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By Dr. Joey Page

Austin Public Schools Superintendent

With the school year in full swing, I want to highlight our progress and some impactful new initiatives across Austin Public Schools. Guided by our long-term strategic plan, we remain deeply committed to Inspiring, Empowering, and Accelerating learning as we prepare all students to make a difference in the world.

I am pleased to report that I have already seen this year’s theme of “Connection” in action. By strengthening relationships among staff, families, caregivers, and students, we are better equipped than ever to continue advancing the four main goals of our strategic plan:

Provide support and resources to ensure a safe and welcoming learning environment.

Create a “Packer Profile” for all learners, which includes building strong character qualities – responsibility, resiliency, learner, communicator, and contributor.

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

Demonstrate efficient and equitable management of dollars and resources.

As a reminder, AccelerateAustin.org is your go-to place to learn more about our strategic plan and track our progress. You can also view our 2023-24 annual report, where we share detailed highlights and steps forward related to each of our goals.

Speaking of progress, we made a significant change this fall that aligns with our theme of “Connection:” kindergarten students are now integrated into their neighborhood schools. This shift allows kindergarteners to be a part of the elementary communities where they will continue their education for the next five years. After two years of planning, I am proud that our neighborhood schools have warmly welcomed local kindergarteners and their families.

Our dedication to removing learning barriers and supporting APS families and caregivers is unwavering. This is the second year we’ve used classroom kits for preschool through fourth grade students, and this year, they are fully funded by the district, including all essential school supplies. This initiative eases the financial burden on families and caregivers, ensuring all students have the tools to succeed.

With the implementation of the READ Act, improving reading comprehension continues to be a priority for our district. This has meant connecting teachers with extensive professional development to offer the strategies and tools needed to boost student literacy across grade levels.

Here’s another exciting update: This year, instead of the traditional Battle of Connects, APS high school students will participate in a service-learning project with Hormel Foods, the United Way of Mower County, and Hometown Food Security Project during homecoming week (Sept. 23-28). The Austin Student Council made this decision, and our district is proud to support it. We are excited to see the positive impact of this collaboration, which will involve assembling 24,000 snack packs on the lawn of Austin High School. Remember, the Battle of Connects is now a year-long initiative, so stay tuned for more opportunities throughout the school year!

These highlights are just a few examples of how we are driving our district’s long-term strategic plan forward. I encourage you to visit AccelerateAustin.org to learn more about our goals and the progress we are making.

Looking ahead, I’m eager to see how our theme of Connection continues to foster a supportive and thriving APS community. Together, we will create an environment where all students and staff feel seen, heard, valued, and prepared to make a difference. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.