Partnering for success in a new school year | Superintendent Tammy Campbell

It’s the start of another school year, my first with Federal Way Public Schools, and I’m excited to be here.

It’s the start of another school year, my first with Federal Way Public Schools, and I’m excited to be here.

This district is not afraid to be bold. It required courage to adopt the phrase “All Means All” as a vision and mission. Very few districts have been willing to hold themselves to such a measure. This is the kind of thinking that attracted me to Federal Way.

The work of educating our students is the single most important endeavor of our time and doing it well requires a community commitment.

I believe it is our obligation and moral imperative to give all students our very best, so they have every possible opportunity available to them for high school and beyond.

For that, I need your help. A superintendent doesn’t create a vision in isolation. It is done in partnership with our students, their parents, our staff, business community and our community-based partners. In my first 100 days, I’ll be reaching out to all of you in traditional and nontraditional ways, including a series of community forums, to get a sense of the collective community vision for our schools.

I’m excited about the work that is going to take place in our schools this year. And if you’re the parent of a child who’s new to our schools, know this: we understand.

Letting go of your child can be nerve-wracking.

We have the most important person in your life in our hands: We take that very seriously and want you to know you can anticipate really powerful learning experiences for your child.

I want to encourage you to become part of the school support system or just drop in so you can see the learning process.

It’s important for you to know that I am, at my core, a student advocate. I will have the echo of children in my ear in all I do. Their voices will influence the decisions that I make.

We must create a school system that inspires students and equips them for success. Our students must leave school feeling confident, feeling successful as learners, and seeing a path to their dreams.

That is our work as school leaders: To be dream makers for our students.

Tammy Campbell is the superintendent of Federal Way Public Schools.