Happy October! We hope to see many of you in our schools today and tomorrow for Parent-Teacher conferences. These are a great opportunity to check in with your student’s teachers, to hear about the things that are going well, and perhaps find places to apply more effort.
I also want to send a special THANK YOU to the District Accountability Committee and all of the parents who volunteered to provide food for tonight’s potluck! We appreciate you showing some big love to our teachers and staff.
Panther Spotlight
The October Panther Spotlight is devoted to the LCSD students who demonstrated academic growth last spring in English language arts, math or both in the top 10% of all students in Colorado. These students were recognized by the Board of Education at the 2026 Academic Growth Awards ceremony. Congratulations!
| Axel Aguilar Vacio Zane Bailey Luna Adan Bautista Cameron Benton Andrew Briggs Jexer Bueso Lopez Mia Calleja Joey Calleja Karla Casco Oliva Athziri Cayetano Ponce Lisahna Chavez Andrea Chavez Medellin Elizabeth Chavez Rios Alexis Chavez Saucedo Marley Crawford Emma Critchley Osly Cruz Siliezar America Dominguez Ted Duncan James Duncan Alfredo Favela Ruelas Francisco Garcia Valentina Garcia Chavez Mariana Gomez Carvajal Alexcia Gonzales Nathanael Granillo Harry Harkness Juan Hernandez Aparicio Alexa Hernandez Renteria John Horning Asher Horning Angel Irena Hernandez Logan Jones Emmett King | Eveling Lainez Moreno Kelten Littlepage Isaac Marquez Juan Martinez Emma McCoy Kimberly Medina Matthew Mejia Legna Melgar Dianne Meraz Josiah Mettry Charles Mettry Olive Mudge Arlo Mudge Lucy Nielsen Lizeth Ordonez Ruiz Veronica Ortez Lilly Patrick Dobbins Cesar Perez Perea Maritza Perez Perea Jude Peters Marley Pinter Ernesto Raudales Galarza Jennifer Rosales Isaac Soto Rivera Brolin Voegtle Declan Voegtle Conrad Watkins Agent Watkins Moriah Wilson Jason Woodcock Benjamin Woodcock Noe Zuniga Aguilar |
Strategic Plan Updates
One of the greatest joys of my job is visiting our schools. Every time I walk into a classroom, I see students asking questions, working together, thinking creatively, and celebrating their learning. Those moments remind me why we do this work and reinforce the shared vision our community created through our 2026–2031 Strategic Plan.
This month marks an important milestone as we begin our first review of the Strategic Plan’s implementation.
Our Strategic Plan isn’t just about where we want to go over the next five years—it’s about paying attention to the progress we’re making along the way. Throughout the year, we’ll regularly reflect on what’s working well, celebrate successes, and identify opportunities to continue growing.
One of the things you’ll begin hearing more about this year is our new Student Board. Distinct from Student Senate, this group will provide 6th-12th grade students at LCHS who have been nominated by teachers with opportunities to share their experiences, offer ideas, and help us as leaders better understand what’s working well in our schools and where we can continue improving. We believe students have valuable perspectives, and we’re excited to learn from them. This initiative came directly from the planning process, and is connected to the Enhancing Student Experience strategic direction.
As we continue implementing our Strategic Plan, we’re reminded that progress isn’t measured only by data or reports. It’s reflected in the everyday moments that happen throughout our schools. I hope you get a taste of those moments this week as you visit us during conferences!
See you soon,
Kate
Kate Bartlett, Superintendent
