"SMMUSD is responsible for the education of our children. No calling can be higher and no responsibility heavier. There is much we do right. But we all know that there is huge room for improvement. To me, the challenges of day-to-day pale in comparison to how do we help our children succeed in an uncertain, ever changing future. Educational curriculum and practices that worked in the 19th and 20th centuries are increasingly bankrupt in the 21st century. Yet, the road forward is not clear and the large educational companies and governmental bureaucracies are slow to provide solutions. We can be leaders in this, in our commitment to look into the future, in our desire to support innovation and innovators, in our flexibility to implement great new ideas. Many of the educational tools, practices, and philosophies of the 21st century make moot the issues of the 20th. By teaching to the whole child, by being student-centered, and by looking to the future, we may well resolve many of the toughest issues we've faced."
Oct. 1, 2014 Craig Foster

"The quality of education at Santa Monica and Malibu schools is high as evidenced in parent satisfaction surveys, in college acceptance rates, by a number of other measures. However, those who work in and for the District know we can do better; that must be our aspiration. Our District's mission is to create 'excellence and equity' and this mission is taken seriously. The goals which have been established for our Superintendent and for the District touch on a number of ways in which our District continues to improve. Those goals include the building of professional learning communities, the continued refinement of intervention strategies for those who are behind as well as strategies for those students who need greater challenges. Our District is enhancing our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curriculum in existing classes and through the addition of new engineering classes, computer science classes and the like. Our District has a music and arts program that is highly touted throughout the State, yet we continue to enhance and improve it. To deliver the highest quality of education, we must continue to foster collaboration and be open to innovation and growth."
Oct. 1, 2014 Laurie Lieberman

"Our schools provide a superior education to their students. All schools have API scores over 800 and several are over 900. We provide arts instruction beginning in T-K with over 40% of students continuing in high school. We have competitive athletic programs at our high schools. More than 400 Advanced Placement students are receiving AP Scholar awards. Our graduation rate is over 90% and our students are sought after by the finest colleges and universities.

The district's teachers and administrators are increasingly committed to working collaboratively to ensure all students’ educational needs are met. They are inspirational leaders for our students.

Under the Superintendent's leadership we are becoming a singular Professional Learning Community whose goal is to focus on providing access and equity for all students and to be responsive to each student so that each student becomes a successful learner with the skills necessary to achieve their own goals."
Oct. 1, 2014 Ralph Mechur

"Acceptable? Yes. However, we should never settle for 'acceptable'. As an educator myself, I am never satisfied with the status quo. We can always do better and we should always strive to be better. If there are people who say that 'all is well' and 'acceptable' they should step out of the way and give space to those who strive for improvement, for excellence.

With the tremendous reduction in state funding over the years, we have all had to work harder to ensure and protect academic standards. Our learning environment is dynamic and the students come to us with different needs and learning styles. We need to be on our toes -- ever improving and challenging not only our students but ourselves as educators and policy makers as well."
Oct. 1, 2014 Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein