Superintendent's Update

Teacher Appreciation Week

This week, we pause to honor the dedicated teachers who show up every day with purpose, passion, and unwavering commitment to our students. Teacher Appreciation Week is our opportunity to say what we hope our educators already feel: that their work matters, their presence is felt, and their impact reaches far beyond the classroom walls. From the early mornings to the late nights, from the lesson plans to the life lessons, thank you for everything you do. We are grateful to have such extraordinary educators in our community.

May 1st is School Principals’ Day

Every day, PAUSD principals are among the first to arrive and the last to leave. They greet students by name, support teachers, navigate the unexpected, and carry the vision of what school can be for every child in our community. On May 1st, we celebrate them.

To every PAUSD principal: your leadership shapes the daily experience of thousands of students and families. We see you. We appreciate you. Happy School Principals’ Day! 🌟

Community Input Survey

We want to hear from you! As part of the Superintendent search process, our search firm has created a brief community input survey to help inform the selection. Your feedback matters.

The survey is anonymous, takes just a few minutes, and includes seven questions. All responses will be shared publicly to guide decision-making.

Across our middle schools, JLS, Greene, and Fletcher are prioritizing student voice in building a deeper sense of belonging and well-being. By centering the perspectives of our 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-graders, we are ensuring that school improvement efforts are authentically shaped by the students they serve.

Building Skills for Student Well-Being Across PAUSD

Across PAUSD, Mental Health and Wellness Staff are supporting student mental health and social-emotional learning, working alongside teachers, principals, and school counselors to give students the tools they need to support their well-being. Through these efforts, students are building resilience, practicing social skills, and learning strategies for caring for their mental and emotional health. These examples highlight how our Mental Health and Wellness Associates are supporting students at different grade levels.

Today, Palo Alto High School was filled with excitement, heart, and team spirit as PAUSD Special Education and Adapted PE hosted the Special Olympics Northern California Basketball event. Opening Ceremonies kicked off at 10 AM, and the energy throughout the day was nothing short of inspiring. We are incredibly proud of every athlete who competed and grateful to the staff, volunteers, and community members who made this event such a tremendous success. Events like this remind us why inclusion, belonging, and celebrating every student matter so deeply in PAUSD. 

Superintendent Search

We want to keep our community informed every step of the way. Find the latest updates, timelines, and opportunities to get involved, all in one place:  www.pausd.org/search

Superintendent Search

We want to keep our community informed every step of the way. Find the latest updates, timelines, and opportunities to get involved, all in one place:  www.pausd.org/search

On Monday evening, PAUSD and the Children’s Health Council (CHC) hosted a compassionate and informative webinar for the PAUSD community, "How to Talk With Your Teen About Suicide," presented by Dr. Shreya Lakhan-Pal. In light of our recent loss of one of our students, the session focused on supporting teens through open, honest, and caring conversations about mental health and suicide.

Our Superintendent’s Student Advisory group met earlier this week to address topics of interest to them. As always, they were awesome! One of the major topics was student preparation for rigorous courses. Students explored several aspects of advanced coursework, including why students drop or elect a different lane