John F. Long Elementary has always been more than a school—it’s been a heartbeat of the community, a place where generations grow, learn, and feel at home. Few stories illustrate this better than the remarkable four-generation family whose relationship with the school spans more than six decades.
The family’s connection began in 1959, when their grandmother first stepped onto the John F. Long campus. Back then, the school looked very different.
“There were only three buildings,” she recalled. “We didn’t have a cafeteria. You either brought your lunch or went home for it.” Despite the changes in facilities over the years, one thing, she said, has never changed: “The consistency of the staff. They’ve always cared about the kids, cared about education, and made sure everyone feels safe and loved. John F. Long has always been a safe place—a loving place—for all of our family.”
As the years passed, her children attended the same school, followed by her grandchildren, and now even great-grandchildren. Each generation carries its own vivid memories of being a Longhorn.
They fondly remember school traditions like annual plays, the Turkey Bowl with teachers, the Monster Mash, and cooling off at the ice cream shack. “Everybody in the neighborhood knew each other,” one family member said. “And all the teachers—no matter what grade—knew who you were.”
For the next generation, walking into the same library their mother and grandmother once used was surreal.
“It has the exact same paintings and colored shelves,” they shared. “It’s a pretty amazing experience getting to be here with my kids, my mom, and my grandma. It’s not something you ever think will happen.”
The younger Longhorns shared their own joys: playing tag, going on the monkey bars, learning multiplication, and describing their teachers with wide-eyed excitement. “I would say it’s the best school,” one student declared proudly. Another added, “I love to color and draw. It’s so nice because they always let me create things.”
For this family, John F. Long Elementary is more than a place where they learned reading and math. It represents neighborhood, friendship, and continuity.
“It feels really good to know we all stepped through the same phases,” one family member said. “This school is home away from home. It means the Longhorns. It means my neighborhood. It means growing up.”
Four generations later, the feeling is the same:
John F. Long is home.
“Education has been a big part of our family,” the great-grandmother said. “And John F. Long is definitely a big part of that, because we’re all Longhorns.”