Superintendent's Message
Dear TASD Staff, Parents, and Community,
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year. We are excited to welcome our students back this school year. Our staff is committed to regenerating the successes we experienced last school year. As always, our goal is to develop the complete student that flourishes academically, artistically, athletically, socially, and emotionally. Our mission is focused on providing learning centered, engaging, positive experiences for all. Please join us as we climb the ladder of success together. Please visit our website and Facebook pages regularly as we will continue to push out critical information, as well as the exciting things that are happening in our district.
The Towanda Area School District welcomes volunteer participation in our schools, and we provide a myriad of opportunities to actively participate in our educational program. If you would like more information regarding the process to volunteer, please refer to our website for more information. The role that families play in the educational process affects the education, welfare, and values of their children. The Towanda Area School District believes that working together with families is essential for the well-being of children. To learn more about how to get involved in your child’s education contact the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
The YMCA continues to offer childcare to families before and after school. The program is located at J. Andrew Morrow and serves school aged childcare for elementary students.
Remember, the attendance of your student(s) is vital to their success in school. There is a growing body of research demonstrating that chronic absence from school, typically defined as missing 10 percent of school days for any reason, is a primary cause of low academic achievement as well as a powerful predictor of which students will drop out of school. For those who would favor a virtual option, we are pleased to offer our Black Knight Online Academy. Whether in person or online, we ask that you have your children attend their classes on a regular basis.
PA School Code has been amended in March 2017 with changes to the school immunizations. Changes may be found at the Division of Immunizations on the PDE website. School vaccination requirements for attendance in PA schools is for ALL children. Please make sure you have checked with your healthcare provider and are prepared for the school vaccination requirements. Should you have questions or concerns regarding immunizations please contact Ms. Jacqueline Vanderpool RN (Policy 203). In compliance with School Code, the Board requires participation in health examinations and screenings (Policy 209).
Our administrative staff consists of Mrs. Rebecca Stanfield, Jr/Sr High School Principal; Mr. Nate Ross, Jr/Sr High School Assistant Principal; Mrs. Laura Steele, Elementary Principal; Dr. Dawn Hart, Primary Principal; Mrs. Jennifer Cronin, Director of Special Education; and Mr. Joel Spinney Principal of Academic Affairs. We are an Elementary Title 1 Schoolwide Program and you can learn more about this on our district website.
The Towanda Area School District does not support unlawful harassment and strives to provide a safe, positive learning climate for all (Policy 248). The Board believes in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination for all students to achieve their maximum potential through the programs offered at the Towanda Area School District. (Policy 103). Students with disabilities are afforded equal opportunity, nondiscrimination to reach their full potential and would ask that parents who believe they have been subject to discrimination or harassment to promptly report incidents to their building principals (Policy 103.1).
The district also believes that parents or guardians should have an opportunity to review instructional materials regarding curriculum, standards, instructional materials, as well as assessment techniques and strives to continue to make this a transparent process (Policy 105.1).
We look forward to serving the Towanda Area School District students and parents in the 2023-2024 school year.
Sincerely,
Mr. Dennis Peachey
Superintendent