A Legacy of Service: Tracy Todd

By Sam Martin ’07

If you’re new to the Legacy community, you may not know the name Tracy Todd, but you certainly benefit from her years of service and the indelible impact she has had on this institution.

Let’s meet her now.

The Todds were one of the first families to enroll at Legacy, and at least one of their three sons attended LCA from the inaugural 1999 school year until 2020.

“When we began Legacy Christian Academy, there were myriad tasks that needed to be done in a short amount of time,” says founder and former Head of School Jody Capehart. “Tracy Todd came in with that beautiful smile and ‘can-do’ spirit and asked, ‘How can I help? I’ll do whatever you need.’ Looking back, I see clearly that this was an understatement because Tracy did so much to make Legacy Christian Academy the excellent school it is today.”

During her time as an LCA parent, Tracy served in a multitude of roles, from room mom to volunteer coordinator to Teacher Appreciation chair to PTF president. Her heart for service is so expansive that no one at Legacy can even catalog the variety of roles, both big and small, that Tracy has filled over the years. And she’s so eager to slip away from any attention and remain behind the scenes that

she was almost entirely uncooperative when I approached her to discuss this spotlight.

I first met Tracy when she and Mitch and their gaggle of young boys moved in three houses down from my parents and I became their go-to babysitter. Every time I entered their home, I was met by piles of decorations for a teacher luncheon, teacher appreciation goodies, or another project. In fact, she was so busy with her ways to bless the Legacy community that she once had me assemble centerpiece decorations for an in-service luncheon after her boys went to bed.

It wasn’t just formal volunteer positions that Tracy executed flawlessly. Says Chris Harmon, Head of School from 2007 to 2016, “Tracy was a tireless champion for the school. One afternoon I received a call that a work crew at a nearby house had left a large truck in the middle of our road and was blocking the carpool lines with dismissal about to begin. By the time I made it outside to assess the situation, I discovered Tracy behind the wheel of a large dump truck trying to get it into gear and out of the way.” Mr. Harmon delightedly recalls: “That’s Tracy — she saw a problem and stepped in to fix it before anyone else even noticed it.”

Tracy’s heart for service is rivaled by the hearts of the rest of her family. When Shane Krotz, Director of Service and International Programs, was envisioning the International Program, she thought about potential host families, and the first people who popped into her head were the Todds. Despite everything on their plate, Shane couldn’t shake the sense that Tracy and Mitch would be the perfect “parents” for Legacy’s first international student. Tracy skeptically relayed the message to her husband, thinking it was unlikely, but he jumped at the opportunity. Their oldest son, Parker, had already started college and was happy to relinquish his room and sleep on the couch when he came home for breaks. In 2014, after a few more conversations, the Todds graciously welcomed Iverson, their “fourth son,” into their home. Later, they hosted another international student for about a year. They just can’t help themselves.

Regarding Tracy’s numerous contributions to Legacy, the one she’s most pleased with comes readily: “Meal calendars!” she said immediately. “If one thing I did could last, I hope it’s meal calendars.”

When an LCA faculty or staff member or a Legacy family experiences any kind of significant life or health event, Tracy organizes a meal calendar. Surgery? You get meals! New baby? You get meals! Cancer diagnosis? You get meals! During her more than 10 years of leading the Care Ministry, Tracy has coordinated 1,190 delicious, nutritious meals.

In December 2016, while I was on staff at LCA, my first child was born but he never took a breath on his own and passed away moments later. In the haze of my grief, I was trying to work out the logistics of holding a memorial for Max. Tracy volunteered to coordinate the food for some 100 people. She and a group of Legacy moms handled everything — ordering it, picking it up, delivering it to my parents’ house. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of Tracy’s care, you’re blessed.

“It’s just such an easy and tangible way to be the hands and feet of Christ,” says Tracy cheerfully. “No matter what other circumstantial, specific needs someone is experiencing, that person will always need to be fed. And the Legacy family has always been quick to step up and provide for that need,” she says, beaming.

“Tracy Todd was one of the first members of the LCA community I met when I arrived four and half years ago,” says Bill McGee, LCA’s current Head of School. “She introduced herself as coordinator of the school’s ministry that provides meals and other needs to those families who are experiencing health issues, personal tragedy, or other hardships. I was so impressed that the school offered this service, and I became even more impressed with how efficient and effective this ministry was under Tracy’s humble leadership. I soon discovered that I needn’t worry about LCA families being forgotten or isolated during their time of need because Tracy was on top of caring for that need. My own family is currently benefiting from her legacy of service following my recent surgery.”

Although Tracy is no longer paying tuition or setting foot on campus on a daily basis, Legacy Christian Academy will be forever marked by her enormous heart of service.

As Jody Capehart put it: “Tracy’s love, generosity, creativity, and compassion created and supported the culture of Christ’s love that is woven through Legacy.”

Sam Martin (’07) lives in Frisco with her husband, Spencer, and their two kids, Lachlan and Meryn. She serves on the board for Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas and volunteers with Hope Mommies.