LA PORTE, Texas (KTRK) -- Kicking off his seventh year as La Porte ISD's superintendent, Dr. Walter Jackson is up with the sun, welcoming students to the first day of the 2026-27 school year.

It's all smiles, hugs, and handshakes inside the halls of La Porte's 12 campuses Thursday morning.

It's the reward for the summer of work it took to get here.