continued to cultivate a caring and safe environment for students to flourish.

She doesn’t mind the curveballs that come with serving the niche populations within HCDE’s Special Schools. As a principal, Love knows this is an opportunity to serve and doesn’t look back from leaving the classroom to move into administration.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Love said. “I don’t think we realize the influence we have on students that we’ve had, first as teachers and now as administrators. I know I made the decision because of my parents, but I love it. I love working with kids. I love seeing them grow and love seeing that advancement. It fulfills me. It’s my why.”