From the Superintendent: Focused on Well-being

Dear Clarkston Community Schools Families,

As you know, our mission in this district is to create a learning environment where students, staff, and families are challenged, healthy, engaged, safe, and supported. Every decision we make is driven by our Strategic Plan and our Four Pillars of Excellence: Whole Person Development, Foundational and Academic Skills, Student-Focused Learning, and Future Pathways. 

In my last message to you, I focused on academics and our success so far this year. I am genuinely proud of the tremendous strides we have already taken to maintain continuity in learning and provide the academic support our students need. I am grateful to our teachers, staff, and administrators for their dedication to this meaningful work. 

While it is important to celebrate our achievements, we also have to acknowledge the challenges we are still facing. While things are starting to get back to normal, our experiences over the past 20 months have impacted us in ways we have yet to fully understand. In many cases, the impact is not tangible - you can’t see or measure it - but it is there for all of us. Everyone, children and adults, has had a different experience, and not one of us processes the same. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but what we can do is lead with compassion. 

As we navigate through this year, we will continue to support our students academically while also focusing on their social-emotional well-being. We believe that students are more likely to succeed when they feel safe, accepted, and included. Throughout our district, we are investing the time needed to build trusting relationships and learn more about the needs of each student as an individual. Once we understand what motivates them and the challenges they may be facing, we can properly equip them with the support and resources they need to grow and learn. 

In addition to our differentiated instruction, our students are back to making learning connections through hands-on experiences. The reinstatement of field trips, career-exploration events, and co-curricular activities are just a few examples of ways our students are re-engaging academically and socially while determining their path toward the future.  

I am an optimist to the core, and I know we will come out stronger. Not just because I believe in positive thinking, but because I believe in our exceptional students, staff, and families. It will take time, but it will be time well invested. I am humbled to be a part of this journey with all of you. I know that we will do whatever it takes to lift each other up and support every success along the way. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership.

Sincerely, 

Dr. Shawn Ryan
Superintendent of Schools

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About Clarkston Community Schools: Clarkston is a highly regarded school district with an enrollment of nearly 7,100 students. We have seven elementary schools (K-5), one middle school serving grades 6-7, one junior high for grades 8-9, and Clarkston High School, which serves students in grades 10-12. We also have a virtual academy, an Early Childhood Center serving children ages 3-5, and an alternative high school/community education facility. Clarkston Community Schools students are well-prepared for a future that excites them, and believe that they can achieve their dreams. The mission of Clarkston Community Schools is to create a learning environment where students, staff, and families are challenged, healthy, engaged, safe, and supported.

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Media Contact: Kelly Allen, Director of Marketing and Community Relations (248) 623-5460.