1/30/25 From The Superintendent's Desk

My First Six Months: A Journey of Growth and Commitment

As I reflect on my first six months in this new district, one of the most valuable aspects of my learning experience has been understanding the legacy and traditions that have shaped our community. Every district has its own culture, and I've found it fascinating to learn about the practices that have been in place before me. The real challenge and opportunity lie in figuring out where I can add value and leave my mark to enhance the learning experience for all students.

What has stood out to me most in this time is the incredible commitment and support our community has for students. There is an undeniable passion and pride in our schools, and it is clear that our educators, families, and community members are deeply invested in the success of every student. As we move forward, we are dedicated to recognizing all students and expanding our programs to better prepare them for their post-secondary experiences.

Our focus is to instill a culture of academic success, helping students gain the confidence to choose a challenging path, even if it means encountering setbacks along the way. We believe that experiencing failure is an important part of growth, and we want our students to approach challenges with resilience and determination. Our goal is to ensure that by the time they leave our system, students have the confidence to pursue any path they choose—whether that's entering the workforce, pursuing a technical career, or attending an institution of higher education.

In addition to academic success, we encourage our talented athletes to consider pushing their abilities to the next level and compete at the college level. The message we're sharing with them is simple: "If you don't try, you'll never know, and you'll always wonder..." This mindset of pushing limits and taking risks is something we want all of our students to adopt.

Over the next couple of years, you'll hear more about our shift toward creating personalized academic plans for each of our secondary students. We plan to share these plans with families, with the expectation that they will be part of our ongoing conversations during parent conferences. In the third quarter, we will be interviewing each of our seniors to better understand their journey and experiences, so we can continue to improve our programs and outcomes.

We are excited about the future and the opportunities to grow our students through the strong relationships and programs we continue to build together. Here's to another great six months of learning, growth, and success!

Sincerely,
Mike Gass
WSD Superintendent