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Creating a place to belong at Carrell Elementary

by | Jul 22, 2026 | Area News, Education, Latest

Principal Lauren Ledford holds a stuffed Carrell Jaguar mascot and has a collection of framed jaguars in her office. Photo Bob Wieland/The Princeton Herald

Before the first student hangs a backpack or opens a new notebook, Carrell Elementary Principal Lauren Ledford wants families to feel something even more important than the excitement of a new school. She wants them to feel that they belong.

“Our people, our pride, our place,” Ledford said as she led a recent tour through Princeton ISD’s newest elementary campus. “We’re taking care of our people. We’re taking care of our place. We’re taking care of our pride in our work, ourselves and our community. I want everyone to feel ownership of this building because it’s not my school. It’s our school.”

When classes begin Aug. 12, Carrell Elementary is expected to welcome about 420 students, most transferring from Harper Elementary, with a smaller number coming from Lowe Elementary. Enrollment continues to climb almost daily as new families move into Princeton, and Ledford expects those numbers to continue growing as nearby neighborhoods are completed.

Read the full story in the July 23rd edition. Stay informed — subscribe to The Princeton Herald.

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