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Message from Our Superintendent
March 2023 Superintendent Message:
Dear Tolleson Union High School District Community,
We continue to “march” on into the second half of the 2022–2023 school year. So far, it has been a great year for our staff and students. As the weather warms up, our families are able to enjoy the outdoors, attend Spring Training games, food, and cultural festivals, and generally participate in outdoor sports leagues to take advantage of our lovely weather here in Tolleson and our surrounding cities. It also marks three months out from graduation. Soon, our seniors will be going out into the world and showcasing their talents for the entire world to see. But first things first. We still have much learning and preparation before all of that happens. There will be testing during the spring and then final exams. We ask that you make sure that your students are always well-rested and have plenty of nourishment prior to any days of testing. That is a good rule of thumb for any school day as well. Together, we can enjoy the spring season and get ready for April and May so that we can finish the school year strong. We look forward to accompanying your students and preparing them for the journey.
As much as academic preparation through mental and physical focus are important for success, so is appropriate student behavior. A parent-school partnership having a common understanding of how a child should behave while on campus and in the classroom is essential to creating a learning environment. To have a productive and safe campus, parents must communicate to their child that any behavior interfering with a teacher’s right to teach and another student’s right to learn is unacceptable. Spring semesters often see an increase in disruptive actions, but if we work together, those acts can be minimized and eventually eliminated so students can reach their full potential. We look forward to your cooperation in preventing these issues.
And now, on to some great news on students and staff.
Last month, the Sierra Linda High School choir traveled to Flagstaff to participate in the NAU Jazz Madrigal Choir Festival. The students scored an Excellent mark on their performance! Sierra Linda staff is so incredibly proud of these students and the hard work, resilience, and enthusiasm they put into what they do. And, of course, they make the entire district proud as well. Congratulations, Sierra Linda choir!
Dr. Ray Perkins from Tolleson Union High School is no stranger to recognition. Recently, the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) recognized Dr. Ray Perkins, Assistant Principal for Athletics at Tolleson Union High School, as a Certified Athletic Administrator. To earn this distinction, Dr. Perkins demonstrated the highest level of knowledge and expertise in the field of interscholastic athletic administration. The voluntary certification process included a thorough evaluation of the candidate's educational background, experience, and professional contributions, as well as a rigorous, comprehensive written examination.
Dr. Perkins is one of an elite group of interscholastic athletic administrators nationwide to attain this level of professionalism. The NIAAA is an accredited organization and is the professional organization for interscholastic athletic administrators based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Congratulations, Dr. Perkins, for always Doing iT with pride!
Continuing with the accolades for Dr. Perkins, due to his connections as a former NFL football player, the week prior to the Super Bowl, Tolleson Union High School hosted the Super Bowl Financial Literacy event for students. The partnership included several former NFL players and other athletes to talk to students about the importance of financial literacy. Guest speakers included Mikel Thomas, continually ranked in the top 30 best athletes in the world as an Olympic Competitor; Amobi Okugo, an American soccer player who currently plays as a midfielder and defender for Austin Bold FC in the USL Championship; Trent Clark, 3x MLB World Series Coach; Lonnie Young, 12-year NFL veteran with the Baltimore Ravens. Speakers provided their best financial literacy advice, and their biggest lesson learned about money in their sports careers. Thank you again, Dr. Perkins, for providing this opportunity for our students!
Finally, the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) and The Black Alliance collaborated for a Black History Month book celebration in which West Point teacher Mr. Kevin Ivory recently wrote a children’s book. ASBA did a video interview with Mr. Ivory on his new book, and Mr. Ivory donated several of his books. And there you have it. Just some of the wonderful things going on in the Tolleson Union High School District.
Important dates to note for the month of March:
Spring Break: Monday, March 13 through Friday, March 17 (No School)
Just a reminder to check our district website, our Facebook page, and our Twitter feed for the latest TUHSD information.
Sincerely,
Nora Gutierrez
Nora Gutierrez
Superintendent
Superintendent Award
Congratulations to Superintendent Nora Gutierrez for being named ASA's All Arizona Superintendent for Large Size School Districts!
Featured Authors
TUHSD is proud to feature guest author messages.
- Teacher - Sierra Linda High School English teacher Karen Baltajian offers her thoughts on curiosity.
- Student - University High School senior Irene Franco Rubio shares her thoughts on her high school career.
Please visit our Featured Author Archives to view past guest author messages.