Dear Community,

This week’s What’s up WPS has two must-watch videos!
I say that because I think they capture two components of the WPS philosophy that define who we are and shape our culture.

The first video profiles teacher Carly Compesi from Tennyson Knolls Preparatory Academy. Carly was a WPS student teacher while attending Regis University and she is a wonderful example of our “grow our own” approach to attracting and retaining quality educators. Carly learned to be a teacher in the WPS system, so she was able to hit the ground running with a thorough understanding of our Competency Based System (CBS) and she had a trusted network of mentors to help guide her along the way.

As I continually point out to both staff and students, nobody does it alone. Carly’s early success in the classroom is a prime example. 

The second video goes to the heart of what we value in our school district: KINDNESS.

Students in Seth Abbott’s level 8 class at John E. Flynn A Marzano Academy created a short video that shows how one act of kindness can lead to another, which leads to another, and so on. It is a simple, but important concept - kindness, pass it on.

As many of you know, John E. Flynn A Marzano Academy is the first school in the country to achieve High-Reliability Certification at all five levels. Level One is the creation of a safe, supportive and collaborative culture. All our schools have either achieved that distinction or are quickly moving toward it.

Our goal is to create, not just exceptional students, but exceptional people. 

Kindest regards,

Dr. Pamela Swanson 
Superintendent of Schools