From the classroom to the football field, and all the way to the administration office, Dana Holcomb has poured his heart and soul into Lampasas ISD for 32 years.
In June, the longtime educator and current assistant superintendent will retire from the school district, marking the end to a long chapter of his life.
“I can’t say enough about the people that I’ve worked with here,” Holcomb said. “Every day is not perfect, but I hope that people feel like I tried and gave my best effort. When situations were challenging, I tried to sit back and not overreact.”
Holcomb began his career in Lampasas ISD as a football coach and U.S. history teacher at Lampasas High School. He later moved to Lampasas Middle School, where he served as assistant principal before advancing to principal. He has spent the most recent portion of his career as the district’s assistant superintendent.
As a leader, Holcomb’s goal has been to create a positive environment for those under his direction.
“I wanted people to enjoy coming to work,” he said. “That’s just kind of my philosophy. I remember my first day as the principal and said, ‘You know, I’m not going to have all the answers by any means, but I want you to know I’m going to try hard.’ And I feel like that came from my parents.”
EARLY CAREER YEARS
Holcomb credits his father, Joe, and mother, Elaine, with having a tremendous impact on his life. Growing up in Alice, Holcomb was instilled with all the values he needed to have a positive influence on others in his educational career.
But at first, he wasn’t expecting a career in education. Holcomb was pursuing a different path during undergraduate studies at Tarleton State University. His trajectory changed when his father, a Texas high school football legend and educator, died. Holcomb was only 20 years old.
“I was in college at the time and didn’t know what direction my life would take. I was taking accounting classes,” Holcomb said. “He passed, and I just kind of sat back, and I think that’s what led me this direction. I felt like maybe that was my calling at that time.”
After graduating from Tarleton and meeting his wife Kerri, Holcomb took his first teaching job in Temple at Bonham Middle School in 1991. As a teacher and coach, he said one responsibility did not outweigh the other.
“I think people can stereotype coaches as not concerned about teaching,” Holcomb said. “My experience was some of the strongest teachers I had throughout my education were coaches.
“I’d always heard too, ‘If you are a good coach, you’re going to be a teacher and vice versa.’ That is the way I took it. I didn’t want to do anything halfway.”
As assistant superintendent, one of Holcomb’s tasks has been to help campuses prepare students for taking STAAR tests on the computer. When he started his career in Temple, Holcomb’s familiarity with modern computers was slim to none.
“In 1991, I remember going through an orientation in the library at Bonham Middle School, and the librarian was on the computer doing something and kind of moving this thing around,” he recalled. “I was like, ‘What is going on there?’ She had a mouse on the computer.”
Holcomb was happy to earn a role at LHS in 1994. That allowed him and his wife, a Lampasas native, to be closer to family. Along with being a U.S. history teacher and football coach, he also served as a driver’s education teacher. In addition, Holcomb was the powerlifting coach and helped mentor a back-to-back state champion.
Some of Holcomb’s fondest memories come from watching students grow in the weight room.
“That is a sport where it doesn’t matter how big you are, you compete against people your own size. That is kind of the equalizing factor,” he said. “I had people in the 114 (pound) class, all the way to the super-heavyweight division. I spent a lot of time, and I could just see those kids improve.”
MOVE TO ADMINISTRATOR POSITION
As a teacher and a coach, Holcomb’s schedule was loaded. Hoping to spend more time with his family, he pursued a master’s degree at Texas Tech University with an eye toward becoming an administrator. When the opportunity to take an assistant principal post at LMS arose in 2001, Holcomb was ready.
He admitted becoming an authority figure on campus was a bit of a transition.
“As a teacher and a coach, you have to have discipline in your classroom and working with your athletes, but students just view you differently,” Holcomb said. “When you move into that administrator, disciplinarian role, it was a different dynamic.”
After nine years as assistant principal, he became the LMS principal in 2011. Holcomb credits then superintendent Randy Hoyer for having faith in him to succeed in the role.
“He believed in me enough to give me the opportunity to be the principal 15 years ago,” Holcomb said. “Very thankful of him and his mentorship.”
After a decade at the helm of the middle school, Holcomb became the district’s assistant superintendent in 2021. As with Hoyer, Holcomb thanked Superintendent Dr. Chane Rascoe for entrusting him with the position.
Holcomb entered his new role one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that period, he relied on his listening skills to ensure academic staff had the tools necessary to help students stay on track.
Along with COVID hurdles, more stringent state assessments have brought new challenges to the classroom. Still, Holcomb believes the district has continued to push forward in a positive light.
“Academically, I feel like we are in a good place,” he said. “I take no credit for that. All the credit goes to the principals, instructional specialists, interventionists, teachers, paras – there are so many people who have led to the success of our students academically.”
READY FOR RETIREMENT
Holcomb and wife, Kerri -- a longtime elementary school librarian -- both celebrated their retirements at last Friday’s districtwide, end-of-year celebration. But is this truly the end?
Holcomb lists Dick Parker, Kerri’s father and former LISD superintendent, as another significant role model in his life. Although Parker retired from LISD, he returned after one year and served as the high school’s attendance officer until 2023.
“Could I potentially see myself doing something like that? I don’t know,” Holcomb said. “It is going to be very different.”
Although nobody knows what the future holds, for now Holcomb plans to sit back, relax and enjoy his time with family.
