TTUSD District Update
April 2023
In this Month's Newsletter
- A Message from the Superintendent
- TK and Kindergarten Previews Nights are Happening
- A New Principal at Donner Trail Elementary
- Calling All Potential TTUSD Substitutes
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Information
- Volunteer Enrollment Workshops & Reminder
- Linda Brown Fellows & Star Awards Nominations Being Accepted Now
- Applications for the 2023 ARC Summer Immersion Course are Being Accepted Now
- Upcoming Important Dates
A Message from the Superintendent
Hello TTUSD Community,
Wow, what a spring it’s been!?! March was a whirlwind of snow and snow-related impacts. According to the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, the 2022/23 winter is now the second snowiest season since they began recording in 1946. No wonder this winter has felt so intense! We recognize families and students have been impacted by the loss of classroom time, and of course, no one understands the importance of education more than the team here at TTUSD. As you know from recent communications, we are working to identify both short-term and long-term solutions to mitigate impacts this year and to ensure systems are in place for future years to come. Two minimum days were switched to full instructional days, and we are grateful for collaboration from the Tahoe Truckee Education Association (TTEA) on the agreed-upon short-term trial solution to provide learning opportunities for any remaining snow days this year. We will continue to reflect on lessons learned to inform future suggestions and systems, and I will be presenting initial findings at the April 26th board meeting.
With that, I am also compelled to celebrate all of our incredible TTUSD employees once again. A heartfelt thank you to them for their hard work and tireless efforts supporting our learners and the Tahoe Truckee community, especially during these recent challenging times. As mentioned in the last newsletter, TTUSD and TTEA reached an agreement on February 1, 2023, in this year’s union agreement negotiations. Not only did all TTEA members receive an 8% ongoing salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2022, and a one-time $2,000 payment prorated by full-time employment, but we were thrilled to extend those benefits to all TTUSD employees, including California School Employees Association (CSEA) members, classified management and confidential employees. All of our employees consistently show dedication, determination, and a genuine desire to support our learners, so we are so grateful to be able to extend these benefits to everyone. We’re a team, and we’re certainly better together!
And one last note, as you were informed at the beginning of April, I have been offered a career opportunity to return to the Bay Area, where I will be closer to family. At the close of the 2022/23 school year, I will be leaving TTUSD and have accepted a position as the Superintendent of the San Rafael City Schools. It has been an honor to serve as the Superintendent of the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District and to spend the last three years in this incredibly resilient and connected community. Thank you for placing your trust in me and for providing support and empathy throughout the last few years.
Following my announcement, at the April 12, 2023 TTUSD Board of Trustees meeting, the board unanimously approved to appoint Mrs. Kerstin Kramer as the new Superintendent Chief Learning Officer effective July 1, 2023. Mrs. Kramer currently serves as our Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services following 6 years as the Principal of Glenshire Elementary. Upon being hired in 2020, the Board asked me to mentor and provide growth opportunities to Mrs. Kramer in hopes that she would be developed into my successor when the time came. I am absolutely thrilled to see Mrs. Kramer promoted from within and have full confidence that she is the right person to lead TTUSD into the future. She has established relationships with families and staff and is engrained in the daily operations and future goals of the district.
Sincerely,
Carmen Ghysels,
Superintendent Chief Learning Officer
TK and Kindergarten Previews Nights are Happening
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kinder Preview Nights are still happening throughout the district. These informative in-person events provide families with incoming TK and kindergarten students an opportunity to learn about our outstanding TTUSD elementary schools. Each has its own unique personality and provides hands-on, engaging instruction for students. And while we have neighborhood schools, we are also an open-enrollment school district, which means families can apply to the school they think would best serve their child. So families are invited to attend as many preview nights as they’d like.
Each preview night will take place from 5:30pm - 6:30pm at individual school sites. Below is a chart with the remaining preview night dates, times, locations, and notes on whether child care will be provided during the event.
For the 2023-24 school year, children who turn five between September 2, 2023, and April 2, 2024, are eligible for TK.
A New Principal at Donner Trail Elementary
We are thrilled to announce the selection of a new Donner Trail Elementary principal for the 2023-2024 school year. Amy King, the current Assistant Principal at Alder Creek Middle School, has accepted the position and will transition into her new role at the close of the 22-23 school year.
“I am honored to have been selected as the next Donner Trail Elementary Principal,” said Mrs. King. “I look forward to diving into the position and continuing to provide DTE learners with excellent academics in a tight-knit and supportive environment. As a resident of Donner Summit, I’m excited to evolve and strengthen my relationships with our Donner Trail Elementary community.”
