Weekly Update from Interim Superintendent Michael Tolley: August 8, 2022

This is one of my favorite times of year. Signs of preparation for the new school year are everywhere. School supplies are stocked in stores, our staff is busily preparing schools and classrooms, and colleagues are returning from rejuvenating vacations – excited about the arrival of our students.

Today I welcomed over 140 Northshore leaders – principals, assistant principals, school board directors, and central office staff to the 2022-23 school year. It was an inspiring day as racial and educational justice centered our learning and conversations. For many of our students, we are fulfilling the promise of a great public education and we have a lot to be proud of and yet, not all of our students are thriving. We can’t be an excellent District until each and every student can achieve their educational hopes and dreams. This is our moral obligation.

In support of our commitment to the success of each and every student, this school year we will be laser focused on a handful of powerful efforts.

• Increasing Inclusionary Practices (e.g., Universal Design for Learning, Co-teaching, Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices): Educators create learning environments where students know they belong and their unique strengths and needs are supported through the lesson design and teaching practices.
• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Whole Child Framework: We will continue our focus on the implementation of MTSS and supporting the whole child. This framework helps educators identify students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional strengths and challenges and provide support for students based on their needs. It requires close examination of student data, alignment of programs and interventions, and progress monitoring in partnership with students and families.
• K-5 English Language Arts Curriculum implementation, Into Reading: Thanks to the support of the School Board, Northshore is implementing Into Reading. Into Reading will support explicit reading and writing instruction across all of our elementary schools. To ensure success with our ELA curriculum implementation, all teachers will also be provided training in the Science of Reading. An accompanying effort at the secondary level is to train all of our educators in the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) model for lesson design.

As your interim Superintendent I am committed to working in partnership with you to achieve racially and educationally just outcomes for our students. It is our most important work. I look forward to getting out into schools and classrooms over the next few weeks and learning alongside staff as we all prepare for the first days of the new school year. 

In partnership,

Michael Tolley

Interim Superintendent

Highlights from Around the District

Progress Continues on Security Camera Installations

Summer is busy in Capital Projects as progress continues across the District on building improvements. New security cameras were installed at Leota Middle School, Bothell High School, and Inglemoor High School to support student and staff safety. By the end of 2022, the District expects all school campuses to have modernized or new camera systems or be under contract for installations to occur as soon as equipment is available. These efforts are made possible with the voter support of the 2018 Capital Bond.

Back to School Resource Fair: 4-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11 at Pop Keeney Stadium

In partnership with the Northshore Schools Foundation, the District coordinates the Back to School Resource Fair as an opportunity for Northshore families to find information on District services and available community resources. 

The District, Foundation, and community partners will host tables at the resource fair to share information to support Northshore families. This is a FREE community event offering families an opportunity to connect with District departments, find community resources, and more!

Learn About the Back to School Resource Fair