Pub. 6 2016-2017 Issue 2

5 BOARD Message BY TIRZAH ANDERSON, UAPCS BOARD CHAIR I t is an exciting time to be part of the charter school movement in Utah! We affirm that charter schools in this state are poised as never before to educate and empower their school communities, and to excel in all educational pursuits. Truly, Utah charter schools are unlocking the future for our students! We applaud the incredible endeavors of dedicated parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, and board members in striving for excellence in education for all Utah students. We are deeply appreciative of the efforts of many at the state level who support and promote quality school choice in Utah as well. As an association, UAPCS offers services and resources to assist Utah charter schools in their tireless work on behalf of our students and families. The association’s mission to provide training, advocacy and support to promote excellence in public charter schools across the state is being fulfilled on a daily basis by our knowledgeable staff members. In addition to offering an ever-expanding variety of technical support services to schools, UAPCS continues to increase outstanding training opportunities throughout the state. These trainings offer timely information on a wide variety of topics to educate and empower all members of the charter school community. Trainings also offer beneficial opportunities for collaboration and networking, allowing schools to share valuable insight and perspective. Additionally, customized training and expert individual school mentoring are readily avail- able. Our upcoming charter school conference offers a particularly unique opportunity for support staff, teachers, administrators and board members to receive a remarkable amount of training, connect with resources, and collaborate with colleagues. Attending the conference is a small investment that yields substantial returns in terms of the educational value added to our schools. UAPCS plays a pivotal and crucial role in advocating for charter schools in state legislative and policy arenas. We present a strong collective voice in legislative decision-making and share a wealth of knowledge and experience in helping craft policy. Although Utah charter schools have seen a great deal of growth in recent years, we remain the numerical minority. Thus, it is vital we continue to unite our efforts at the state level to achieve common goals such as preserving the autonomy to carry out our schools’ unique charters and missions. UAPCS also works to help connect schools with vital information in advocacy and communications efforts. We are constantly striving to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in this regard, such as coordinating a series of candidate debates during the recent election season. As an association, we foster unity for charter schools across the state. Recently, the direc- tor of one of our member schools encouraged his student body to remember the acronym TEAM - “together everyone achieves more.” This is particularly true in the charter school community. We will continue to unite, to grow in influence and achievement, to constantly pursue the highest educational standards, and to promote a state-wide system of education where every child has an opportunity to attain academic success. We wish you all the best as you continue on in this most important work - unlocking the future for Utah students through education, empowerment, and excellence.