Looking ahead
First and foremost: I am so very grateful to be writing to you today after a passed budget vote. All of us feel a bit as though we've been in a state of suspended animation, working to prepare, then advertise, then "get out the vote." We appreciate all of the individual and collective efforts our communities made to learn about the budget, get to the polls and make the best decision for them. We know that we have long term work to do to make sure that all of our students have what they need, and that we focus on sustainability for the future.
I would also acknowledge that there was nothing easy about this budget season, and it is impossible to fully celebrate a vote when difficult decisions were made as part of the process. It's also hard to celebrate when we know that many of our colleagues across Vermont are not yet finished. Our state has much to learn from this year and much work to do on a broader level to make sure we continue to have the world class education we strive for. Still, I am grateful for the chance to take a deep breath and look forward.
It is hard to believe, but this is the second-to-last newsletter of the 23-24 school year! We are in that time of year where the flurry of activities makes the remaining days fly by. I hope you all have a chance to enjoy all that comes with the end of a school year.
- Meagan Roy, Superintendent
During the month of May, all of our schools show their appreciation for our most valuable asset (aside from our students!): our staff. Here are just a few examples of the ways our buildings and communities have shown their gratitude for our educators:
- Countless personalized notes for each of our staff
- Luncheons, breakfast treats, smoothies, coffee and pastry carts (some treats delivered to U-32 by our CVCC students!)
- Plants, seeds and other gifts
- Massages!
"One child, one teacher, one pen, one book can change the world." - Malala Yousafza
In one of our past newsletters, Shelley, our Equity Scholar, wrote about this question: What's In A Month?! (February 2023). Her message was about the importance of knowing our history, and sometimes relearning our history. I think about this post often when I look at the many months that are designated for celebrating and recognizing various groups. Sometimes it feels strange to highlight a group during just a single month (after all: March shouldn't be the only time we celebrate Women's History!). I'm reminded, though, that in addition to celebration and recognition it is about learning - and ideally, new learning so that we truly can celebrate all, all of the time.
May is one of those months with lots to celebrate. So, in the spirit of both learning and acknowledgement, check out the links below. And maybe share with a friend!
- Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Jeffrey Yoo Warren, a Library of Congress Innovator in Residence, created an immersive, virtual experience so that you can "walk through" an erased neighborhood in Providence. "Warren wants this work to support the creative possibilities of what it could have felt like –as an Asian American person – to walk down the street of a historic neighborhood and experience a sense of belonging at that moment in history. " Check it out here!
- Military Appreciation Month: Learn more about how to support service members, veterans, and their families
- Jewish American History Month: If you are looking for something to listen to, the American Archive of Public Broadcasting has developed the Jewish American Heritage Collection
- Mental Health Awareness Month: This month is a time to focus on awareness of mental health issues, advocate for services and resources, and learn about what's happening in the world around us, especially now, and its impact on our mental health. Be mindful with these coloring pages and check out the Path to Calm image below for a quick strategy.
A Month for Thriving
Shelley Vermilya, equity scholar in residence
Every month there are federal and local opportunities to honor the America we live in, and focus our attention on issues that affect our collective well-being. In May, our country acknowledges Asian American and Pacific Islander culture, Mental Health Awareness, and Jewish Heritage. Locally, the Green Team at U-32 brings us Metal Recycling Month.
The WCUUSD Humanity and Justice Statement honors the importance of every child seeing themselves represented in our schools, all year round. Posters, self-portraits, and art on bulletin boards are the first visual images our elementary students find of themselves and their community. Picture books and chapter books open doors into other children’s lives.
When my kids were attending EMES and U-32, there were precious few books that represented them. Stories were just beginning to be widely published about African American, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Latine kids, kids of world-wide ethnic, religious and cultural legacies, kids with visible disabilities, and kids like mine who live in multicultural families. I’m delighted to say, in the two decades since my kids started school, this has changed.
The Humanity and Justice Statement supports our creation of a “learning environment that is free of barriers; one that affirms the identity of each of us and acknowledges and celebrates differences to create a sense of belonging for each person connected to our schools.” Our students are curious about the world they live in and thrive when they see themselves in curriculum and on bulletin boards as they walk to the cafeteria. Our school librarians have collections of fabulously beautiful books and online sources, so our readers have a cornucopia of choices to support their learning and displays that celebrate all the children of this very complex world.
Right here in Vermont, May reflects this cornucopia in blooms and buds. I’ve lost count of the variations of daffodils, and as they depart, lilacs, crabapples and fruit trees are arriving. When I get home from a day in our schools, I wander the garden and marvel at its complexity, curious about what will bloom next. I kneel to pull weeds, and clear away debris so the gardens can thrive.
I’m grateful to work in a school community that meets our complexities with curiosity and centers our community commitment on ensuring that all of our students are seen. This month, and every month, that will help them all thrive.
I am so pleased to announce that I will be nominating Dr. Rebecca Tatistcheff to the WCUUSD Board as the next principal of U-32 High School. Rebecca's extensive experience as an educator and leader positions her well to serve U32 and the Washington Central communities. I believe her record of effective leadership, her breadth of teaching and administrative experience, and her proven commitment to our district's core beliefs -- of fostering responsive, engaged and transparent leadership, evidence-based curriculum, and a culture of inclusivity -- are exactly what our staff, students, families, and community need to grow and thrive.
Most recently, Becca has served as Principal of Cabot School where her focus was on the development of rigorous, relevant, place-based, and literacy-rich curriculum. She began her educational career at St. Johnsbury Academy (Vermont) as a Math teacher before spending the bulk of her career in New York City, first as a Math teacher at the Bank Street School, and later as a Teacher Leader, Whole School Coach, Principal, and District Level Administrator.
Tatistcheff was hired after a thorough search that included input from the community, parents, faculty, staff, and students, including a community-wide survey and a day-long site visit to U-32 High School and faculty and parent/community forums. The fourteen-member search committee represented all communities and all stakeholder groups. The Screening Committee was unanimous in its recommendation to the superintendent.
Dr. Tatistcheff is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she received a BS in Mathematics. She has a Doctorate of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Certificate of Study in School Leadership from the City University of New York.
Becca had this to say about her new role, "Since I have come to know U-32 as a parent and community member, I have been impressed by the strong focus on equity, access, and deep learning. The young people I met during my visit were leading the way in these conversations. I am excited to work alongside them, with families, staff, and community members to further this endeavor."
She will begin her work in the district on July 1, 2024. Please join me in giving her a warm welcome!
Washington Central Unified Union School District
Website: https://www.wcuusd.org/
Location: 1130 Gallison Hill Road, Montpelier, VT, USA
Phone: (802) 229-0553
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wcsu32