New BoundariesBy Becky Salato, Superintendent, Konocti Unified School DistrictAlthough most public school districts in California are facing declining student enrollment, Konocti Unified continues to grow, which is great, but it does pose a few challenges. With growth comes growing pains. Because we haven’t built a new school in so many years, most of our elementary schools are approaching full capacity. And with so many students, we’re seeing more wear and tear on our facilities. So, we’ll be adjusting the boundary lines of o...
Healthy Schools, Healthy CommunitiesBy Becky Salato, Superintendent, Konocti Unified School DistrictMost folks say they want to live in a functioning society, but they sometimes forget this means we must depend on each other. We each have a role to play.Along with parents and families, schools’ have a responsibility to teach children the skills they need to become self-supporting adults. As life gets more complex, so does the challenge of educating our youth.When people cannot read, they struggle to fill out job applications. When they ca...
By Becky Salato, Superintendent, Konocti Unified School DistrictWhen it comes to motivating students (or anyone, really), holding them to an overwhelming goal doesn’t work.The California Department of Education regularly updates an online dashboard for each public school district to display information about academic achievement and some of the factors that contribute to it, including suspension rates, chronic absenteeism, English Learner progress, and more.As a district, Konocti Unified has a history of struggling to achieve at high leve...
The Power of IntentionBy Becky Salato, Superintendent, Konocti Unified School DistrictLast summer, right before school started, Konocti Unified School District leaders came together to set our intentions for the school year–both individually and collectively.After some reflection, I realized I had allowed myself to get lost in work. I was living to work when I should have been working to live. So, I set an intention to fix that. I know I cannot serve my community if I’m pouring from an empty glass.Each member of our management team ...
In Praise of DowntimeBy Becky Salato, Superintendent, Konocti Unified School DistrictI cannot believe the holidays are upon us. It feels like the school year just started with all the planning and organizing that comes with it, and now I’m preparing for Thanksgiving and the school events that celebrate this season–pumpkin patch visits, winter concert performances, and so much more. From November to January, the hustle and bustle to decorate, celebrate, and show our loved ones how much we care can spin us into a crazy state of mind, ...
Cyberbullying and Social Media – Our Kids Need HelpBy Becky Salato, Superintendent, Konocti Unified School DistrictFor better or worse, cell phones and social media have become a core part of our daily lives. While social media has allowed us to connect with one another, it has also created a space for cyberbullying to flourish, which damages our children.Cyberbullying is the use of electronic communication to repeatedly harass, humiliate, or harm another person. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying victims can be targeted at any ti...
Achievement Requires FocusBy Becky Salato, Superintendent, Konocti Unified School DistrictIn many ways, the beginning of this school year looks like the beginning of every other one. Teachers are presenting creative lessons in newly decorated classrooms, students are reconnecting with classmates and establishing new friends, clubs are forming, sports teams are looking for new recruits, and we’re all watching the weather in hopes of avoiding another wildfire.For me, however, this year is a little different, not because ...
Measuring What MattersBy Becky Salato, Superintendent, Konocti Unified School DistrictIn education, we strive for continual improvement. We compare ourselves against statewide standards. By measuring our performance, we can figure out where we are making progress and where we need to put in a little extra effort. But some things–some really important things–are hard to measure. These are some of the areas I am most excited about at Konocti Unified.STUDENTS - Campus Culture and School PrideIn late May, our high sc...
Where We’re HeadedBy Becky Salato, Superintendent, Konocti Unified School DistrictIt’s May, which means both students and teachers are getting excited about summer break! Before we start sipping lemonade by the pool, we have a few things to do first. May is when weadminister State testing, so it’s extra important for students to get plenty of sleep and eat a good breakfast so their brains are processing at full capacity.May and June are also the time of year we celebrate student transitions, from kindergarteners ...
Exciting News…Here Comes Obsidian Middle SchoolBy Becky Salato, Superintendent, Konocti Unified School DistrictDo you remember middle school? Most of us look back on it with mixed feelings. It’s an interesting developmental period, a time when kids begin to move away from the safe and familiar ways of childhood into the independence and confusion of adolescence. According to a slew of studies (and my own experience as an educator), middle school students require a special environment to meet their needs. Depending on the day, they ...