E-Matters October 2025

Dear North Penn Community,

October is a month filled with opportunities to celebrate the incredible people who make our district strong. From National Custodians Day (Oct. 2) and World Teachers Day (Oct. 5) to National Coaches Day and National Instructional Coaches Day (Oct. 6), National School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 20-24), and World Occupational Therapy Day (Oct. 27), each observance shines a light on the many roles that support our students every single day. Please take a moment to thank these individuals whether their day has passed or is upcoming.

There is no question that working in public education is challenging in 2025. The obstacles we face are well-documented in the news, in research, and across social media. Despite these challenges, I believe the caring people of the North Penn School District make an impact on students unlike any other district.

Regardless of each person’s role, our staff members influence student achievement every single day. Our students cannot learn if they cannot get to school safely, eat a healthy meal, learn in a clean and secure environment, or have reliable care before and after school. Our teachers ignite curiosity and a love of learning, and our principals and other administrators provide the leadership and support that keep our schools thriving.

In addition to recognizing our staff this month, I am thrilled to share some wonderful academic news that is the result of our hardworking staff and talented students. When analyzing achievement data, I focus on trends rather than snapshots. Comparing our progress over time and against similar districts helps us see the bigger picture. One of the best tools for measuring student progress is the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS), which measures growth rather than just raw achievement.

Recently, I received our district’s PVAAS data for the 2024-2025 academic year, and the results are outstanding! The rating scale compares student growth compared to their peers across Pennsylvania. If students made the expected amount of growth, that group of students is rated “green”, if they gained slightly compared to their peers, they are rated light blue, and if they make significant gains they are rated dark blue. There are 13 state standardized testing areas and 9 of the 13 in NPSD were rated in the dark blue, 2 were in the light blue, and 1 was in the green. In all, over 83.2% of the classrooms in NPSD exceeded their statistically expected growth and outperformed their peers across the state.

In short, our students aren’t just maintaining, they’re making significant academic progress, thanks to the hard work and dedication of all of our staff.

To say I’m proud is an understatement. Our collective efforts across every building, classroom, and department have led to results that truly reflect the commitment to success that defines this district. I look forward to diving deeper into the results at an upcoming school board meeting.

Finally, thank you to the greater North Penn community for your support in making North Penn a place where every student can learn, grow, and thrive.

Sincerely,

Todd Bauer, Ed.D.

Superintendent

North Penn School District

As we settle into the 2025-2026 school year, it’s a great time to celebrate one of the things that makes NPSD truly special: our language diversity.

At the end of last school year, we had 1,202 students in our English Language Development (ELD) program, representing a wonderful mix of languages and cultures. The most common were Spanish (47%), Bengali (17%), and Arabic (7%), along with Korean, Gujarati, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, and French. Overall, more than 3,300 students speak a language other than English at home, bringing a richness of experience and perspective to our classrooms.

Our English Learners come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some were born right here in the U.S., while others have moved here after years of schooling in another country. Some have had interrupted schooling, and a few are just beginning their formal education journey. Each one brings something valuable to our classrooms: a new perspective, a fresh idea, or a different way of seeing the world.

Having families who speak many languages is a gift to our community. It helps us learn about other cultures, build empathy, and appreciate what makes each of us unique. It reminds us that our schools aren’t just places to learn math and reading, they’re places to share stories, traditions, and dreams.

At NPSD, we are committed to honoring every student’s language as an important part of who they are. By valuing the languages our students speak, we celebrate their identities, strengthen our community, and ensure every student feels seen, respected, and supported.