August 25, 2021

Dear APS families,

I hope you are enjoying the waning days of summer with your families. The past year has been a challenge for many of us and I know we all anticipate hearing that first bell ring and welcoming your children back into our schools next week. 

A special thank you to those who joined me for my summer office hours; I’ve received such a warm welcome from those in attendance. These office hours were a success and provided me with the opportunity to listen to many different perspectives within our community. I appreciate the candor surrounding the need to focus on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and equity for all of our students. I plan to host office hours throughout the school year as it’s clear these meetings are a welcome chance for families to connect with me and share their thoughts.

I am optimistic this year will offer us the chance to work together in partnership on behalf of your children. Earlier this week, I welcomed our new teachers who are joining the district this year, and I am confident in the commitment all our educators will bring to their classrooms.

I want to acknowledge the challenges our families have faced since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. The health and safety of your children remain our highest priorities and we will be agile and proactive in responding to the uncertainty of the coming months as we return to in-person, full time learning. I commend our families, especially our students, on your resilience and perseverance. We know many of our students will need additional emotional support as they transition back to school this year. I encourage our families to reach out to their principals should they need assistance.

The first day of school is always a milestone and celebration for our families. I share in this excitement and look forward to supporting our families as we return to school.