First 100 Days 

I have had the privilege for the past nine years of working with the community, families, School Board, teachers, principals, administrators and staff members of the Golden Valley Unified School District. Few get the opportunities that I have had to serve, learn and grow in a District on the move on behalf of students and to be as part of a school community on the rise! 

The strengths of our school district resonate throughout Madera County: innovative, focuses on student achievement, rigor, relevance and relationships, making learning meaningful and practical to everyday living, private school education in a public setting, diversity and passion in the community. 

My first 100 days have been spent listening to various stakeholders of this community: parents, students, teachers, administrators, staff and community members. It is through these discussions that we have been able to make changes for betterment of this learning environment.  Although at times, I feel a since of urgency to get to all the necessary changes implemented district wide, I also recognize that it’s important for me to take time to listen and to learn.

We have added support to various areas in our organization: General Education, Special Education, Library, and Health Clerk and Mechanic.  The majority of the changes has had a direct affect to the classrooms and will have an immediate impact on teaching and learning. 

We have initiated our English Language Arts adoption with the hope of implementing an overdue English Language Arts program for the 2012-2013 school year.  Staff has been working diligently analyzing various programs.  Our hope is to select a program for approval in spring.

My philosophy in education is simply put.  Our role as a school district is to educate our children by providing a rigorous, relevant course of study and develop positive relationships.  Our leadership needs to be transparent and we need to be able to own our work and take responsibility for it.  We as educators have the most important job in our society, educating the future leaders of this country.  As a staff, we must embrace this challenge!

I want to thank President Toole and the members of the School Board for giving me the opportunity to lead this fine organization.  And I thank our parents for entrusting our staff with your precious children.