Personal Message From Superintendent Schlotfeldt

Dear SVSD Colleagues and Families,

Last night, the school board officially removed "Interim" from my title and named me Superintendent of the Snoqualmie Valley School District. It is my sincere honor to serve our school community in this role. 

In the process of gathering feedback to help guide their decision on this matter, the school board recently fielded a survey of our students, staff, and families. 

Survey participants were asked to identify desired traits in the new superintendent. High on that list was creating strong school and community relations. I have lived and worked here for a long time, starting as a teacher in 1995 and serving in progressively increased levels of leadership from a principal on through to the role I accepted yesterday. Throughout my career, I have worked diligently to build strong relationships supporting student learning and will continue to be guided by that mission. 

In addition, the school community asked for a superintendent who will be a trusted leader that demonstrates strong integrity through honest practices. I have never shied away from accountability, holding myself and others to the highest standards of ethical and inclusive leadership. I'm here to do a good job for all of you, and I absolutely welcome your perspective and feedback along the way. 

The survey also asked for your thoughts on our schools' strengths and challenges. Some of the top strengths identified include the dedication and care demonstrated by our teachers and staff, the strength of our family engagement efforts, and the depth of support and involvement we receive from our community. I agree wholeheartedly with these positive assessments of our school system and am energized by the prospect of building on these strengths in the years ahead. 

Of course, like all school districts, the survey also found that we have opportunities to improve. It was noted that we need to deepen our collaborations and make changes when necessary. I look forward to investing time and attention toward building stronger, more transparent partnerships within and across our community and to earning your trust. 

Most importantly, I want you all to know that I have read every response to the survey. Please know that I hear you, and I respect the breadth and depth of perspectives shared. 

Finally, it is important for you all to know that I support our teachers and staff in their work and in their ongoing learning. I will continue to fully support our staff members' learning needs so that we can individually and collectively focus on our efforts to be inclusive and to meet the needs of all Snoqualmie Valley students. That is our job, and we are dedicated to doing it well.

I look forward to serving and working with you all to support our shared mission. I also wish you an enjoyable break in the week ahead. 

Sincerely, 

Dan Schlotfeldt, Superintendent