Dear Cairo Community,

It is with great enthusiasm and pride that I welcome you to the very first issue of Pilot!, a magazine dedicated to celebrating the incredible people who make Cairo USD #1 a beacon of hope and possibility. This is your magazine, and it reflects the best of our community as we embark on our shared journey of dreaming a bigger dream and of converting possibilities to positive realities. As I read our shared story, I am reminded of the strength and resilience that define our community and the unwavering belief we have in the potential of every individual who walks through our doors or who calls Cairo home.

I’d like to dedicate this inaugural issue to someone who exemplified that commitment to community: Debbie Hoff, our longtime district business secretary of Cairo Schools. Miss Debbie, who passed away this past July embodied the best in us, and she showed us, through example, what love of community, and of one another, looks like. Debbie’s love for our students, staff, and families was unmatched, and her contributions to Cairo USD #1 will never be forgotten. We honor her memory and the lasting impact she made on all of us.

In the spirit of Miss Debbie, this issue is a tribute to commitment—the commitment to each other, to our community, and to the boundless possibilities that lie ahead when we persevere together. Within these pages, you will meet several young people whose ambition and passion will absolutely change the world. You’ll also read about educators and staff who, through their dedication, are making an impact right now—today—as they prepare the next generation who will lead tomorrow.

One story in particular is a testament to lifelong service: a full-time substitute teacher, now in her eighties, who continues to touch lives with her wisdom, warmth, and unshakable faith in the power of love, of learning, and of people. Her story, along with so many others, highlights what we as a district value most—our shared story.

As you read through Pilot!, I hope you feel the same sense of pride I do—pride in our school, our community, and the limitless future we are building together.

Thank you for being part of this journey, and for your continued belief in the power of education to shape a brighter tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ronald T. Ferrell
Interim Superintendent, Cairo USD #1