Springdale Family,

Thank you for your dedication to successfully completing what may be the most challenging year of education in our collective careers. We have not just made it to the final day, we successfully provided a quality education to our students through in-person, blended, and virtual options. We learned some valuable lessons along the way through our opportunity mindset. We have always known that relationships matter. After this trying year, I have learned that relationships are what matters first which sets the stage for everything else to come after. My mind wanders to all of the daily and weekly challenges we all endured and grew from. I do believe we are better today than we have ever been. I have always believed that the school is the heartbeat of the community it serves. Never in my lifetime has this truth been more evident to me.

We celebrated nearly 1500 seniors from Archer, Springdale, Har-Ber and Don Tyson as they walked across the stage at their respective graduation ceremonies last week. Graduation is the culmination of relationships and effort of every stakeholder in the learning process of every graduate. Each graduate represents accomplishments, servant leadership, sacrifice, support, and partnership. Our school family of nearly 3000 people worked as a team to serve each of our 23,000 students.Our Springdale Family made it together because each of us did our part and courageously served.

Our School Board is supportive of and will consider at the June 8th school board meeting a bonus of $1,000 for each full time employee and an increase to certified and classified base pay for the 2021-2022 school year. The details of the recommendation will come at a later date. Our school board members are outstanding. They care deeply for all of us while consistently keeping the focus on what is best for our children. We are blessed.

John Wooden once said: “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” You are the best of the best because you have grit, heart, and an unbreakable spirit. You truly are developing hearts that care, minds that think, and hands that serve. Well done Springdale Family!

Jared Cleveland