TTUSD District Update
May 2023
In this Month's Newsletter
A Message from the Superintendent
Thanks for Successful Staff Appreciation Weeks
TTUSD’s Rockstar Employees
Exciting Additions to the TTUSD Team
Strategic Plan Update & Final Survey
California Healthy Kids Survey
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Calling All Potential TTUSD Substitutes
2023 Graduation and Promotion Ceremony Dates
Upcoming Important Dates
A Message from the Superintendent
Hello TTUSD Community,
I hope you and your loved ones are doing fantastic as we approach the end of the school year. It's hard to believe how quickly this academic year has flown by, but I'm thrilled to share that we've accomplished a lot and have so much to be grateful for in our district.
We have been diligently updating foundational documents to guide TTUSD in a positive and forward-thinking direction. The final phase of updating our Strategic Plan is underway, and we've opened a survey to gather your feedback. TTUSD team members are also hosting committees and listening sessions on the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the Facilities Master Plan. Both plans will align with the updated Strategic Plan and provide goals and actions to help us achieve long-term student-centered goals.
I want to thank the numerous family members, students, and employees who participated in the School Calendar survey. We received over 1,700 responses and are analyzing the results and comments in-depth. We plan to share this valuable information with the calendar committee and board. After an initial review, it's evident that our community has diverse opinions on this topic. Hence, we're working hard to identify common themes and sentiments to guide future decisions.
And as we look towards the summer and the next academic year, we're excited about the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead. We've collaborated with fantastic community partners to plan various summer programs and activities to keep our students engaged and learning throughout the break. Moreover, we're already hard at work preparing for the next school year, focusing on enhancing our educational programs and supporting our students and families.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for your continued support of our schools and community. It is an honor to serve you and your families.
Sincerely,
Carmen Ghysels,
Superintendent Chief Learning Officer
Thanks for Successful Staff Appreciation Weeks
Over the last few weeks, our school community came together to show our educators and support staff how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication during Teacher and Staff Appreciation weeks. It was filled with heartfelt messages, thoughtful gifts, and kind gestures that left our staff feeling valued and respected. We are grateful for the families who took the time to participate in celebrations and who showered our staff with appreciation. Their kind gestures impacted the morale and well-being of our teachers and staff, who work tirelessly to ensure our students receive a quality education. We extend our sincere gratitude to all those who participated and helped to make it a success.
TTUSD’s Rockstar Employees!
Jill Zapata Named CCEA Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Jill Zapata, a teacher at Sierra High School, for being named Region 4 Teacher of the Year by the California Continuation Education Association Plus! This well-deserved recognition is a testament to her outstanding contributions to our school community. Jill has been an invaluable teaching staff member, consistently demonstrating an unwavering commitment to her student's academic and personal growth. Congratulations on this prestigious award!
TTUSD Employees of the Year
We recently recognized some of our incredible TTUSD staff for their hard work and dedication to our students!
As part of the California School Recognition Program, we had the opportunity to celebrate and honor exemplary teachers, classified staff, and school counselors who go above and beyond in their roles. These employees were nominated by their coworkers, who see them in action and making a difference every day.
We are bursting with pride and excitement for all our nominees and winners listed below. The eight employees selected as our official TTUSD recipients will be celebrated at an annual Awards Reception hosted by the Placer County Office of Education.
Please join us in giving all our nominees and winners a round of applause, and if you have an opportunity, please congratulate and thank them for their outstanding contributions.
