JULY 18, 2018
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Kyrene’s vision: Help students be all they can be BY DR. JAN VESELY Kyrene Superintendent
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he beginning of a new school year, like the dawning of a new day, reminds us that the future in Kyrene School District holds infinite possibilities. This time of year is an especially rewarding one because it brings us together to share stories of time spent with family and friends over summer adventures and to launch a new year, filled with hope, vision, and excitement. This year will continue to be shaped by our reform efforts as outlined in our Strategic Plan 2022, which defines priority work in the following goal areas:
• High-performing students • High-quality talent • Inclusive culture • Responsive organization • Collective governance There is never a shortcut to strategic planning and implementation when working to scale up innovative educational practices. It takes years of sustained commitment. In the Kyrene School District, we are continuing our journey into this continuously evolving, deeprooted work that requires a crystal-clear focus on our vision: ensuring all students achieve at their maximum potential to become problem solvers, creators and visionaries of tomorrow. Rather than chase trends, we will maintain an unrelenting commitment to
improving our core focus on the delivery of effective and rigorous instruction to maximize student learning and achievement. Our most important stakeholders will always be our students, and years of research have proved that nothing schools can do for their students matters more than giving them effective teachers. A strong teacher can make an impact that lasts a lifetime, putting even the most disadvantaged students on the path to college and career success. This year, we will continue to reach out to community partners for engagement and guidance and make sure that we deploy resources where they have the greatest impact on achieving our desired results. Our work is about large-scale
implementation within an existing system of schools. We are clear about the learning expectations for students and want to make sure that every student reaches those standards. We rely on our teachers and administrators to create rich learning experiences using the very same skills we are developing in our students: creativity and innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, systems thinking, and flexibility, among others. Our pillars for student success focus on academic excellence, responsive instruction and student agency. Our accomplishments have been monumental and we will continue See
KYRENE on page 5
New Tempe Union head explains district’s values, beliefs BY DR. KEVIN MENDIVIL Tempe Union Superintendent
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s a proud native Phoenician and graduate of Arizona State University, I have spent the majority of my adult life experiencing the growth and prosperity of the East Valley. It is why I chose to begin my teaching career 32 years ago in the East Valley and have never looked back. As an educator and member of the community, I have been honored to interact and be inspired by amazing students, teach alongside the best and
most passionate of educators, and to work with parents and community partners who are just as committed to a meaningful and quality education and the safety and happiness of their children as I am. As the new superintendent for Tempe Union High School District, I feel more connected than ever to the people in this community and to the education profession. The district recently went through a strategic planning process and a team of teachers, administrators, district staff, community members and others developed the Tempe Union “Core Values and Beliefs.” These core values and beliefs depict who we are as a community
of learners. In the upcoming school year, we will focus on ensuring that all of our staff and students are connected to these ideas. Students First: At Tempe Union, we put students’ academic and social/emotional needs at the forefront of everything we do. We believe that all students can learn, and we accept responsibility for their learning. We eliminate barriers to student learning. We believe that all students learn best in a safe and well-maintained learning environment. And, we believe a variety of extracurricular opportunities enriches the learning experiences of our students. Employees Matter: We hire and develop
A H WAT U K E E O RT HO D O N T IC S
Pe r s o n a l i z e d g e n t l e c a r e t h a t w i l l l e a v e y o u s m i l i n g JJORDAN,, DDS • 480.598.3659 JANET L. JORDAN JANET WWW.AHWATUKEEORTHODONTICS.COM
a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We hold all employees to high expectations. We provide a healthy, happy, safe and supportive work environment. And, we believe in providing opportunities for all staff to collaborate and continually improve their craft. Family, Community and Business Partnerships: We pursue a strong and active relationship with families and the community to meet the social/emotional and academic needs of our students. We believe strong relationships provide students the tools and strategies needed to learn and succeed as responsible and See
MENDIVIL on page 3
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KYRENE on page 4