Superintendent's Update - September 19, 2025
Superintendent's Update - September 19, 2025
From the Office of the Superintendent
Board Agenda Calendar
View Calendar of Board Items 2025-26
Superintendent Austin’s Message . . .
I have really enjoyed speaking with a variety of people over the last couple of weeks on various issues. One thing is jumping out at me through these conversations. It is very possible that our school district and community sometimes oversimplify complex issues and then offer quick solutions. We have all been guilty of that at some point, and it isn’t a reflection of intent. Instead, we are a community of “fixers” with a disproportionate number of talented and successful people. To many, there is no problem without an immediate solution.
My favorite conversations are almost always with students. If given the opportunity, they can often listen, reflect, and accept that nothing is perfect. My own children have tried to explain that there are also underground communities shaping student behavior and identity. I don’t always fully understand them, but I can see the harm they cause. This is a world most adults have never had to face at their age. These activities are occurring late at night and are hidden from most of us. That is scary to me.
As I have said in the past, the problems or issues we are trying to address cannot be solved through the lens of our (adults') experiences from decades ago. Too many things have changed since we went through school. While it is challenging to concede that our students are experiencing the world differently from us, it is equally essential.
Conversations throughout this month have also helped me to reach another realization. The “broad brush” approach makes even less sense than it did years ago. This means that each student is unique in every way. I remember attending Chula Vista High School near the Tijuana border. The assumption at that time was that we were all relatively similar. That probably wasn’t accurate either, but our commonalities were discussed more than our differences. Our students want to be seen as unique and different now. That means they are also less defined by the school they attend and more by the people they associate with, their political views, and how they identify with society. I am speaking more about our high school students than elementary at this point, but I am sure that is clear.
What is the role of schools given these observations? I don’t have a definitive answer. I do think it’s a question worth asking. Post-pandemic, schools have become the default answer for health centers, mental health services, meal providers, childcare options, housing providers for employees, electronic vehicle charging stations, technology hubs, wellness centers, sustainability models, community first responders, while navigating social issues that have not been successfully resolved across the globe. These are our realities, and we are doing our best. Of course, we are also balancing maintaining our status as the top academic school district in the state and one of the top in the entire nation, possibly to the detriment of some.
Schools matter because they give young people hope and direction. That is our unique and irreplaceable role. We can partner with others and support where we are able, but we cannot become the answer to every social challenge. The truth is simple. When schools focus on what we do best, we prepare students to solve the problems the world has yet to solve. Our contribution will not be what the adults in our system do today as much as what the students who grow with us do in the future.
Middle School Math Validation
Dates For 2025-26 Middle School Math Validation Test
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Rising 7th & 8th Grade Students: March 23, 2026
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Rising 6th Grade Students: March 25, 2026
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Location: JLS
More details to follow.
Empowering Teachers Through AI-Focused Professional Learning
The AI NOW! initiative is continuing this year with strong momentum. Last week, our secondary AI Leads came together to begin planning sessions that will help educators across the District build a shared understanding of AI’s evolving role in education and in preparation for the October 3rd Professional Learning Day.
On October 3rd, all secondary teachers will participate in AI sessions alongside other professional learning opportunities. Our AI Leads, representing both middle and high school perspectives across various disciplines, are guiding this important work. Elementary AI Leads will begin their planning later this fall.
Hospital School Celebrates 100 Years of Service
The Palo Alto Unified School District Hospital School marked its 100th anniversary this September, celebrating a century of providing education to students in medical settings. The program serves approximately 500 students annually across two locations:
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital: Serves inpatients, school-aged parents of NICU infants, and local outpatients unable to attend regular school (480 students in 2024-25).
Ronald McDonald House: Supports outpatients temporarily residing at RMH (27 students in 2024-25).
The program offers flexible instruction from one-on-one bedside teaching to group lessons and enrichment activities. Recent innovations include virtual reality field trips that bring U.S. National Parks directly to hospital rooms. Most students attend for five days or fewer, though the program also supports longer-term enrollments.
This past year, the program hired an education specialist with IEP expertise and launched its first summer school at RMH. The RMH classroom will be featured in Glamour magazine for its impact on learning and family well-being. From its origins at Stanford Children's Convalescent Home to today's comprehensive program, the Hospital School continues to ensure that medical circumstances never interrupt a child's education.
City of Palo Alto Project for Grade Separation Community Meetings
The City of Palo Alto and Caltrain invite you to participate in the upcoming in-person community meetings for the City of Palo Alto Project for Grade Separation: Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road.
Join us to learn more about the project and provide your thoughts on the refined grade separation concepts — where the railroad and roadway are separated — at the Churchill, Meadow, and Charleston rail crossings in the City of Palo Alto. Your feedback will help inform Council decision-making on which concepts to advance to 15% design.
We would appreciate it if you could spread the news about the upcoming community meetings to your faculty, students, and student families. Their feedback would be valuable as the project team further refines the concepts and develops improvements that reflect the needs of the local community.
We would appreciate your attendance at our upcoming community meetings. For more information about the project, including background, FAQs, and additional resources, please visit paloalto.gov/gradeseparation.
We look forward to continuing to partner with you on the City of Palo Alto Project for Grade Separation: Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road.
Promoting Wellness & Suicide Prevention in Our High Schools
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and our high schools are highlighting student well-being through programs and events that encourage connection, awareness, and access to support.
