Dear Windber Area Schools Students, Staff, Parents, and Community Members:
I am excited to introduce myself as your new Superintendent of Schools and to share with you my personal connection to the Windber community. As a longtime resident, my family and I proudly call Windber our home. My wife is a graduate of Windber Senior High School and a lifelong member of this wonderful community. Our four children, along with my nieces and nephews and the children of our family friends, attend the Windber Area School District. As you can see, my personal investment in the success of our schools and community runs deep, and I am truly honored to give back to the community that has given me so much for over 20 years.
I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for the warm welcome I have received since joining this amazing community. Windber is truly a wonderful place to call home, filled with talented and passionate students, families, and community members.
At Windber Area School District, we have a strong reputation for providing quality education to all students. However, we are not satisfied with resting on our laurels. As your Superintendent, I am committed to continuously building Windber Pride by focusing on a cycle of improvement that is strategically planned and aligned to meet the demands of the 21st century and beyond.
Over the next several months, we will invest countless hours to articulate what we want our schools to become. During this time, we will create a renewed vision for our schools that focuses on educating every child, to a very high level, in every classroom, every day. We will break through the ceiling in Windber!
My guiding principle as your Superintendent is based on the belief that every child can and will attain the education and skills necessary to achieve their dreams of a meaningful and bright future. Additionally, I want Windber to be known as a place where every student is loved, challenged, and prepared! We will work relentlessly to develop a pathway for each and every child that is aligned with their career aspirations, as well as focused on cultivating a growth mindset in our students that is built upon the simple, but profound concept that passion and perseverance equals achievement.
I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our teachers, counselors, administration, and staff. They have created a culture that places students first. Simply stated, you win with people. We have some of the best educators in the nation who strive to place the best interests of your child first each and every day. We believe we can create a better Windber and brighter tomorrow as a result of what we do today!
Our focus in Windber remains resolute. We believe all children can learn and grow. We care about each and every student. We believe that our schools must continue to be safe places where students are engaged, embrace failure as simply part of the process, challenged to meet the standards necessary for life, and where learning is student-centered and built upon the skills needed to meet the demands of a global economy: problem-solving, teamwork, communication, collaboration, creativity, and care to name a few. We envision a school where the learning needs of a child are never second to a test score.
In closing, I encourage you to reach out to me or my team if we can be of any assistance. I welcome the opportunity to serve you and this amazing community. I am excited about what is to come, and I hope you are too. Positively contributing to the notion of Windber Pride is our top priority, and I look forward to ensuring our students are loved, challenged, and prepared!
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael J. Vuckovich
