Dear Friends and Families of Whitman,

Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year. This year marks my fifth year at Whitman. It continues to be a pleasure to work with your students. One of the qualities of a great school is to be able to answer the question; would I want my own children attending Whitman? My answer is absolutely! Whitman has such a dedicated staff that genuinely shows care and concern for all children. As you can see from the Whitman vision, mission and beliefs, this staff puts these words into action daily. We will continue to build on our work from last year in the area of writing instruction.

During 2008-2009 school year, we will continue our work by:

• Writing in all content areas.
• We will continue to monitor student progress on a daily basis.
• We will continue to increase students’ academic vocabulary by increasing their vocabulary knowledge in all content areas.
• We will continue to provide students with demonstrations and examples of proficient writing.
• We will engage students in goal setting to develop independent learners.
• We continue to appreciate the wonderful partnerships we have established with parents in order to ensure that all children will reach their highest potential!

A little about me:

I am originally from the east coast and grew up in a suburb outside of Philadelphia, PA. I went to college at a small state school in the Pocono Mountains (which are really hills compared to the Rockies!) However, I have lived in Colorado long enough to consider it my home. The 2008-2009 school year marks my 28th year in education and my 12th year as a principal. I have two daughters: one in college and one attending high school. As the principal at Whitman it is an honor to be working with a very talented staff and an extremely supportive community.