Principal's Message
Dear Southside Secondary Families,
Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! I hope this message finds you well. As the new principal of Southside, it is both an honor and a privilege to welcome our returning families back and to extend a heartfelt greeting to those who are joining our community for the first time.
This year at Southside Secondary, we are committed to preparing the whole child to write meaningful narratives by fostering academic growth and social responsibility. Our dedicated staff has been working hard to prepare for the year ahead, and we are excited to continue building strong partnerships with you to support student success.
Communication and collaboration between home and school are vital. Please be sure to stay connected through our Instagram, Facebook, newsletters, and email updates.
On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, thank you for entrusting us with your children’s education. We are excited to embark on this journey together and look forward to a fantastic school year.
Warm regards,
Ms. Lauren Lightfoot
About Ms. Lightfoot
Lauren Lightfoot was born and raised in Lithonia, Georgia. After graduating from Georgetown University, she moved to Houston, Texas in 2010 as a proud member of the Teacher for America Apollo 20 cohort and taught English for two years at Sharpstown High School in Southwest Houston. After her time at SHS, she became the founding 11th grade English teacher at KIPP Sunnyside High School and she looped up that next year with the founding class. She worked at KSHS for 7 years and taught English I, English III, English IV, AP English Literature & Composition, AP English Language & Composition, and was the English department lead, testing coordinator, and a dean of instruction. After leaving KSHS, she became a YES Prep North Forest Legend, then a YES Prep Southside Giant. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys going to concerts and reading all the things. She is excited to support the Southside Secondary community with authoring their own stories based on the many educational pathways they will follow this year.