Gunn High School is recognizing Suicide Prevention Month with meaningful activities for students and staff. Students began the month by texting or emailing people in their circle to spread HOPE (Hold On, Pain Ends) messages and wearing awareness ribbons or dressed in teal and purple to show solidarity. On World Suicide Prevention Day, staff illuminated LED candles to spread hope and healing. Activities this month include taking a walk with a friend to boost mental health, wellness trivia in the Wellness Center, and a video screening debunking common myths about suicidality. Upcoming events include the Titan Wellness Fair on September 24, an all-day rock painting station in the Wellness Center, and Living Skills presentations focused on self-care, stress management, and supporting friends. The Gunn Wellness Center provides a welcoming space for students to connect with peers, take part in supportive activities, and access mental health therapy and resources to support their well-being.
Palo Alto High School is centering September on building connections and raising awareness around student well-being in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month. Students have the option to participate in PRIME workshops, beginning with “Welcome to Wellness,” where they learn about the Paly Wellness Center and therapeutic services provided by on-site therapists. Other PRIME sessions offered are “Gender Inclusive Language” and “Design Your Inner Music Album” art therapy. Wellness Center activities this month include board games, movie days with popcorn at lunch, aromatherapy, Morning Mindfulness Sessions, and pet therapy. Students are organizing a suicide prevention ribbon handout, and the Community Health and Well-Being Fair on September 30 will give students a chance to gather information, pick up wellness swag, and explore resources on the quad. These programs give students opportunities to reflect on their mental health, connect with peers and staff, and access support.
Palo Alto Middle College places wellness at the center of the student experience. Students have access to PAUSD mental health services, including a school psychologist, school counselors, and the on-campus Wellness Center at Foothill College. These resources provide guidance, support, and a calm space for reflection, helping students build social-emotional skills, manage stress, and form peer connections. Students are encouraged to participate in wellness activities, access therapeutic support when needed, and develop healthy coping strategies. In this environment, students also develop responsibility, self-direction, and resilience while being part of a community that values mental health, well-being, and overall growth.
Our high school wellness centers and PAUSD mental health and wellness professionals provide universal support for all students, including outreach, help in crisis situations, and collaboration with staff. Wellness Centers are welcoming spaces where students can talk about difficult topics like suicide and mental health, access resources, and build connection and resilience. Staff are here to provide guidance, connection, and care. Students always have someone to turn to when they need support.
We encourage parents and guardians to talk with their children about these programs, check in on how they are feeling, and support their participation.
Stay involved and connected with your student’s wellness activities. You can find updates, resources, and ideas for supporting your student by visiting each school’s wellness page and following them on Instagram:
Gunn High School Wellness: Website link | Instagram: @gunnwellnesscenter
Palo Alto High School Wellness: Website link | Instagram: @palywellness
Palo Alto Middle College Wellness: Website link | PAMC Handbook (pages 29-31)
For detailed information about PAUSD Mental Health Programming and Services, please see our latest Mental Health Board Report on March 11, 2025.
For community mental health events and offerings, please visit the PAUSD Wellness Together Events Calendar.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: A Family Education Event
We invite our PAUSD community to join us for a special family education event in recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This event is most appropriate for parents/caregivers and their middle or high school students. All PAUSD family members are welcome to attend on their own. In partnership with Children’s Health Council, this presentation will draw on their expertise in youth mental health to support families in navigating this important topic together.
Mindful Participation Note: This event will include discussions about suicide, warning signs, and mental health challenges, which may be distressing or triggering for some attendees. Families should use their discretion in deciding whether to bring their teen. You know your child best. Consider their emotional readiness and comfort with these topics.
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Date: Monday, October 6, 2025, 5:30-7:30 PM
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Location: Palo Alto High School, 50 Embarcadero Road, Media Arts Center (MAC) - Snacks & community resource tables on the Paly Quad
Schedule
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5:30-6:00 PM - Light snacks & community resource tables (Paly Quad)
Enjoy refreshments, compliments of the high school PTSAs, and visit tables hosted by local partners to learn about resources and support available to students and families. -
6:00-6:20 PM - Presentation (MAC)
Clinical experts from Children's Health Council (CHC) will provide key information on suicide warning signs, risk and protective factors, the impact of social media, and how to have age-appropriate conversations about mental health and suicide. -
6:20-7:20 PM - Panel discussion (MAC)
CHC clinicians, PAUSD staff, and students will discuss topics in more depth and respond to questions submitted by families through registration. -
7:20-7:30 PM - Student and Family Resources (MAC)
PAUSD staff, allcove, and Outlet Adolescent Counseling Services will provide a brief overview of their school-based and community mental health supports, including counseling and wellness programs for students.
Registration is required. Please register via the Parent Square Link to secure your spot and submit any questions for the panel. Please respond by September 30.
We look forward to coming together as a community to connect, share, and learn more about this critical topic.
Check out this great article featuring our Nutrition Services Department
Click here to read this article by Stanford about how our Nutrition Services Department is revolutionizing cafeterias with scratch-made meals, reusable kitchenware, "share tables" to reduce food waste, and even on-site lettuce growing.
This is what happens when sustainability meets student nutrition, proving that school cafeterias can be powerful tools for both education AND climate action. 🌍
Kickoff For Cardinal Kids Day
On the heels of its 30-20 home-opener victory over Boston College, the Cardinal has locked in a kickoff time for Cardinal Kids Day! Stanford will square off with local rival San Jose State at 4:30 PM PT on Saturday, Sept. 27, presented by Acer.
Kickoff for Cardinal Kids Day is officially set, making now the perfect time to plan an unforgettable family afternoon at Stanford Stadium! Cardinal Kids Day tickets are still available, giving families access to up to four (4) free youth tickets with the purchase of one paid adult ticket.
The fun on The Farm is just getting started, so don't miss out on your chance to bring your little ones out for a game day they won't forget! Click here to lock in your kid’s day tickets.
