A New Year, A Shared Direction

October 16, 2026

Dear Longview Public Schools Families,

When I wrote to you at the beginning of the school year, we were preparing to welcome students back and begin bringing our new Strategic Plan to life. Since then, one of the best parts of my role has been visiting our schools and seeing our students, staff and families in action.

It has been wonderful to see our students settle into the school year, reconnect with friends, build relationships with teachers and engage in learning. As I visit our schools, I am reminded of what makes our Longview school community so special: the people, relationships and everyday moments that help students feel welcomed, supported and excited to learn.

One of the highlights for me has been spending time in our schools and connecting with students and families. At Columbia Heights Elementary's family night, I watched students logging steps for the 100 Mile Club while families connected with teachers. At Cascade Middle School, hallways and classrooms were filled with families learning more about their students' school experiences. At Mount Solo Middle School, I saw sixth graders helping one another navigate their new school. These moments reflect the sense of belonging and connection we want every student to experience.

With parent-teacher conferences coming up at the end of October, I encourage families to take this opportunity to connect with teachers, celebrate their student's progress and talk about ways to support continued learning. Your partnership makes a meaningful difference in your student's success.

These everyday experiences are also examples of our new Strategic Plan coming to life, guided by our Vision of the Student Experience: I Belong. I Believe. I Achieve.

Thank you for the trust you place in us each day and for being an important part of our school community. We look forward to all the learning, growth and opportunities still ahead this year.

Our Commitment to Safety

The heartbreaking news of the recent school shooting in Bend, Oregon, weighs heavily on all of us.

Our hearts are with the students, families, staff and entire school community impacted by this tragedy. We know that news like this can leave students, families and staff feeling worried about safety in their own schools.

Keeping our schools safe is a responsibility we take seriously every day, and the safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We encourage all families and staff to become familiar with the safety procedures, practices and resources available on our district's Safety & Security webpage.

I also recognize that families and staff may be navigating difficult conversations with children following this tragedy. The following resources offer guidance for talking with children about violence, addressing their concerns and providing reassurance and support:

Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers: National Association of School Psychologists
How to Talk to Kids About Tragedies in the Media: Child Development Institute

Additionally, creating safe schools means continually strengthening our systems and practices, listening when students raise concerns, and creating environments where students know there are trusted adults ready to support them. We will continue reviewing and strengthening our policies, procedures, training and practices with student safety at the forefront. Just as importantly, we must continue fostering a culture where students feel comfortable speaking up when something concerns them and know their voices will be heard.

Keeping our schools safe is a shared responsibility. We encourage students and families to report any safety concerns to a teacher, school administrator or other trusted adult. Speaking up allows us to respond, investigate concerns and provide support when it is needed.

Another resource available is HearMeWA, a free, statewide program available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to report concerns. Reports can be made anonymously.

Call: 1-888-537-1634
Text: HearMeWA to 738477
Online: HearMeWA.org

Thank you for being part of a school community that looks out for one another and prioritizes the safety and well-being of every student and staff member.

Bringing Our Strategic Plan to Life

Our new six-year Strategic Plan is now moving from launch to implementation.

Each school is working toward goals aligned with the plan, including our shared districtwide commitment to Goal 1: Safe, Connected and Thriving School Communities. Depending on grade level, schools are also focusing on foundational learning, academic momentum or preparing students for personal success.

Throughout the year, we will continue sharing our progress and highlighting examples of this work happening in our schools.

We are also developing new student and staff recognition awards aligned with our Strategic Plan. These will provide opportunities to recognize students who demonstrate leadership and contribute to the goals of their schools, as well as staff members whose actions help students belong, believe and achieve. We look forward to sharing more about these opportunities soon.

At our elementary schools, students are building strong character, one trait at a time! Each month, students explore a character trait that helps them grow as learners, classmates and community members. September's focus was "Be a Learner!" 📚

Pictured here are students at Olympic Elementary celebrating this important trait during their September Character Assembly!

Student leadership is taking shape across our schools! At Olympic Elementary, members of the Meaningful Work Team help set up for school assemblies and take pride in contributing to their school community. Pictured here, Interim Superintendent Patti Bowen joins members of the team, who are showing that leadership can begin at any age!

Elevating Student Voice

As we work to create the best possible experience for our students, it is important that we hear directly from them.

This year, we are pleased to welcome our 2026–27 student representatives to the Longview School District Board of Directors: R.A. Long High School senior Ellyana Palm, who returns for another year of service, and Mark Morris High School junior Jim Renk, who joins the Board this year.

Our student representatives bring student perspectives directly to the Board and help us better understand what students are experiencing in our schools. We appreciate Ellyana and Jim for stepping forward to represent their peers and contribute their voices to the work of our district.

Recognizing Our Staff

October gives us several opportunities to recognize the people who serve our students and families.

During National Principals Month, we are celebrating our principals for their leadership and dedication to their school communities. We also recently recognized our custodial and grounds employees, whose work helps ensure our schools and facilities are safe, clean and welcoming places for students.

We are also celebrating an exceptional milestone this year: Jim Rhodes has begun his 50th year with Longview Public Schools. Learn more about Jim’s remarkable dedication and the lasting impact of his service in the feature below.

These are just a few examples of the many people across our district whose work contributes to the experience our students have each day.

October is National Principals Month! Throughout the month, we’re celebrating our principal leaders who make a difference across Longview Public Schools. Thank you to our principals for leading, supporting and inspiring our students, staff and community every day!

Join us in celebrating our incredible school leaders throughout October.

Our custodial and grounds crew are dedicated people who work every day to keep our schools and campuses clean, safe, welcoming and ready for learning, activities and events. Their impact can be seen—and felt—across every classroom, hallway, playground, field and school.

Featured in these photos are:

Debbie, a custodian at R.A. Long High School has been caring for the school for an incredible 38 years. Her favorite part of the job? The kids!

Brian, a member of our grounds team, has worked for Longview Public Schools since 1989, serving in a variety of roles over the years. He enjoys working outdoors and takes pride in getting Memorial Stadium and our high school athletic fields ready for game day.

50 Years of Service, Generations of Impact

We are celebrating an exceptional milestone this year: Jim Rhodes is in his 50th year with Longview Public Schools. His five decades of service represent an extraordinary commitment to generations of Longview students and families.

Jim started 50 years ago as a warehouse driver, and for more than 20 years now, he has served as our District's Warehouse Supervisor. Over those years, he has become one of those people who makes so many things happen behind the scenes—often without anyone realizing just how much he does.

Over the course of his 50 years, it is estimated that Jim has been responsible for helping deliver more than 28.5 million elementary school meals to our students. Think about that for a moment—28.5 million meals.

That is an incredible number, but behind that number are millions of individual moments when a student sat down at school and had a breakfast or a lunch waiting for them. Jim's work has helped make that possible, day after day, year after year, decade after decade.

And that's really what Jim has done for a half a century. For 50 years he has made things happen.

His service represents an incredible commitment to our school district, and the impact of that service reaches far beyond the warehouse. Generations of students, teachers, administrators, and staff have benefited from the work he has done.

Jim’s story is a powerful reminder that the work of a school district extends far beyond the classroom. Every role matters, and every contribution helps create the experiences and opportunities our students deserve. Whether serving students directly or supporting them behind the scenes, our employees make a difference every day.

When we began this school year, I described our Strategic Plan as our roadmap and the student experience we aspire to create as our true north. The moments I have seen in our schools over these first several weeks reflect the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our students, and our shared vision coming to life each day.

There is more work ahead, and I look forward to continuing it together.