Superintendent Update-8/15/2023
Welcome Back
Through quality education our students will achieve personal success
The Telluride School District will support all students in striving for their highest potential through quality academics while addressing individual needs within a safe and healthy community.
August 15, 2023
TSD Community,
It is my honor to welcome all new and returning students and families to the 2023-2024 school year for the Telluride School District. I feel so fortunate and proud to be your Superintendent. Staff arrived this week and are working hard on a variety of preparation and professional development activities. We are excited to meet students on Tuesday, August 22, for our first official day of the school year. We believe that our district is a living example that the sum can be greater than the parts, and that together we can do amazing things. Above is a photo of our staff at our opening gathering this morning.
I know that you have received information from your schools already. This message is intended to give you some general information about the start of the school year without overwhelming you, and I apologize for any duplication of information.
New Staff: Please join me in welcoming and congratulating the following new staff as they enter into our district.
· Eileen Cahalane is our new Grade 1 Dual Immersion English-side Teacher at TES
· Jessica Miller is our new School Librarian at TES
· Christie Miller is our new Grade 3 Traditional Teacher at TIS
· Luis Poblete Salazar is our new Grade 3 Dual Immersion Spanish-side Teacher at TIS
· Lily Engebretson is our new Grade 5 Traditional Teacher at TIS
· Nancy Swick is our new Grade 6 Science Teacher at TIS
· Katie Geissler is our new Special Education Teacher at TIS
· Matt Kroll is our new Art Teacher for Grades 4-8, TIS and TMS
· Sheila Blakney is our new Literacy Interventionist at TMHS
· Laura Mariboli Contreras is our new Spanish/English Language Development Teacher at TMHS
· Jack Taylor is our new Special Education Teacher at THS
· Sheila Lawson is our new LPN joining our district nursing staff
· Madeline Hirschfeld has joined our IT Department over the summer
End-of-Year Award winners from 2022-2023: I would like to recognize our award winners from last school year. Please congratulate them when you see them.
· Friend of Education – Darla Erickson
· Friend of Education – Josh Butson & San Juan Outdoor Adventures
· Newcomer of the Year – Yeny Sanchez Corza
· Classified Employee of the Year – Derek Thomas
· PK-6 Professional Employee of the Year – Jen Taylor
· 7-12 Professional Employee of the Year – Marion Proud
Professional Development: Over the past weeks, our staff have participated in several different professional development trainings, including: CPR, Dual Immersion Orientation, AVID 101, DIBELS and Lectura, Bridges Math Intervention, READ Act, and New Teacher Orientation. We have several more trainings happening during our in-service week.
Reunification Exercise: Our staff will be participating in a Reunification Exercise (without students) on Friday, August 18 with the support of San Miguel County Emergency Manager, law enforcement, and other emergency responders. This three-hour exercise will better prepare us in the event we ever need to perform a reunification following an incident at one of our schools. For more information on reunification go to: https://iloveuguys.org/standard-reunification-method/
Mission and Ends Statements and Focus Areas: I am sharing this information so you are aware of our priorities for this coming year; they remain the same as last year:
· Our Mission Statement: Through quality education our students will achieve personal success.
· Our Global Ends Statement: The Telluride School District will support all students in striving for their highest potential through quality academics while addressing individual needs within a safe and healthy community.
· Our Focus Areas:
· Quality Academics
o Vertical and horizontal alignment of curriculum
o HR practices that result in retaining and recruiting excellent staff
· Addressing Individual Needs
o A Multi-Tiered System of Supports
o A robust Dual Immersion program
· Safe and Healthy Community
o Consistent student and staff culture across buildings which supports achieving ends
Fair and equitable behavioral expectations and responses
Sincerely,
John Pandolfo
Superintendent
970-369-1213
John Pandolfo
Email: jpandolfo@telluride.k12.co.us
Website: tellurideschool.org
Location: 725 West Colorado Avenue, Telluride, CO, USA
Phone: 970-369-1213