Messages from the Superintendent

 

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November 7, 2025

Hello Lawrence Public Schools community,

During November, across our Lawrence Public Schools, we reflect on the importance of gratitude, our CharacterStrong theme of the month. We learn about the proven benefits of a regular practice of gratitude and how a regular gratitude practice supports emotional well-being, as well as serves as an antidote to chronic stress. Our students and staff together learn, practice, and celebrate gratitude, a reliable tool of resilience to support awareness, acceptance, and action.

I want to express my deepest gratitude for the commitment and care shown across our classrooms, schools and community. Throughout our district, students are showing up ready to learn, educators are inspiring creativity and innovation, support staff are ‘connecting the dots’ to keep our schools running smoothly, families are deeply engaged as partners in our work, and our many business and community partners are leveraging connection, resources, and support across our school community.

District Activities

Across classrooms, students are demonstrating growth in learning, confidence, and engagement. Middle school AVID students recently welcomed Kansas State Treasurer Steve Johnson for a special Financial Literacy and College Savings Night at West Middle School. Events like these continue our focus on removing barriers, enhancing opportunities and preparing every student for success beyond graduation.

We also measure progress through our engagement with families. During fall parent-teacher conferences, we achieved outstanding attendance levels, with elementary schools averaging 95 percent participation, the highest rate in recent years. This reflects a community that understands the importance of collaboration between home and school in every child’s success.

Let’s LIFT Lawrence Food Campaign

Partnership remains one of our greatest strengths in this Lawrence community. Our Let’s Lift Lawrence campaign has mobilized every school in our district in support of students and families affected by food insecurity. From preschool classrooms to high school clubs, our community is collecting shelf-stable foods and creating meal kits to fill school pantries across Lawrence. You may want to access Recipes and Pantry Cooking Tips, developed in support of our families by our Food and Nutrition team. This is what it looks like when schools and community work hand-in-hand, lifting one another through action. Thank you to everyone contributing to this effort; collection continues through Wednesday, November 19.

Upcoming Community Conversations

That same spirit of partnership will continue into our next round of Community Conversations, launching this fall. These engagement opportunities invite students, staff, families, and community members to share feedback on our district’s progress and help shape the next phase of our strategic plan.

This is an annual process and during these sessions, we will:

• Revisit the themes our community shared last year,

• Provide updates on progress in priority areas,

• Preview a draft of the updated district strategic plan

• Listen and learn about current strengths and areas for continued growth.

We will share specific dates, times, and registration links soon, including opportunities to connect in person and online. I encourage everyone to take part. Your voice counts and directly shapes how we move forward as a district.

I also want to recognize a meaningful milestone in our broader Lawrence community. I was able to attend as the University of Kansas recently celebrated the grand opening of the KU Chabad House, a 10,000-square-foot student center described as the state’s first Jewish student building. We celebrate every effort in our city that expands inclusivity and strengthens the sense of community we share.

As we move through November, I’m filled with gratitude for the daily dedication of our teachers and staff, the partnership of our families, and the shared belief that every child deserves to learn, grow and thrive. The work of building excellent schools is about connection and community, an ongoing collaboration of listening, learning and leading together. Thank you for being part of that shared story of progress and purpose.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift
Superintendent of Schools
Lawrence Public Schools

 

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