On August 12, 2020 the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District (ECISD) announced that Robert E. Lee Elementary would be renamed. We are nominating that the school be renamed after Homero Cano (1954-2020) a profound educator for 40 years, who dedicated the majority of his life to educating students at ECISD. He worked as a teacher, counselor, curriculum assistant, and principal with the Edinburg CISD. In fact, Mr. Cano’s first principalship assignment was at Robert E. Lee Elementary. He was committed to making a positive difference in his student’s lives and succeeded in leading elementary schools as their principal, to achieve scholarly excellence. The vast majority of the years during his tenure as principal, the schools he led received Exemplary status (the highest academic accountability rating given by the Texas Education Agency).

Mr. Cano was an outstanding principal. He dedicated the majority of his career to educating students who were from low-income households, where many students do not own books and have not been exposed to any form of literature, until attending school for the first time. While he was principal at Austin Elementary (2007-2020), he and the staff believed that the only thing that can pull a child out of poverty is an education and a will to succeed. During Mr. Cano’s tenure at Austin, he encouraged teachers to instill a college readiness mindset in their students; students were taught that, “It doesn't matter where you are from, all that matters is where you are going.” Students were reminded that they are the leaders of tomorrow and that their future is full of endless possibilities. College will become a reality once students feel self-worth and validated. He believed, “They see it, believe it, and they will achieve it!”

Principal Cano served highly economically disadvantaged students at the schools where he was principal.  Under his leadership, Austin Elementary ranked among the top schools in the state of Texas according to the Texas Education Agency for many consecutive years. In 2017 he led his students, faculty, and staff to achieve and receive the great honor of being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in the United States of America. Austin Elementary was the ONLY highly economically disadvantaged and non-GT school from ECISD that was given such an honor.

As Aba Kumi and the National Blue Ribbon Schools Team from The U.S. Department of Education said: “He leaves behind a legacy at Austin Elementary, where educators understand and believe that the academic, emotional, and social development of each child matters, and if you capture a child’s heart, their mind will follow.”

Mr. Cano’s values were an integral component of not only how he lived his life, but how he served and led others at school. He modeled empathy and compassion in the purest form. When a student experienced a hardship, behavioral problem, or academic barrier, he would always ask himself, “What would I do if this student was my own child?” Approaching situations with love, compassion, empathy, and integrity were his strongest suits. His humility was momentous, Mr. Cano never hesitated to help. According to Principal Cano, every task at school was important. At times, he would pick up a mop and help clean the school floors. He wanted the school to be safe and beautiful for his students and staff to enjoy.

Principal Cano believed that students should be treated as unique individuals with dignity and respect in a safe, caring, and supportive environment where they would see themselves as college bound scholars. With this spirit and these values, he took the time to truly get to know and understand each one of his students as individuals. Each school year he would learn the names of every single one of his students; sometimes, Mr. Cano had over 500 students at the elementary schools where he served as principal, and he took time to learned each of their names. His students believed in themselves and accomplished academic milestones because they knew Mr. Cano instilled hope and believed in them.

His commitment to education has propelled many students to succeed as responsible and productive contributors within the community. His compassion, empathy, integrity, and hope were some of the greatest gifts he ever gave us. His legacy as an educator lives on in the lives of his students, faculty, and staff. As a current ECISD Board Member said, “The legacy he leaves behind is one that challenges all of us to be a blessing to the people around us.” He is a true local hero in every sense; he lived in Edinburg for the majority of his life and positively impacted ECISD numerous times over the course of his career. The profound impact that Homero Cano made on thousands of students, the values he embodied, and his continued dedication to educate underserved students to achieve academic excellence are a few of the many reasons why Robert E. Lee Elementary should be named after this local hero.

Please note, there is also a paper petition that is safely and responsibly being circulated in the community for those who do not have access to technology devices or the Internet.