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WEST VALLEY VIEW NEWS | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
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Embracing transparency and choices BY SUPERINTENDENT MARK YSLAS West Valley View Columnist
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ven if our school years are long in the rearview mirror, most of us continue to carry with us a vague recollection of our high school experience. I’m sure some memories are more vivid than others. Certainly, our students today share some of the same experiences, but it is also important to remember that over the years, high schools have changed a lot. There is so much more happening in our schools. Did you know Agua Fria High School District offers over 200 classes? Can you believe there are over Page Ad (4.9in x 4.9in) V2.pdf 50 sportsWVVatQrtrour schools? Have you heard about our incredible arts pro-
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grams and ROTC? Are you aware that every student receives a laptop to do his or her schoolwork? Would you be surprised to know we offer learning 24 hours a day, seven days a week? With so much happening in our district, it is almost impossible to highlight everything we are doing to create an excellent educational experience in this message. As superintendent, I am committed to transparency, particularly in two major areas — curriculum and finances. So, my goal for this communique is to strengthen and maintain trust with the community by being an open book about what we teach, how we teach and, most importantly, what is1 not2/1/22 part of9:37 ourAMcurriculum. You may have noticed that some dis-
Agua Fria Union High School District Superintendent Mark Yslas speaks with community members while attending Desert Edge High School’s Future Freshmen Night. (Photo courtesy of Agua Fria Union High School District)
tricts and parents in other parts of the country are at odds regarding curriculum and, most notably, “critical race theory.” We are not one of those districts. Let me be clear: Our high school district does not teach critical race theory, nor do we have anything in the approved curriculum that references it. We do, however, place a strong emphasis on the “three Rs” — reading, writing and arithmetic — and are an open book about what we teach. In fact, I would like to invite you to see for yourself what our schools are teaching and what our students are learning. Please join us for “Curriculum and Conversation,” a monthly discussion about anything that is on your mind regarding teaching and learning in our district. We value parents as our educational partners and look forward to the conversation on Wednesday, Feb. 23. RSVP at aguafria.org/openbook. Remember when our parents would tell us to value an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay? In our high school district, we still share that value. So, we offer career and vocational education to prepare students for high-paying jobs in high-growth industries. We have more than 60 courses that provide certifications and internships to pre-
pare our graduates for the workforce. Even with all the top-notch programs we offer, we still strive to create more educational choices for our students. While some may believe that public school districts would shy away from the word “choice,” I believe we can learn from the successes of private and charter schools to make our district even better. By offering school choice within our district, through the creation of boutique specialty schools and academies, we can ensure every student has a pathway to their dreams. I have full confidence that our district can offer quality, competitive education and be the top choice for our community. When I visit our high school campuses, sometimes I find myself saying, “We didn’t have that back in my high school days.” Our kids have so many opportunities at Agua Fria High School District, and it’s only going to get better. In fact, here’s a look into our future: We are getting ready to start a servant-leadership program for students, launch an entrepreneurial academy, and create the concept for the best arts academy in the country. The future is bright, and I am excited for all that is to come. Let’s do this together.
