Superintendent’s Update: Thank you

Four remarkable journeys culminate in emotional ‘first look’ moments as Class of 2025 graduates reveal their academic regalia to the families who supported them through St. Vrain’s transformative educational experience. Watch now >>

Superintendent’s Update

Dear. St. Vrain Valley Community,

As I write my final Superintendent Update letter, I am filled with immense gratitude for the extraordinary journey we have shared together over the past 24 years, including 16 years as your superintendent. This milestone moment gives me an opportunity to reflect on our collective achievements and to look forward with great optimism to the continued success of our students, teachers, staff, and schools.

When I first joined St. Vrain in 2001 as the principal of Niwot High School, I could never have imagined the remarkable transformation our district would undergo. Together, we have built what I believe to be the finest public education system in the United States—a bold claim, but one I make with unwavering conviction and immense pride as I prepare to retire at the end of this school year.

The #StVrainStorm we’ve created together—that vortex of achievement, advancement, and infinite potential—continues to provide our students with a powerful competitive advantage as they enter an increasingly complex world. Our 2023-2024 on-time graduation rate reached an unprecedented 94.3%, the highest in the Denver Metro Area, and is poised to increase yet again for the 2024-2025 school year, while maintaining the most rigorous graduation requirements and the lowest dropout rate at 0.4%. These statistics are not merely numbers; they represent real students whose lives have been forever changed by the opportunities they’ve received in our schools.

I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand how our students have thrived in our district’s innovative programs, including our instructional focus academies in Biomedical Sciences, Business, Energy, Engineering and Aerospace, Medical and BioScience, Leadership, STEM, Visual and Performing Arts, Pathways to Teaching (P-TEACH), Pathways in Technology Early College High School Associate Degree Program (P-TECH), and more. Our investments in world-class facilities such as the Innovation Center and Career Elevation and Technology Center have given our students unparalleled opportunities to develop skills in emerging industries such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and now, quantum computing.

This year’s graduating class exemplifies everything we’ve worked to achieve. They’ve shattered records for enrollment in rigorous Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and concurrent enrollment college-level courses. With the opportunity to earn approximately 34,500 college credits, they have saved their families an estimated $20 million in future tuition costs. Their achievements have been recognized through prestigious scholarships and acceptances to highly competitive universities, colleges, and military academies across the nation.

What I am most proud of, however, is the people who make up this extraordinary community. It is the students who inspire us with their brilliance and potential, the families who partner with us in their children’s education, the teachers and staff who dedicate their lives to the mission of public education, and the community leaders, business owners, and countless others who champion our schools.

None of our accomplishments would have been possible without your continued support and partnership. Together, we have:

• Created high-quality preschool and full-day kindergarten programs in all elementary school communities 15 years prior to state fully funding them
• Established a nationally recognized model for innovation and workforce development
• Significantly raised student achievement across all measures
• Grown our competitive robotics program to become the largest in the state with numerous state, national, and world championship titles
• Expanded opportunities in athletics, visual and performing arts, and co-curricular programs—this includes growing our music programs to be in the top 15% nationally for the past five years, and for many years winning the highest number of athletic championships by percentage of students in Colorado
• Implemented high-quality 1:1 technology access for all students
• Extended the school day and year through Project Launch and our Achievement Acceleration Academy
• Successfully secured approximately $75 million in competitive grants
• Passed three bond initiatives and two mill levy overrides that have funded nine new schools and brought in billions of dollars of investment into our schools and community.

As I prepare for this transition, I remain steadfast in my belief that “out of our public school grows the greatness of a nation.” The path forward is filled with limitless potential—our financial foundation is strong, our academic achievements continue to soar, and most importantly, our community remains unified in its dedication to providing every child with the very best educational opportunities.

To our students, families, teachers, staff, and community members—thank you for making these years the greatest honor of my professional life. Your compassion, dedication, and innovative spirit will undoubtedly lead our district and our nation forward to greater heights.

With profound gratitude and optimism for the future,
Don Haddad, Ed.D.
Superintendent
@SVVSDSupt

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