January 19, 2012

Dear Staff and Community Members,

During the last few weeks I have visited sites and it has been great to see students back in the swing of things and entering the new year with smiles on their faces and eager to learn.  I look forward to visiting all the sites and seeing the new and creative learning opportunities that our dedicate staff will be implementing during the coming weeks.

As we start the new year I want to inform you of some changes that will be occurring in the District effective February 1, 2012. The District has grown by 1,000 students over the last six years resulting in the addition of many teachers and support personnel.  During this time of considerable growth, we have prioritized our resources, keeping them as close to the classroom as possible.  This has happened despite increasing state and federal mandates, challenging budgets, and increasing accountability. At the end of last school year we determined a need to expand our District level support team to ensure that we would continue to provide leadership and support to our teachers, support staff, and site administrators in the area of curriculum, instruction, student services, enrollment, and personnel.  The Board of Trustees supported the addition of a Director of Human Resources to provide more direct services to our employees and attend to the complex compliance issues.

After considerable discussion and evaluation of the skills and interests of staff, we will be making the following changes to align support for our staff and students:

• Dr. Suzanne Roy, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services and Personnel will shift her emphasis to Personnel and will support the transition of a new Director of Educational Services.

• Principal Jennifer Kollmann, will be appointed as Director of Educational Services. She will work directly with Dr. Roy on the multiple facets of Educational Services, such as curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Ms. Kollmann brings a depth and breadth of experiences to this position.  This change will support us during this time of change. Her 24 years in education spans site leadership at the high school and middle school levels, as well as student services, guidance and counseling, and teaching.  During her 4-year tenure, Ralston Middle School has experienced increasing API scores.  She has been instrumental in the integration of technology and the expansion of electives, student leadership, and community outreach. Ms. Kollmann helped students navigate their middle school experience; emphasizing a campus that was physically and emotionally safe.  She will continue her strong student focus in her Director role.

Interim appointments will be made to maintain continuity at Ralston while the principal position is posted and selection is made. The following changes will take place:

·         Donna Sims, Interim Principal at Ralston.  She is currently the Assistant Principal and has been a teacher at Ralston.

·         Matt Pavao, Interim Assistant Principal.  He is currently Dean of students and has been a teacher at Ralston. 

The District and site leadership have a solid transition plan which includes the smooth day-to-day operation of the school, continued focus on strong teaching and learning, and nurturing a caring community.  Steps to be completed include filling the Dean position and working with the Ralston community throughout the process of securing an outstanding Principal. The goal is to have that person in place prior to the 2012-2013 school year. 

We are very fortunate to have talented staff to support our sites and ensure that safety and quality instruction remains our top priority. 

Thank you for your continued support and commitment.

Sincerely,