A New Year, A Shared Direction

Tomorrow, your student(s) will walk through our doors for the first day of the 2026–27 school year.

They will find classrooms ready for learning, meals prepared, and staff across our district ready to welcome them. There will be excitement, reunions with friends, new connections and experiences, and all that comes with the first day of a new school year.

More importantly, we want every student to walk into school knowing they are welcomed, valued, safe, and supported.

To our families, thank you for everything you have done to prepare your student(s) for tomorrow. We are excited to welcome them back!

I also want to share a leadership update with you. Last night, our Board of Directors appointed me as Interim Superintendent, beginning September 1, for the remainder of the 2026–27 school year.

When I stepped into the Acting Superintendent role in May, I did so with a deep sense of responsibility to our students, staff, families, and community. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Longview Public Schools in this role.

I take this responsibility very seriously. As Interim Superintendent, I will continue working to provide stability, lead with care, listen and learn, strengthen student safety, and keep students at the center of our decisions.

There is important work ahead, and I look forward to doing that work in partnership with our staff, families, students, Board, and community.

This year also marks the beginning of implementing our new six-year Strategic Plan. Every school will focus on two Strategic Plan goals, starting with Goal 1: Safe, Connected, & Thriving School Community, which is a shared priority across the district.

Each school will also focus on a second goal aligned with the needs and experiences of the students they serve:

• Elementary Schools: Goal 2 — Foundational Excellence

• Middle Schools: Goal 3 — Academic Momentum

• High Schools: Goal 4 — Prepared for Personal Success

Read more about these goals, the associated outcomes and performance targets here. Your child's school will share more throughout the year about these goals, the work underway, and the progress being made.

One of my priorities is to continue strengthening student safety across our district. This work is closely aligned with Goal 1 of our Strategic Plan: Safe, Connected, & Thriving School Community, which focuses on students’ physical and emotional safety and sense of belonging, improving attendance, and reducing behavioral incidents.

Strengthening student safety also means ensuring our expectations are clear and consistently applied. The Board establishes district policy, and as Superintendent, I am responsible for developing and strengthening the procedures that support those policies. I am committed to using that responsibility to provide greater clarity, consistency, and accountability across our schools.

Families are an important part of bringing our Strategic Plan to life. Authentic Family & Community Engagement is one of the foundations of the plan, which includes strengthening communication with families and creating meaningful opportunities for family input and voice.

I am committed to supporting the connections between our schools and families as we work together to support our students.

As we begin this new school year, I want to thank you for your partnership and for entrusting us with your students. I look forward to the work we will do together.

Tomorrow, let's give our students a great first day—and begin a year in which every student can say: I Belong. I Believe. I Achieve.