Superintendent Mark Porterie welcomed back 1,300 enthusiastic Port Arthur Independent School District teachers and staff members Wednesday, thanking them for a big effort last year and citing high hopes for the coming school year.

“Looking back on 2017-18,” he said at the PAISD Convocation at Memorial High School, “that’s one we will never forget.”

Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey, he said, “affected everybody in our community. At times we did not know what tomorrow would bring. Some of us are still displaced from our homes.”

But Porterie said the schools made a huge impact on the beleaguered community, where the storms dumped up to 5 feet of rain and flooded much of Port Arthur last August.

“On the day that the yellow buses rolled, our community started coming back together,” he said.

Much of Porterie’s message centered on appreciation for the efforts of teachers, staff and other employees.

“I am so thankful for each and every one of you,” he said, calling on faculty and staff from individual schools to the central office staff to stand, working down a litany of departments that included custodians, maintenance staff, cafeteria workers and others who made huge efforts to serve students, community members and one another last year.

Even the children, he said, made remarkable efforts to bear up under uncertain and challenging circumstances.

“We were able to get through it,” he said. “People communicated. We asked, ‘Can I help you.’

“We are educators. We are a loving and compassionate people. In the midst of the storm it was proven we could come together.”

Meeting in the Memorial gym, school system most employees seemed joyous about returning to work, some leaping to their feet to applaud at various times.

“Seeing new faces, returning faces, that brings energy and excitement,” said Carolyn Brown. “We’re getting ready for the children and giving them all we have.”

She stopped to hug Tracey Gabriel, an instructional coach at Adams Elementary and added, “This woman is fabulous!”

“I’m excited,” said Desiree Franklin, assistant principal at DeQueen Elementary. “It’s going to be the greatest year ever, a new beginning and a fresh journey.”

Even the Star-Spangled Banner and Pledge of Allegiance drew superlatives from Porterie, who told the crowd, “In 2018, we should honor and be so happy that we live in the United States of America, the greatest country in the world. We should be thankful.”

Porterie also urged teachers to be aware of their pay and benefits, including their “defined retirement funds.” They work hard for their retirements, he said, and deserve financial stability after contributing long years of service to the school system.

The Port Arthur Memorial High School Basketball Team, state 5A champions in 2017-18, received their championship rings. Classroom teachers received computers and other staff members received tote bags.