The Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) is pleased to announce the rededication of the Tribute to Texas Children Monument, a cherished landmark at the Texas State Capitol. The rededication, scheduled for April 24 at 9 am on the Capitol Grounds North Lawn, will celebrate the monument’s enduring legacy and reaffirm Texas’ commitment to the well-being and future of its children.
Created by world-renowned sculptor Lawrence Ludtke, the Tribute to Texas Children is a life-size bronze monument depicting six children on a field trip to the Texas Capitol. Over a span of five years, schoolchildren from more than 600 Texas schools raised $190,000 to fund the creation of this monument. It was unveiled on the Texas Capitol grounds in 1998. Annually, thousands of children visit the Tribute to Texas Children, making it the most beloved monument on the Capitol premises.
Over the years, the monument’s popularity with visiting children eventually led the State Preservation Board to remove two statues due to structural damage. The remaining four statues also displayed signs of deterioration. Consequently, all six statues needed to be reinforced with a metal bracing system, and the site required enhancements to prevent water accumulation. Since repairs for monuments at the Capitol rely on private donations from the community, TEPSA initiated a restoration campaign in 2017. Due to the generosity of TEPSA members and the public, TEPSA leaders proudly presented the State Preservation Board with a $45,000 check to kick off the restoration efforts in 2023. The statues, removed from the Capitol Grounds in March 2023, have been effectively reinforced and restored to their beloved location.
“The monument serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility to nurture and support every child in Texas,” said TEPSA Executive Director Harley Eckhart. “We take pride in being a vital part of the Tribute to Texas Children, and we are delighted that the statues have returned, stronger than ever, to greet schoolchildren at the Capitol, and remind lawmakers that serving children should be their top priority.”
The rededication ceremony will include remarks by esteemed guests, including The Honorable Charlie Geren, Governing Member of the State Preservation Board. The event will bring together educators, community members, and lawmakers to celebrate the monumental role children play in shaping the future of Texas.
Read the Texas Senate News article on the 1998 dedication of the monument.
TEPSA, whose hallmark is educational leaders learning with and from each other, has served Texas PK-8 school leaders since 1917. Member-owned and member-governed, TEPSA represents more than 6,000 members who direct the activities of more than 3 million PK-8 schoolchildren.
