Dear Moffat County School District community,

It’s been a great start to the school year. Let’s look ahead to what we are working toward.

Successful teaching of kids comes down to a lot of factors, and one of them is a consistent, clear and defined curriculum. We’ve been working hard to improve our approach to curriculum in the district, where at times we may have been a little scattered or inconsistent. This means hard work by our school leaders and our Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment department. We’re working not only to define and clarify what we’re teaching, but to master the tools and methods of teaching it to our students. This effort will continue to propel students forward as they work hard to learn and achieve.

I’ve been pleased to visit over 150 classrooms early this school year, and I’ve been so impressed by what I’ve seen from our excellent teachers and support staffs. Principals have proudly pointed to the skillful instruction and the hard work that brought our teachers to that point, and have also wisely identified opportunities for continued growth. Much more of that to come, thanks to the diligence of our instructional staff.

We’re working hard for our students in other ways, including moving in the direction of unified mental health support. We have some wonderful counselors in the district, and soon, we plan to have a more cohesive system to support their dedicated service. This will create more opportunities for connection and compassion for students who need it most. Our primary purpose is instruction and academics, but it’s not easy to learn and achieve when something is amiss in regard to your mental health. We’re working to improve and expand these already-excellent services for our kids.

Communication remains a focused priority of mine, and we’re proud of the ongoing work and progress in that arena. Establishing and maximizing tools that help us collaborate with and be transparent for parents and the community are essential, and we continue to work hard in the district to improve the outcomes there. Hearing from you is critical, too, and we hope two-way communication grows in the district.

We know that taking care of precious taxpayer dollars is also absolutely crucial, and we’re working very hard to get our financials in better and better shape. We cherish the funding we receive, and though turnover at critical positions has at times made this difficult, we’re on track for an increasingly clear picture of our finances in the near future so that we can invest wisely in our students and their teachers.

I hope you’ll keep partnering with us and letting us know what’s working and what you need. I have the highest of expectations for this district, and I’m grateful to share that vision with wonderful leaders and an incredible community. In Moffat County schools, we look to a bright future for education in this district and for your child. We’ve got lots of work to do, but I know we’re on our way.

Gratefully,

Dr. Mathew Neal,

Superintendent of Schools

Moffat County School District