For more than 130 years, Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) has shown up, stepped up and delivered quality services and resources for the students, families and school districts that count on it. That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident – it takes teamwork, preparation, resilience and a commitment to excellence every season.
That legacy took center stage Aug. 7 at the Department’s annual Convocation as nearly 1,000 employees kicked off the 2026-2027 academic year with an NFL-inspired charge: UNRIVALED. Division leaders participated in a mock Draft Day back in May, where they “picked” the teams their divisions would represent at the all-staff meeting. Employees were decked out in their team gear and full of spirit as they entered the Kingdom Builders’ Center, took photos at the trading card stations, played a football toss game and reconnected with colleagues.
“I’ve traveled across the country going to conferences and visiting classrooms, but I have yet to find anything like HCDE,” Superintendent James Colbert Jr. said during his opening remarks. “We’re unrivaled. There’s simply nothing else to compare us to. We are unicorns, extremely rare and the only ones in Texas.”
HCDE is unrivaled because of people who have spent their careers dedicated to service. Superintendent Colbert recognized more than 90 employees for their time, among them two veteran team members who have spent three decades helping the Department move the chains on the field to score repeatedly. Lloyd Compton, a maintenance technician in Facilities, and Arlita Kyles, a food contract assistant in Choice Partners, received standing ovations from colleagues as they were celebrated for 30 years of service.
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For Compton, who has worked under five superintendents during his tenure, the secret to staying in the game is simple.
“I’m still trying to take in these 30 years of service, but it’s really the people that keep me here,” he said with a smile. “My bosses are great, everyone is easy to work with and while I may come in with a few work orders on my plate, for the most part, every day is different. I’m asked to create things for the superintendent or events like Convocation, and I try my best to keep everyone satisfied.”
While explaining the thinking behind this year’s theme, Colbert introduced his trusted teammate Cipher, HCDE’s AI-powered creative assistant. He detailed how they spent the past few weeks training the assistant to learn everything there is to know about HCDE. Colbert then prompted Cipher to envision HCDE as the NFL’s newest football franchise featuring Department divisions and employees. The conversation turned into a full-fledged season on the big screen, complete with recruiting, player introductions, game-day hype and a championship run.
The videos were an imaginative way to showcase not only the all-star players who make HCDE’s success a reality, but also the challenges divisions overcame in the previous year. While many employees laughed at seeing themselves or their colleagues depicted as football players, fans in the stands or cheerleaders, they also recognized the vital role everyone plays in the overall success of #TeamHCDE.
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“All the videos were pretty awesome. I’m still trying to figure out how they captured exactly what I look like with a cap on,” laughed Marcial Chavez, a service desk technician from Information Technology Services who was featured in one of the videos. “That message of camaraderie, working through challenges as a team and knowing that we can pick each other up and get to that goal line… it emphasized that we are unrivaled.”
When the final whistle was blown, the Unicorns walked away as Super Bowl champions after defeating the Cowboys in an UNRIVALED season. Cheers erupted throughout the building as an AI-generated version of HCDE Board President Richard Cantu announced a 2.5% pay increase for all eligible employees during the presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
“We’ve given out raises for 15 years in a row, and that’s because you are masters at what you do,” Colbert explained. “You could choose to do anything, but you choose to work at HCDE, where we represent and support kids who don’t get the credit they deserve, and you do it fearlessly. You help them aspire to maximize their potential, and that is why you are UNRIVALED. I love you all, let’s have a great year!”