Good Things Are Happening Around PUHSD

Greetings all,

Let’s be honest - AI is a wonderful tool, which is why I used it to write most of this. What you are going to read below was created using a week-by-week synopsis of what is going on at the school sites as reported by the site principals. Of course, AI knows how I write, and I had it do the best it could to match my tone. I am telling you this because I don’t want anyone to read this and say, “Oh, it is just AI” and therefore it has no value. AI does a much better job of analyzing information and putting it into a coherent document than I could ever do. So, please enjoy the AI version of what is going on in the district. I agree with the opening statement 100%. 

Thank you for checking this out!

Tom O’Malley

One of the best parts of my job is getting out of my office.

I know that sounds obvious, but there is a big difference between talking about what is happening in our schools and actually being there to see it.

Over the past several weeks, I have spent a lot of time visiting classrooms, talking with teachers, meeting with students, and working with our administrators and staff. I have been in classrooms where teachers are trying new things, watched students take on leadership roles, talked with students who are excited about an internship or college opportunity, and seen staff working incredibly hard to make their schools better.

And I have to tell you: there is a lot of good happening in PUHSD.

At the heart of all of it is a pretty simple idea: We want every student in PUHSD to have a learning experience that is second to none.

That is the standard we should hold ourselves to.

I don't think our job is simply to maintain what we have. We should be looking for ways to get better, trying new things, learning from what works, and making sure we are giving our students every opportunity we can.

So, what does that look like?

Our teachers are doing a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes to improve what happens in the classroom.

Professional learning communities are up and running across our schools. Teachers are working together, looking at student data, sharing instructional strategies, developing common assessments, and setting goals around student engagement and achievement.

Our administrators are also spending more time in classrooms through learning walks and conversations with teachers about what they are seeing and how we can continue to improve.

I have done quite a few classroom visits myself, and I have really enjoyed them. You get a different perspective when you sit in a classroom and simply watch what is happening. You see the relationships. You see the effort. You see the creativity. And, most importantly, you see our students learning.

When I walk into a classroom and see a teacher who is completely invested in his or her students, and students who are engaged in what they are doing, that's the stuff that gets me excited about this job.

There is some really good teaching happening in our schools.

We are also working hard to make sure our students have opportunities that connect what they are doing today with where they might want to go tomorrow.

Across the district, we are expanding dual enrollment opportunities, strengthening support in math, developing career technical education pathways, creating internship opportunities, and connecting students with colleges and potential careers.

We have more than 1,700 dual enrollment seats being onboarded. Students are beginning internships. New CTE opportunities are being developed, including a welding pathway. Students are visiting college campuses. Our staff are also working to make sure students who receive additional support have access to these opportunities.

We want our students to graduate with more than a diploma.

Whether that means going to a four-year university, attending a community college, entering the military, going directly into a career, completing a CTE pathway, or pursuing something we haven't even thought of yet, our job is to help students see those possibilities and prepare them to take advantage of them.

The other piece I keep coming back to is culture.

Students need to feel like they belong. They need adults who know them. They need opportunities to lead. They need activities, traditions, clubs, athletics, music, and experiences that make high school more than just going to class and earning credits.

I have seen a lot of that happening already this year.

We have students taking leadership roles in music programs, new clubs getting started, college visits being planned, internships developing, advisory activities creating opportunities for students to share their stories, and schools finding new ways to recognize and encourage positive behavior.

I have also seen our communities stepping up to support our schools. Local organizations are partnering with our schools. Community members are supporting our CTE programs. First responders are being recognized at athletic events. Families are showing up to support students.

Those connections matter.

And sometimes it is the little things.

At one school, staff started a new Hawaiian Shirt Day. At another, a gratitude initiative is creating a noticeable positive buzz on campus. At another, staff are using a positive recognition program to encourage students who are making good choices.

These might seem like small things, but culture is often built through small things.

I have heard people occasionally ask what our district is working toward or what our priorities are.

For me, the answer is pretty straightforward.

That means excellent teaching. It means meaningful opportunities. It means preparing students for college, careers, and life after high school. It means creating schools where students feel safe, supported, challenged, and connected.

We are not going to get everything perfect. We will continue to have challenges, and there is always more work to do.

But I also don't want us to lose sight of the progress that is happening right in front of us.

Our staff are working.

Our students are engaged.

Our schools are trying new things.

Our communities are stepping up.

And I get to see it firsthand.

I want the Superintendent's Corner to be a place where I can share some of that with you. I'll share some of the things I am seeing across our district, introduce you to some of the people doing the work, celebrate our students and staff, and occasionally give you a glimpse behind the scenes of what it takes to run a school district.

Most importantly, I want our community to know that we are focused on our students, we have a clear direction, and we are moving forward.

I am proud of our students. I am proud of our staff. And I am proud to be part of PUHSD.

We have a lot of work ahead of us.

But after spending these first several weeks visiting our schools, talking with our staff, and spending time with our students, I can tell you this:

And we're just getting started.