TTUSD Teacher of the Year Nominees
Amalia Niewendorp
Cheryl Richey
Dana Hurt
Kathleen Tippins
Katie Old
Lynn Akers
Marguerite Paras
Michael Arington
Tamara Chisholm
TTUSD Teacher of the Year Recipients
Carey Parlette - Official TTUSD High School Teacher of the Year
Sara Jones - Official TTUSD Elementary/Middle School Teacher of the Year
TTUSD School Counselor of the Year Nominees
Jeff Ream
Rachel Falk
Rachel Koles
TTUSD School Counselor of the Year Recipient
Marco Mora
TTUSD Classified School Employee of the Year Nominees
Clerical & Administrative
Marcie Calderon
Sue Smith
Paraprofessional/Aid
Laurie Adams
Tracy Morfett
Vanessa Alcaraz
Custodial
Leo Guerrero
TTUSD Classified School Employee of the Year Recipients
Clerical & Administrative
Patty Cardoza
Paraprofessional/Aid
Rebecca Gordon
Transportation
Hugo Najera-Rivas
Food Service
Sue Szekely
Custodial
Joaquin Sanchez
Thank you to Greg Wohlman, Principal of Sierra High School
Mr. Wohlman, the current Principal of Sierra High School, has accepted a new position as Principal and Chief Innovator of Milpitas High School and New Campus Program, for the 2023/24 school year. “We are, of course, sad to see Mr. Wohlman leave the TTUSD community, as he has been a steady and positive force within the district,” said Superintendent Carmen Ghysels, “Mr. Wohlman’s strong leadership style, and ability to create genuine student connections, have greatly benefited Sierra High and our TTUSD community. We are grateful for his dedication and service!”
Please join us in wishing Mr. Wohlman great success in his next chapter.
Exciting Additions to the TTUSD Team
A New Principal at Truckee Elementary
Following an extensive interview process, we are thrilled to announce Mr. Ryan Galles as the incoming principal of Truckee Elementary School. Mr. Galles, coming from the Vacaville Unified School District, will officially join the TTUSD team on July 1, 2023, and is eager to dive in. Having served as a Director of Elementary Education for the past five years, he is excited to return to the Principal role amidst the scenic Sierra Nevada mountains. Mr. Galles is no stranger to the area, having previously served as the principal of Sierra House Elementary School in South Lake Tahoe for nine years.
Welcome, Mr. Galles!
Mike Shepherd joins TTUSD as the Executive Director of Human Resources
During this week's board meeting, TTUSD Trustees welcomed Mike Shepherd, who is set to join our team as the new Executive Director of Human Resources starting on July 1, 2023. With 26 years of experience in education, including ten years in Human Resources positions, Mr. Shepherd is a seasoned professional. Currently serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at Santa Rosa City Schools, he will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to our organization.
Please join us in welcoming Mike Shepherd to the district!
Strategic Planning Update & Final Survey
During this week's Board of Trustees meeting, District Leadership presented a first draft of an updated TTUSD Strategic Plan Framework for information purposes. Once a final framework is adopted, TTUSD leadership will develop an action-oriented plan over the summer to guide district-wide efforts for the next 3 to 5 years.
The proposed plan results from community feedback and months of internal and external hard work, including many meetings with our 35-person task force, composed of Board members, administrative leadership, teachers, classified staff, parents, students, and local community partners. The three main strategic focuses are Academic Achievement, Student Support, and Community Connections, based on feedback gathered from staff, students, and families through surveys and listening sessions. These areas are essential to learners' success and well-being, and the plan reflects a commitment to continual growth and improvement.
The first-draft plan can be found on the TTUSD.org website, and a final Strategic Plan survey has been launched to gather feedback. The survey will be open through May 31, 2023. TTUSD staff, in conjunction with consulting firm partners, will incorporate Board and survey feedback into a second draft, to be presented at the June 7 board meeting. The board will then have the option to approve the second draft or direct staff to explore additional questions or concerns.
Our partnership with parents is critical to achieving our goals and making a positive difference in student's lives, so thank you for your ongoing support and collaboration!
California Healthy Kids Survey
The California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) is the largest statewide survey of resiliency, protective factors, and risk behaviors in the nation. This powerful tool helps us accurately identify student and school strengths and weaknesses and address related needs. It provides a comprehensive, data-driven, decision-making process to guide efforts to improve school climate, learning supports, and engagement and identify and increase the quality of health, prevention, and youth development programs.
