Superintendent's Office
Welcome to the 2022-23 school year. We were able to retain a great deal of our amazing staff and recruit some phenomenal people in the midst of a nation wide teacher and school staff shortage. Our directors and principals worked tirelessly to recruit staff, manage class scheduling changes, and prepare their buildings for the new school year. We are so excited to get back to what we see as a return to normal school year.
This summer was spent preparing for a surge of enrollment throughout the District. We were able to add an additional teacher to the first and second grades which will help keep class sizes small. We were not able to find an additional teacher for the kindergarten grades but will continue to problem solve ideas to keep those class sizes small as well. We added programming at the high school for career technical education opportunities. Wildfire science, Emergency Medical Response and Emergency Medical Tech courses were added to our Construction Trades, Welding, and Computer Coding CTE offerings. Two new administration positions were added to the secondary schools. Middle school has a full time dean and high school has a full time assistant principal. Middle school has added an art teacher position to help with elective class choices, and they will be offering a construction trades class as well. The intermediate school has added a math interventionist position. At the District, we introduced a district wide instructional coaching position as well as an English Language Coordinator/Coach position to support our teaching staff. Our preschool enrollment is growing as well and a third teacher and classroom aide was added to help support our littlest tigers.
This school year marks my 31st year in education, and although much change has occurred throughout, one mindset remains constant—our students and their achievement matter most.
Speaking with honesty, thinking with sincerity, and acting with integrity continues to be emphasized and modeled as we strive to mentor these qualities in our students’ character and leadership through our districtwide RCD and PBIS Programs. This is the fifth year of using Responsibility Centered Discipline with our secondary students, and the third year of using the Positive Behavior Intervention Supports Program with our elementary students.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out via email, phone, or visiting us in person. Please remember that all visitors to the school district must present their ID and check in with our office staff. As always, we value input because it makes us stronger and more accountable to our stakeholders. It is truly an honor to work for Bennett School District. Thank you for the opportunity to educate your child.
Robin Purdy
Superintendent of Schools