August 2025
Dear SUSD Students, Families and Staff,
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! SUSD continues to prioritize nurturing relationships and creating meaningful, rich opportunities to grow and learn with students, families and staff. Built on joy, trust and belief in our collective commitment, this year, our theme is Rising Stronger Together. We have inspiring growth, are achieving excellence and embracing change. We believe that every person in our educational ecosystem which includes students, families, staff and community contributes to developing vibrant, confident students on the pathway to fulfilling their individual aspirations. Alongside dedicated staff, community partners and families, we have mobilized and will continue efforts to bridge the gap between our collective vision for the future and the implementation of equitable, culturally and linguistically relevant learning in these upcoming years. Our commitment remains focused on the Whole Child, Whole Family and Whole Community while preparing all students for college, career, and life.
As we continue our systemic transformation efforts this year, you will see many examples embodied in our theme: Rising Stronger Together: Inspiring Growth, Achieving Excellence, Embracing Change:
- Highest graduation rate in the history of SUSD and lowering of chronic absenteeism by 10% over the last two year
- Reward of almost all of SUSD 55 schools to become Community Schools to deepen wraparound supports aligned with Whole Child, Whole Family, Whole Community needs
- Investment in safe learning environments through the implementation of Hall Pass (visitor check in system), access control to limit entry into campus, and increased camera coverage
- An increase in relevant, meaningful curriculum through Career Technical Education (CTE), Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) and Ethnic Studies to support the modern student
- Effective use of previous ESSER III and current bond funding to implement the Facilities Master Plan to improve school facilities and environments such as classroom furniture, shade structures, athletic and science upgrades, and HVAC improvements
- Increase of additional support staff including mental health clinicians, board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs), Campus Security Monitors (CSMs) and intervention teachers
- Implementation of Parent Square to improve multi-lingual, timely communication with staff, families and the community
Our focus on educational equity and support for each and every student will only strengthen. Each SUSD student will have the necessary resources to ensure their success on a social emotional and academic level.
We pledge to collaborate with all stakeholders by actively listening and investing time in you, to innovate and accelerate our students with culturally and linguistically relevant learning linked to their passions, interests and talents, and to transform our system so all of our students are successfully prepared for college, career and life. Rising Stronger Together: Inspiring Growth, Achieving Excellence, Embracing Change
Thank you,
Dr. Michelle Rodriguez
Superintendent of Schools
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