Mrs. King began her career in education 30 years ago. She served as a teacher in both elementary and middle school before becoming an assistant principal. Her focus has always been on community engagement and connecting with students and parents to support their academic journey.
Mrs. King will continue as the assistant principal of Alder Creek Middle School through the end of the 2022-2023 school year to ensure a smooth transition at ACMS. The district will immediately begin the process of finding a new assistant principal for Alder Creek Middle School and are confident we’ll have a replacement selected prior to the 2023-2024 school year.
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. King!
Calling All Potential TTUSD Substitutes
Interested in joining the TTUSD team in a part-time capacity and spending the day with our wonderful TTUSD students? As a reminder, state law requires applicants to have a valid California Credential or a Substitute Teacher Permit, which requires proof of a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
As of March 1st, TTUSD increased compensation for substitute teachers to $200/day for a single day, $220/day for retired TTUSD educators, and $240/day for long-term subs.
Additional details, including how to apply, can be found on our website. Join the team!
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Information
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a special tax credit designed to help working families with low to moderate income struggling to make ends meet. If eligible, you could receive a refund for a much-needed financial boost during tax season. The EITC is available to eligible individuals and families, and the amount of the credit varies based on income, family size, and other factors. More information can be found on our website, so make sure to check it out. We hope this helps you take advantage of all the resources available to you and your family!
Volunteer Driver Enrollment Workshops & Reminder
Spring not only brings flowers and cheeseburger birds (chickadees if we’re getting scientific), but it’s also field trip season. So far this year, over 500 of you have completed the volunteer application process for driving on field trips. Thank you! We know it can be a little confusing and time-consuming, but please know all the steps are in place to ensure the safety of our students.
Our HR team has put together a few online volunteer driver enrollment workshops where you are invited to have one of our staff members walk you through the process and ask questions.
May 1 | 10-11 am | Volunteer Driver Workshop
May 2 | 5-6 pm | Volunteer Driver Workshop
You can additionally find step-by-step instructions on our website. Please consider enrolling as a volunteer driver. We guarantee you’ll have a blast on adventures with our TTUSD learners!
Linda Brown Fellows & Star Awards Nominations Being Accepted Now
Is there a TTUSD staff member that you would like to recognize for consistently going above and beyond in their job, making a difference in the education of students?
The Excellence in Education Foundation would like to encourage you to nominate them for the Linda Brown Fellows Award or the Star Award. The Fellow and Star Award programs are designed to recognize outstanding staff who demonstrate originality, innovation, and dedication to teaching and the educational community.
Nominations are on Excellence in Education’s website, ExinEd.org, and are due by May 5.
Applications for the 2023 ARC Summer Immersion Course are Being Accepted Now
Our partners at Adventure Risk & Challenge (ARC) have recently launched an application process for the 2023 Summer Immersion Course in Tahoe from June 26 - July 29, 2023, which can accommodate 20 high school students. Any students interested in participating in the April 28-30, 2023, pre-orientation trip to get a taste of what the summer program will be like need to apply by the early application deadline of April 14, 2023. However, applications will be accepted through April 28th. Additional information and details of the application process can be found on their website.
ARC continues to be a great partner to TTUSD by hosting a variety of student programs. For example, at NTHS, they facilitate a weekly program where participants focus on identity exploration and community building while developing writing and public speaking skills. Additionally, through a Community Leadership Program, students shine as they try new outdoor activities, build community, lead with intention, and work to understand themselves. Mentor relationships within the program provide an opportunity for our future leaders to check in on their emotional well-being, academic and personal goals, and progress within the program, all culminating with leadership graduates receiving a $1,000 post-secondary scholarship.
Thank you, ARC, for your commitment to empowering underserved youth through transformational literacy, leadership, and outdoor experiences. Reach out to ACR at info@adventureriskchallenge.org to learn more!
Upcoming Important Dates
- April 11, 18, 25 | Nurtured Heart Approach Workshop - English
- April 12, 19, 26 | Nurtured Heart Approach Workshop - Spanish
- April 20 | Donner Trail Elementary TK & Kinder Preview Night
- April 25 & 26 | Truckee Elementary SWEP Science Festival & Family Science Night
- May 2 | Donner Trail Elementary SWEP Science Festival & Family Science Night
- May 3 | Full School Day (was previously an all TTUSD schools minimum day)
- May 11 | Truckee Elementary TK & Kinder Preview Night
- May 29 | Memorial Day, No School
- June 19 | Juneteenth, No School
- June 23 | Last Day of School
Connect with Us!
Email: Communications@ttusd.org
Website: ttusd.org
Location: 11603 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161, USA
Phone: (530) 582-2500
Facebook: facebook.com/TahoeTruckeeUSD
Twitter: @TahoeTruckeeUSD