News from the Superintendent: May 24, 2010

May 24, 2010

Good morning.

The last week of school is here, and I’d like to use this final message of the school year to say thank you and reflect on what we’ve accomplished. I’ve been pleased with the direction we’ve taken.

It seems like we just got word about our 2009 SBA results, which we’ve used as a baseline for this year. In a few months, I expect that we’ll be talking about a whole new baseline showing that even more schools made AYP.

Over the past nine months, APS has:

• Opened Tony Hillerman Middle, Rudolfo Anaya Elementary and Coronado Elementary schools, as well as additions at a host of other schools
• Implemented a standardized bell schedule for all high schools
• Extended the academic day at all high schools—2,500 students took advantage of the later hours
• Expanded middle school sports and activities
• Began using the AVID college readiness program at five schools—next year there will be 16 schools participating
• Cheered the news that all 25 graduates of Career Enrichment Center’s nursing program in 2009 passed their board exams on the first try, a rare feat
• Congratulated 2009 Milken Educator Award-winning teacher Tamara Dunham, as well as numerous other teachers, administrators and students whose work shone under the spotlight
• Launched a new, more user-friendly website (www.aps.edu) that has already won its first award
• Said good-bye too soon to former school board member Berna Facio, School on Wheels principal Felipe Perea and all too many teachers and students
• Celebrated significant anniversaries at Zuni (50 years), Zia (60), Mountain View (100) and Los Padillas (120) elementaries
• Congratulated our third class of Selfless Seniors, started a teacher of the month award with help from Pepsi and an award named for Berna Facio, all through the APS Education Foundation
  

And just last week, we watched nearly 4,800 high school seniors earn their diplomas, including the first graduating class from Volcano Vista. I attended a number of ceremonies and could see how the hard work of students, families, teachers, administrators and other school staff paid off in graduation dividends. This was the second year graduations were held at Tingley Coliseum and I want to give a special nod to Julie Sanchez, school activities directors, the board office, school police and everyone who helped make these ceremonies special.

So, another busy year has come to a close. This will be the final weekly message until August, though we’ll keep you up to date as the budget process wraps up. There’s no question that the year had both highs and lows and, in some cases, people overcame a lot to achieve the results they did.

As ready as we all are for a well-deserved break, I’m already looking forward to the possibilities for next year.

Have a happy and safe summer.

Winston Brooks
Superintendent