District Developments

What date is always the first day of school in Russia, even if it's on a weekend?

Scroll to the bottom to see the answer.

Dr. Corey Tafoya, Superintendent

Where did you grow up, and how did that shape your educational philosophy?

• I grew up in Casper, Wyoming—Go Pokes! Wyoming is a unique place as the least populated state, and that shaped me deeply. You learn to be self-reliant but also to be a generous and dependable neighbor when someone needs help. I developed a deep love for the outdoors and found comfort in solitude and quiet places.
• Being an educator requires that same balance—self-sufficiency paired with strong collaboration. Wyoming taught me both. It’s a big part of who I am. (And no, I don’t own cowboy boots!)

• My most important early teachers were my mom and my Uncle Lefty. They taught me to work hard for what I love and to love fiercely the people closest to me—never giving up on anyone. My uncle became a quadriplegic at 18 and went on to live a remarkable life. His resilience and optimism have always inspired me.
• I also had amazing classroom teachers. Mrs. Bandich gave me a D in English one quarter in 6th grade because I could only list 49 prepositions instead of the required 50. That taught me the importance of high standards. My high school Spanish teacher, Mrs. Freire, never wasted a second—she squeezed every bit of potential out of us. She once told me she thought I’d be a great principal someday.
• I’ve also had incredible leadership mentors throughout my career—too many to count, but each left a mark.

• I love staying active—working out keeps me grounded. I enjoy golfing and fly fishing, though I haven’t fished at all this year (and I’m feeling it!). I also love reading, hanging out with my kids and friends, and can quote most of Gibbs’ rules from NCIS.
• I’m not home enough to have pets right now—but I’ll always stop to pet your dog!

• One of my greatest mentors was my principal when I taught, Dr. Mary Wilcynski. Like me, she was from Wyoming, and we connected instantly. If you're around me long, you'll hear me say, “Mary W used to say…”
• One of her best pieces of advice was to always assume the best in others. Believe they’re doing the very best they can in that moment. That mindset has saved me from jumping to the wrong conclusions many times—and helped me lead with empathy and grace.

The CSMS construction project is well underway and making steady progress! The brick is three-quarters complete, and one-third of the roof has been enclosed. All underground plumbing work has been finished and is in place.

On the electrical and utilities front, contractors have installed all rough-in piping for electrical systems and have begun work on the fire suppression system piping. A new gas line installation is underway to connect both the addition and the existing building. Additional fencing was also installed to keep our students safe. We'll be getting more updates on progress as the school year progresses.

• New Transition Center will be open to start the year. Interior renovations are complete
• Phase 1
• Door 5 is open through the new covered walkway – fobs still work
• Staff parking lot is open
• Bus lane is open. We have coordinated bus drop off/pick up with Lakeside
• Traffic around MHS may be more congested through October due to Rt 83 closure
• Construction on the classroom addition will continue throughout the school year

"The beginning is always today."

- Mary Shelley, Author of Frankenstein

It's probably a fuzzy memory - last May - but our poll was "what's the easiest plant to keep alive?" 67% of you said Hostas were your go to easy plant.

Do you have a great classroom system that has worked wonders for you? Or perhaps you're known as the guru of Excel to the people around you. Would you like the opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise with your colleagues? Now we're offering a way! We're developing an internal directory for staff to reference if they are looking for advice from their fellow colleagues on how to be better at a particular topic in their field. Here's the categories:

• Instructional
• Class Systems/Classroom Management
• Productivity/Office Applications
• Creative/Instructional Platforms

If you would like to be available to offer your expertise, please fill out this google form: Sharing Your Expertise. We'll take the information you submit and share it in a directory that will be made available to our school districts. Questions? Email Belinda Quiñones at bquinones@d120.org.

We've noticed that many of our colleagues in our districts have a lot of talent in the way of side businesses, or side hustles! We're developing an internal directory for staff to have one central place for everyone in our districts to go in case they are in need of a service or product that you can provide. If you have a side hustle that you'd like to share, please fill out the Google form: What's Your Side Business/Hustle?

While we are looking to showcase the diverse talents and services within our school community, we are not looking for individual listings (i.e. selling an individual item). Example - is your business selling custom designed cookies? Great! If you are selling your grandma's couch, no thanks!

Questions? Email Belinda Quiñones at bquinones@d120.org.

September 1