The District's Public Image

By Susan Elliott

Despite the battering and bruising of the district's public image in recent years, our educators and students continue to perform at the highest levels, with our district posting some of the best API scores in the county. But we're not working as a team. We're like a dysfunctional family, whose windows are open, and the entire neighborhood gets to hear the constant squabbling. We need to become a cohesive educational family unit, working together, compromising, talking, and listening to each other year-round. Be honest. Assess needs. Meet face to face. Answer correspondences. Return phone calls. The utter contempt of the teachers toward the district needs to end. The district needs to respect the teachers. Common ground needs to be found. Nothing can be accomplished with the polarized situation that currently exists. The hiring of Superintendent Leighty is a positive step. She wants us, as a team, to take the Temecula Valley Unified School District from good to great. Let's do that. Raise our scores higher. Work with community partners. Expand our vocational education programs. Keep education and achievement for all of our students as the key focus.