When the music starts to play over the loudspeaker, teachers and students come out of their classrooms with smiles on their faces and sounds of cheerful applause fill the halls at Academic and Behavior School East. It can only mean one thing – a student is returning to his or her home campus. That moment is what every teacher is advocating for, and every student on campus is working toward.  

“I’m excited that we get to give these kids that experience to celebrate their success, but I also want them to realize their progress won’t always be visible,” ABS East Principal Trent Manuel explained. “My mother used to say, ‘Tough trees don’t grow with ease,’ and that’s something I want our kids to understand. The wind may blow, but if you’re rooted and grounded in what you do, and seeking opportunities to make yourself better, it’s movement.” 

Manuel grew up in south central Louisiana watching his mother dedicate more than 30 years to the public school system serving special education students. Now in his first principalship, he draws on her example of leading with love, passion and a commitment to helping students thrive, no matter the challenge.  

In honor of National Principals Month, the Communications and Creative Services team sat down with Manuel to learn more about his career journey from physical therapy to education, the school culture he’s working to develop and his overall vision for the future of ABS East.