TTUSD administers this survey to 6th, 7th, 9th, & 11th graders on a bi-annual basis, and the survey is anonymous and voluntary. All parents with students in these grades should have been notified with specific information. A few things to note:
Sixth-grade students require active parental consent. That means parents need to either opt in or opt-out. That can be done using the Active Parent Permission 6th Grade form, available in English and Spanish.
Seventh, Ninth, and Eleventh-grade students are automatically opted-in; however, guardians can opt-out their students. That can be done using the Passive Parent Permission Grades 7, 9, 11 form, available in English and Spanish.
Families and students can see results from the 2020/21 school year and preview questions on our website.
Additionally, there are aligned parent surveys so you can give us feedback and insight from your lens. Each school has a dedicated survey link which you should have received if your child is in one of the grades involved. However, we welcome feedback from all parents! You can find school-specific links on our website within the Email to Parents.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed during May in the United States since 1949, reaching millions of people in the United States through the media, local events, and screenings. This May, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District joins the rest of the country to raise awareness around mental health. Each year we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. Many of our students, staff, families, and communities are affected by mental illness. Join us this month to educate, support, and end the stigma.
Over the last 11 years, TTUSD has created a robust Wellness Program consisting of comprehensive Wellness Centers in our middle schools and high schools, school social workers, on-site school therapists, a continuum of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculums in every TTUSD K-12 school, and strong links to a hub of Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee (CCTT) mental health resources. If you or a loved one is struggling, please contact your school counselor or check out these helpful mental health resources: 988 Lifeline, Tahoe Lifeline, The Speedy Foundation.
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, we are offering FREE access to three films you and your student can view online. Each film, appropriate for ages 10+, offers perspective on what teens and parents are struggling with in addition to expert insight, tips, and resources.
Angst (Topic: Anxiety | View Trailer Here)
Like (Topic: Social Media | View Trailer Here)
Upstanders (Topic: Bullying | View Trailer Here)
To view the films,
Enter the email address: speedyfoundation@indieflix.com
Use passcode: SPEEDYFOUNDATION
Calling All Potential TTUSD Substitutes
Are you interested in joining the TTUSD team in a part-time capacity and spending the day with our outstanding 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!
2023 Graduation Dates
Graduation ceremonies are just around the corner! These celebrations mark a culmination of years of hard work and dedication by our students. They are a special moment for students and their families, who have supported them every step of the way. The district looks forward to honoring these bright young minds and their incredible accomplishments and sending them off with the recognition and accolades they so richly deserve. This is truly a time to celebrate the graduates and all they have accomplished, and the district is proud to be a part of such an important moment in their lives.
All three high school graduation ceremonies will take place in person but will also be live broadcast on Optimum Channels 6 and 106 or viewed via live streaming, which can be accessed through ttusd.org.
Please mark your calendars and help us to congratulate all our seniors on a huge accomplishment and milestone in their lives.
June 10 | Truckee High School Graduation | Truckee High School | 11:00am
June 12 | North Tahoe High School Graduation | North Tahoe High School | 4:00pm
June 15 | Sierra High School & Cold Stream Alternative Graduation | North Tahoe Event Center | 10:00am
Upcoming Important Dates
May 18 | Sierra Community House Parent Cafe
May 21 | Truckee High Senior Fashion Show
May 29 | Memorial Day, No School
June 1 | Glenshire Elementary Open House
June 1 | Kings Beach Elementary Open House
June 6 | North Tahoe School Spring Band Concert
June 8 | North Tahoe High School Senior Awards Night
June 10 | Truckee High School Graduation
June 12 | North Tahoe High School Graduation
June 15 | Sierra High School Graduation
June 19 | Juneteenth, No School
June 22 | Kings Beach 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony
June 22 | North Tahoe School 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony
June 22 | Alder Creek Middle School 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony
June 22 | Minimum Day for Middle & High Schools
June 23 | Last Day of School, Minimum Day for all Schools
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