Superintendent
Dr. Elizabeth Kaufman
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- As we embark on another exciting school year, I am filled with enthusiasm and optimism for the opportunities ahead. Our district is committed to providing the highest quality education for every student, and this year, we are proud to share some significant updates that will strengthen our community, support our mission, and our continuous focus on answering the question, “What’s Best for Every Student?’ in our daily work.
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- Our district recognizes that the foundation of a great education begins with great educators. This year, we have focused our efforts on attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers and staff. By fostering a supportive environment and providing professional growth opportunities, we are committed to ensuring that our students are guided by the best educators. In a time when staff shortages are a concern nationally, we are proud to welcome the following members to our team.
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- This year, we are excited to introduce a new elementary English Language Arts curriculum, Amplify CKLA, aligned with the science of reading and designed to build strong foundational literacy skills. Our teachers spent time on their own this summer unpacking and organizing these materials and participated in before school professional learning to prepare to implement this district-wide curriculum, and we are committed to providing ongoing support to ensure its success in developing proficient readers and confident learners. To learn more, please visit the link here.
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- We are deeply committed to nurturing a supportive and inclusive culture across our district. This year, we are enhancing our focus on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to create a positive school environment where every student feels valued and respected. To ensure we deliver these supports in the best possible way, we will continue our work with Sam Drazin of Changing Perspectives, as well as introduce through our library classes a curriculum about belonging designed by Tenisha Tate-Austin from Critical Friends. These resources are offered in addition to daily support for social, emotional, and behavioral learning provided by elementary counselors and staff through Morning Meeting and Toolbox. Our district’s sixth to eighth grade students are also supported daily by our middle school counseling staff and wellness center, where Sara McKenna, our new Mill Valley Middle School Principal, will also lead the implementation of PBIS to ensure that our students have the resources they need to thrive.
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- We warmly invite you to join us for our Back to School Nights, where you will have the opportunity to learn more about our programs and initiatives. The Elementary Back to School Night will be held on September 5, and the Middle School Back to School Night is September 12. These evenings will also be a chance to get to know your schools and teachers and connect with our community partners, including the PTA, Kiddo!, and ITAV, which play a vital role in supporting our schools.
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- In an effort to streamline our communications district-wide, and to avoid repetitive information, we will not be publishing a district-wide family newsletter each Wednesday. Instead, our weekly “Superintendent Update” in your principal’s Friday newsletter. I continue to encourage you to reach out to me directly by email at ekaufman@mvschools.org, by office phone at 415-389-7705 or by cell at 415-634-8085
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Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!
I am delighted and honored to be joining this amazing community of educators. I look forward to getting to know each of you this year and learning about MVSD and our opportunities for working together to serve all learners.
The Mill Valley School District Vision states, “Our learning community is dedicated to developing globally-mind, compassionate, resilient, and courageous students to learn and lead change in their world.” At the core of our district's mission is the belief that everyone should feel welcome, safe, accepted, and prepared. Strong partnerships with Kiddo!, the Mill Valley Parent Teachers Associations, and It Takes a Village support our educational community in addressing one fundamental question: "What is best for every Mill Valley School District student?"
As we approach the 2023-2024 school year, our focus will include belonging and transparency. In doing so, we hope to foster a collaborative community that a listens to all opinions, focuses on evidence-based practices, and realizes equity for all students. Looking forward, we will sustain and expand ongoing district efforts to develop:
- Multi-tiered systems of support for all learners
- Culturally relevant, inclusive instructional practices
- Developing “guaranteed and viable” curricula to engage all students
I value high-level accountability and transparency and welcome your feedback. As we welcome students back to school, I encourage you to reach out, share your thoughts and ideas, and actively participate in the growth and success of Mill Valley School District. Please feel free to contact me by email (ekaufman@mvschools.org), or at (415) 389-7705
Together, we will create exceptional educational experiences for all of our students.