Sharing Gratitude with our SPS Community

As my service as Acting Superintendent comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank our students, families, staff, and community members for welcoming me into this role and for the trust you placed in me to lead this amazing organization over the past several months.
 
Serving SPS has been both a privilege and an honor. I’m grateful for the many opportunities I had to connect with families and community members through our budget conversations, Coffee and Conversation gatherings, school visits, community events, and countless individual discussions. Even when we faced difficult decisions, I appreciated the thoughtful engagement, honest feedback, and shared commitment to supporting our students.
 
Over the last four months, I have been continually inspired by the people who make up our community. Students have shared their goals and aspirations; I’ve observed the incredible dedication of our staff; I saw firsthand the strong partnerships that exist between our schools and families.
 
One of the highlights of this spring was celebrating more than 550 graduates across our District. Watching students cross the stage and seeing (and oftentimes hearing) the pride, joy, and hope reflected in the faces of families and loved ones was a powerful reminder of the importance of the work we do together. These celebrations reflected the very best of our District and the bright futures for our students.
 
I’m also excited about the next chapter for our District. I have already had numerous conversations with incoming Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Stover and our district leadership team as they prepare for the 2026-27 school year. Their focus on students, staff, and community gives me great confidence in the future of SPS.
 
Thank you, again, for your partnership, support, and commitment to our schools. It’s been a privilege and honor to serve this community. I look forward to seeing SPS continue to thrive.
 
Regards,
 
Jodi O’Mara
Acting Superintendent