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By Dr. Joey Page

Austin Public Schools Superintendent

As the Superintendent of Austin Public Schools, I am pleased to welcome back students, families, caregivers, and community members to another exciting school year.

At APS, our vision remains clear: we are preparing all learners to make a difference in the world. Together, we strive to create an inclusive environment where every student has the support they need to become the best version of themselves.

Our district, with nine schools, over 850 teachers and staff, and more than 5,100 students speaking 45 home languages, significantly impacts our community. While many rural school districts face declining enrollment, our student population is expected to grow over the next several years. This growth is a testament to the success of our students, staff, and programs and is proof of what our fantastic community has to offer.

This year, our school theme is “Connection.” Connection to our work, each other, families and caregivers, and most importantly, to our students. These connections are vital to our success.

Connection to our work means being thoroughly engaged and passionate about our educator role. It’s understanding that every lesson, interaction, and decision impacts our students’ lives.

Connection to each other means collaborating, supporting, and lifting each other. We are a team, and together, we can achieve more than we could alone.

Connection to families and caregivers means building strong partnerships. We believe that positive relationships with our students’ families and caregivers are essential to the success and well-being of our students.

We know connections are vital to fulfill our mission to Inspire, Empower, and Accelerate learning. As we look to the future, focusing on connection also aligns with our long-term strategic plan guided by four primary goals:

• Providing support and resources for a safe and welcoming learning environment.

• Creating a “Packer Profile” for all learners, embodying the qualities of responsibility, resiliency, eagerness to learn, effective communication, and active contribution to the community.

• Ensuring district-wide, multi-tiered systems of support for all learners.

• Demonstrating efficient and equitable management of dollars and resources.

To learn more about our strategic plan, please visit AccelerateAustin.org.

As we embark on this new school year, we look forward to embracing the theme of “Connection” in all we do. By harnessing the power of connection, our incredible community will create a nurturing, inclusive, and dynamic learning environment where every student can thrive.

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!