Alison Villanueva, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Dear Watertown Public Schools Families and Students,
I hope you all had a few moments to enjoy the beautiful weather this long weekend - And for those observing Rosh Hashanah today, I hope time with family has been eventful.
As the year has just begun, I would like to share that the Watertown Public Schools welcomes and values all children and all families who reside in the Watertown community. Our schools value and embrace students with diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives. We also value the immense importance and individual values families hold for themselves and their children. We deeply respect each family’s choice and decision on how they choose to raise their families and will always provide an educational experience for all children of the Watertown community.
We stand true to treating all students with integrity, dignity and respect, regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, alienage, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law, all of our students have the right to access opportunities and supports available throughout the District’s educational programs.
The Watertown Public Schools is firmly committed to the acceptance of ALL students and will stand steadfastly by all families with honor, decorum and respect.
Our Vision of the Graduate highlights the very characteristics and skills we know our students will utilize to create their own opinions and views of the world. I encourage all of our families to click here to see our vision of the graduate characteristics. In addition, please see information on culturally responsive education from the CT Educators Association and from several CT organizations.
In addition, the Watertown Public Schools acknowledges the 24/7 role media plays outside the doors of our schools, our community, in our State and our world. I encourage our Watertown community to reach out to school officials and central office to gain a fuller context or understanding of situations that the media can easily magnify, miscommunicate, or correlate.
In the short time that I have been in our district, I have met amazing members of the community - and many times I hear, “I was born and raised in Watertown” and I understand the fierce dedication our community demonstrates to make Watertown the community it is. That is the very meaning of “Watertown Strong”. This leads me to strongly believe and know that our community respectfully engages in dialogue in order to base conclusions on accurate information.
We are dedicated to educational excellence for all children, everyday, in every classroom. We will care for each of our students. We will support our families. We embrace and do not discriminate against any child who attends our schools.
Always with kindness and with a fierce dedication to the children and families of the Watertown Community, I thank you for your partnership and commitment to our schools.
Dr. V