Superintendent’s Oct. 4, 2023 Update

Dear APS Families,

During Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15, I have had the joy of participating in readings at many of our elementary schools and seeing the different ways our schools are celebrating our vibrant and diverse Latino American community.

It is my honor to announce our 2023 Latino Student Leaders representing each high school. They embody leadership qualities, support their peers, and help foster positive school communities:

• Jamy Mérida Cortez (H-B Woodlawn): A talented musician and aspiring filmmaker from Bolivia, lauded for her academic achievements and community involvement.
• Dafnee Marquez Padilla (Arlington Career Center): An inspiring figure from El Salvador, known for her active engagement in the school community and commitment to inclusivity.
• Maite Gutiérrez Rodríguez (Yorktown High School): A dedicated student from Venezuela, appreciated for her leadership, athletic involvement, and community service.
• Alexa Larue (Eunice Kennedy Shriver Program): Celebrated for her vibrant personality, love for learning and the positive atmosphere she creates.
• Amy Murcia Teodosio (Langston High School): Known for her strong character, artistic talent and dedication despite challenges.
• Deivi Martínez González (Washington-Liberty High School): A tech-savvy student recognized for his optimistic attitude, perseverance and encouragement to peers.
• Natalie Portillo Torres (Wakefield High School): Award-winning student acknowledged for her civic engagement, academic excellence and leadership within the Latinas Leading Tomorrow chapter.
• Idalia Villatoro Molina (Arlington Community High School): From El Salvador, recognized for her academic excellence, leadership, community service and aspiration to become a kindergarten teacher.

We will honor them and our administrators at the School Board meeting on October 12, as we conclude the month-long celebration. To read more about each of these students, visit our Hispanic Heritage Month webpage.

As part of our commitment to school safety, I am also glad to announce the first annual APS Emergency Preparedness Week, October 31 – November 7. This is an opportunity for all members of our better understand our approach to keeping schools safe and how we prepare for and respond to emergencies. During this time, we will conduct staff training and share more information on APS emergency response efforts and our collaboration with Arlington police, fire and rescue. We will share more details closer to the date.

Enjoy the rest of your week. As a reminder, there is no school for students on Monday, October 9 as we conduct professional learning for our teachers and staff.

Sincerely,

Dr. Francisco Durán
Superintendent