JP Schools Family,

We’re four weeks into the new school year, and I am excited about what’s happening in Jefferson Parish Schools. Bunche Elementary’s Dr. Monya Criddle won the 2024 Louisiana’s Elementary Principal of the Year award. U.S. News & World Report released its 2023 Best High Schools rankings, and four high schools in Jefferson Parish Schools ranked among Louisiana’s 25 best. Seven of our schools rank in the top 15 for highest performing schools in Louisiana for 2023 LEAP mastery percentage. Applications for our six Superintendent’s Councils involving parents, students, teachers, principals, and special education are open now, and we added a new council for English Language Learners this year. We opened a new School-Based Health Center, so we now have six centers in our schools that provide medical and behavioral health care services. These things are only possible because of our amazing students, dedicated employees, and the support of our families, School Board, and community.

I am hopeful about the school year ahead as we have a strong foundation and solid practices in place. This summer, we shared a proposed strategic plan called 2028: The Road to Transformation, Innovation, and Excellence. The plan builds on our 2024 strategic plan, guides our work, and aligns our money and resources to the actions that will transform outcomes for our kids. It is available to view at jpschools.org/2028 (http://www.jpschools.org/2028) and is the product of stakeholder meetings, visits to schools and classrooms, conversations with local leaders, stakeholders who participated in an online survey, an in-depth analysis of district data, and best practices in education. Like 2024, this proposed strategic plan will give us the roadmap to keep moving our district in the right direction.

With your help, we can continue our progress. All of our stakeholders have an important role to play in our school system - our students, teachers, support staff, administrators, families, School Board, and community members. As we continue this new school year, we will stay laser focused on advancing children academically, socially, and emotionally. With your help, we will keep doing what’s right by kids. We are striving to be one of the top performing schools systems in the country. With them as our overall focus and with your continued support, we will continue to see great things happen for our students, schools,
 and community.

Dr. James Gray