August 16, 2022
Dear RSU 67 Staff and Families,
RSU 67 is buzzing with activity these days, as the first day of school is only about two weeks away. It’s hard to believe that summer is winding down and in just a few more days, our hallways and classrooms will be filled with the sounds of students and staff, busily learning and moving from one location to the next. Department stores are filled with back-to-school shoppers trying to find that last item on their list, and families are scrambling to find time for that one last summer activity. It’s back-to-school time!
As the days of August are quickly passing, RSU 67 administration and staff have been busy putting the final touches on plans for the year ahead. I have been incredibly impressed by how hard our administration and staff have worked over the summer to ensure that every RSU 67 student receives the very best educational program possible. In addition to developing schedules and preparing their buildings for the first day of school, administrators have been busy filling positions that were vacated at the end of the last school year. Despite national and statewide staff shortages, RSU 67 has been able to hire outstanding teachers and support staff this summer, and I am confident that these educators have the skills and tools necessary to provide exceptional learning opportunities to all RSU 67 students.
The Administrative team met for its annual working retreat earlier this month, and we had an exceptionally productive day planning for and discussing the needs of our students, staff, and RSU 67 communities. As an administrative team, we are committed to providing highly effective leadership that is focused on student outcomes, and to keeping students at the center of all we do. We are committed to providing transparent, clear, and concise communications to ensure that every member of our community is informed, heard, and included. This week, the administrative team is attending professional development with local and regional law enforcement agencies to address and plan for school safety and security. It has been a busy, but very productive summer for administration, and we are ready for the year to begin.
District teachers and support staff have also been engaged in professional development this summer and their dedication to learning has been impressive. Over the summer, our staff has attended 10 professional development sessions with 5 more sessions scheduled before the start of the school year. A total of 61 staff have attended at least one session this summer (many attended more than one), which have been held both virtually and in person. Topics for teacher and support staff professional development have included teacher leadership, trauma-informed classrooms, instructional strategies, and mentoring new staff, to name just a few.
It has been a busy summer indeed and we are all looking forward to welcoming your children back to school very soon. The dedication of our administrators, teachers, and support staff this summer has been a shining example of “RSU 67 Community Pride.” We look forward to working collaboratively with our colleagues, students, and families to make RSU 67 the very best it can be for all students.
Until next time….
Paul Austin, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools