Letter to Staff from Superintendent

August 21, 2009

Dear Ann Arbor Public Schools Colleague,

It is hard to believe that the summer is quickly coming to an end and it is time to begin another school year.  I hope you enjoyed the summer break and were able to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy time with family and friends.

To our returning staff members:  Welcome back and thank you for your hard work and dedicated service to the Ann Arbor Public Schools. 

To our new staff members:  Welcome to the Ann Arbor Public Schools family.

To kick off the 2009/2010 school year, all staff members are invited to an “Opening Day Assembly” on Tuesday, September 1, 8:00 a.m., at Pioneer High School.  Coffee and rolls will be available beginning at 8:00 a.m. along with displays from some of our vendors and internal departments. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude by 10:00 a.m.  As a part of the program this year we are fortunate to have Pioneer High School teacher and poet Jeff Kass perform a piece of his show, “Wrestle the Great Fear”, which speaks to the opportunity and responsibility we have to our students as educators. After the program, staff will report to their school for building-based professional development activities. I am looking forward to seeing you on Opening Day.

Beginning my fourth year as superintendent in the Ann Arbor Public Schools is very exciting for me and I am grateful for all of the support and assistance that I have received during the past three years.  We have many accomplishments to celebrate and I look forward to continuing our partnership as we strive to offer our students outstanding educational programs and opportunities.

I want to congratulate you for your efforts to ensure that every student in the Ann Arbor Public Schools is achieving at a high level.  Over 90% of AAPS students at the elementary and middle school levels met or exceeded state standards in reading, math and science last school year.  Our high school students continue to achieve at high levels on the ACT and SAT, exceeding state and national averages on both exams.  Over the course of the past year, our students received numerous state and national awards for academic merit, as well as awards in the arts, athletics and community service.  I am extremely proud of our students and our staff for these achievements.  Students in the Ann Arbor Public Schools are achieving at higher levels than ever before.  Thank you and I look forward to even greater success this year.

Through the great work of district staff and with the support of our parent and community partners we are able to offer students in the Ann Arbor Public Schools expanded learning opportunities this school year.  We will begin offering Spanish language instruction to third grade students this year through an outstanding partnership with the University of Michigan.  We will also begin offering expanded enrichment opportunities for students at all elementary schools through a grant funded by the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation.  At the secondary level we are expanding our on-line learning options to provide more flexible learning and academic support opportunities for our students.  The success of our students and our ability to look for new opportunities to support students even in these challenging economic times reflects the innovative and collaborative spirit of the staff in the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the great support we have from our community.

In order to maintain and continue improving upon the outstanding educational offerings that make the Ann Arbor Public Schools exceptional, it is important to maintain adequate funding for our schools.  As state funds for education continue to decrease, it is important that each of us understand the need for the countywide education millage that will be on the ballot this November 3^rd.   Please take the opportunity to visit the district’s website to learn more about this millage proposal.  You will be receiving more information about this proposal and how you can be involved in supporting it over the next couple of months.  Passage of this millage is critical to maintaining the high quality of education we provide in our schools.  I hope that I can count on the entire AAPS staff to support and actively work to pass this millage.  

The Ann Arbor Public Schools has established a tradition of educational excellence due to the exceptional staff we have in all departments.  I am proud to be a part of such an extraordinary group and am looking forward to working with you this school year.  Enjoy the last few days of summer and I look forward to seeing you on September 1st.

Sincerely,

Todd Roberts
Superintendent