Superintendent Brower welcomes students back to school

As we embark on another exciting school year, I want to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude and admiration for our tremendously dedicated staff. This summer, they worked tirelessly to prepare for the nearly 2,000 students who will walk through our doors. In addition to their summer preparations, our staff devoted the past week to professional development and team collaboration, ensuring that they continue to grow professionally and are ready to support our students' achievement. I couldn’t be more proud of our 260-plus staff members, who embody the spirit of excellence and dedication.

Equally impressive are our students, who are second to none in their desire to serve others and achieve academic excellence and lifelong success. 

I want to highlight Bailey Andersen, our Senior School Board Student Representative, who spent several hours this past week helping to build safety buckets for each classroom in our district. These buckets are crucial for ensuring the safety of our students and staff in emergencies. Bailey’s actions are just one example of how our students are always ready to support others and our community.

This year, academic success and wellness remain at the forefront of our efforts. We will be guided by our strategic plan, which reflects the voices of nearly 1,500 students, parents, staff, and community members. 

Our collective vision is clear: “Together with our families and community, Eatonville schools will empower students to achieve excellence in education and future success.” 

You’ll see this vision proudly displayed on the Eatonville Strong tee shirts worn by our staff, a constant reminder of our shared commitment to our students' futures.

One of the strongest indicators of student success is simply showing up to school each day and doing our best. 

Years ago, I asked a high school valedictorian what his secret was to achieving such academic success. 

His answer surprised me: “Well, Mr. Brower, what I figured out is if you show up and kind of pay attention, you will probably do pretty good.” 

This simple but powerful truth will guide us as we encourage regular attendance. With our exceptional teachers and staff, we are ready to support our students every step of the way on their academic journey.

Lastly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our community for placing their trust in us by approving a replacement levy and a capital projects levy. Your support is vital to ensuring the success of our students, and we are committed to honoring that trust by doing all we can to help every student achieve academic success.

Together, we are Eatonville Strong!