As we enter a season of celebrations, it is time to honor and express gratitude to our esteemed KSD retirees. HR is organizing a celebration scheduled for June 12, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in the Kent School District Board Room. Be sure to mark your calendars!  

Additionally, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the staff members who were recognized as Employees of the Year for their exceptional talents and unwavering dedication to education. Their hard work and commitment are truly appreciated.  

As we eagerly anticipate our graduations, which mark the culmination of many years of dedication and hard work by our students and their families, I also want to recognize the tireless support from our staff in guiding scholars to the stage, it is truly appreciated. I encourage you to save the date and plan to attend one or more of our graduation ceremonies during the second week of June. For details regarding graduation dates, times, and locations, please refer to our website. 

Meridian Middle School Sonja Stroomer’s Leadership Class combined creativity, coding, and teamwork to create a positive and encouraging experience highlighting their technology learning. This is a fine example of our amazing teachers and students using technology to create an experience that was both fun and inspiring.  

BIPOC Showcase

Recently, the second C.A.R.E. Grant Project Showcase was held at the Kent School District. A total of 15 BIPOC presenters, representing both teachers and para-educators, participated. Thank you to the leaders and facilitators of the C.A.R.E. Grant, and congratulations to the educators who presented on their goals. Well, done!

We continue monitoring the budget, ensuring we remain on track to achieve our financial objectives while upholding the standard of a world-class education for our students. Recently, I participated in the monthly Regional Superintendents Business Meeting, where we delved into discussions on equitable funding and the financial outlook for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. It is evident that many districts in our region are grappling with challenging financial circumstances. Thankfully, we are not facing quite the depth of challenges as our neighbors. I remain committed to navigating these circumstances while keeping our focus on our students and their promising futures. I look forward to our next budget presentation on June 26, as we gear up for the school year ahead. 

Kent Community Foundation and Partners

Recently, the Kent Community Foundation and their Community Partners awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to well-deserving students at their annual Scholarship Event. Each year, this partnership awards 40 scholarships, drawing dozens of applications from students in the Kent School District. I sincerely thank the Foundation and these Community Partners for their service to the greater Kent School District community.