Mark Twain Elementary

Reminder that TK/Kinder Round-Up is Wednesday March 19th

School will be closed Monday, February 17,2025

Topic: Regular Board Meeting Time: Jan 9, 2025 04:45 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81244357104?pwd=QLjD4rLrbT56TJaqORczq6E3QzZQNN.1 Meeting ID: 812 4435 7104 Passcode: 689964

12/13 Bulletin

Board Meeting November 14,2024 starting a 4:45 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85240483909?pwd=3bVvttqe154Oew9z1Qg1pdHtZkrd7X.1 Meeting ID: 852 4048 3909 Passcode: 091644

We are thrilled to announce that Jessy, a special education teacher with 22 years of experience from Chile, will be joining our district soon. Jessy, along with her husband and daughter, will be relocating to our community, and we want to ensure they receive a warm welcome. To help with their transition, we are seeking assistance in finding either a long-term rental or temporary housing for them as they get settled. If you know of any available accommodations, please reach out to Vanessa Plascencia, a local Realtor who is helping us find the perfect place for Jessy and her family. contact Vanessa at 909-565-2997 or Vplascencia@pmz.com We believe our community is special, and with your support, we can make Jessy and her family feel right at home. Thank you for your generosity and assistance.

Regular Board Meeting Time: Aug 8, 2024 05:30 PM Pacific Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89742633639?pwd=XX9azHXh4DtYoarwa9uYqczsUCMyCO.1 Meeting ID: 897 4263 3639 Passcode: 218874

TK-Kindergarten Sneak-a-Peek

Dear MTUESD Community, I am so excited to get to work with you! It was a busy first day and a packed week is yet to come! But we have some immediate needs, so I wanted to message you to see if you could help us network. Our maintenance crews work hard, but with the recent events, they are taxed thin, and our sites need some extra TLC in preparation for school opening related to landscape maintenance and pressure washing. The district is able to contract for pay with an outside firm provided they are a licensed business and can complete a W-9. We are anxious to have our sites look great for our kids, so if your business is interested in the work, please call my cell at 650-996-3290. There are so many wonderful things going on in the district, and I am looking forward to celebrating those and working together on our challenges to create opportunities to strengthen and improve the outcomes for our kids. I always believe we need to be the change we want to see. The sites have some strong initiatives already in place, and from the conversations and collaboration that I have had so far with the committed staff and community members, the energy is huge, and the will is high to work together to provide the most supportive, rigorous, safe, and enriching school experience for all students! One of the most beautiful things about this district is the care and connections people have for one another. I feel the connection and tradition of the families and staff, many of whom are alumni, that share their hopes and dreams for their student experience to be as excellent as their own. I am so pleased to have the administrative team of Sara Tuthill and Carri Penafiel to partner with our staff at the site level to move culture forward and to support staff to innovate and educate. The last month has been a hard and emotional one for this community with the recent fire. A huge shout out to everyone that stepped up to ensure kids, families, and staff were supported. A special thank you to Sara Tuthill for her leadership in acting as the interim superintendent during that pivotal time. Some immediate challenges relate to staffing. In case, you are interested in serving the school as a staff member, there are open teaching positions related to language arts, science, and special education. Anyone that holds a Bachelor’s Degree can apply for these positions and usually be supported and mentored as they work towards a teaching credential. Reach out to our Personnel Specialist, Lisa Stewart, at lstewart@mtwain.k12.ca.us. or 209-736-1855 ext. 524. We also have various other openings for a Speech and Language Therapist, coaches, ELOP tutors, and substitute custodians and paraeducators. Positions in the school system are excellent in terms of having a schedule that works with your students’ holiday and break schedule. Other benefits of school employment, depending on the number of hours/month worked, include health insurance and pensions. I came to the school system in mid-life when my son was in fifth grade. I am proud to say it is a calling that my son, Ben, has also embraced now as a middle school special ed teacher bringing his own perspective as a learner on the autism spectrum to his student and families. It is a great career! Join us and serve your community at the same time and most importantly hep be a changemaker for a student that needs you! I am on the sites all the time and my door is usually open, so please be sure to introduce yourself! You'll receive these messages weekly or sometimes more often depending on what is going on. Please read them and let me know your thoughts and suggestions for the future. Take care, Louise Simson Superintendent (650) 996-3290 Every Student. Every Day. Every Possibility.

Successor Mark Twain Superintendent Identified: The Mark Twain Union Elementary School District Board of Education is delighted to announce the pending appointment of Louise Simson, for the position of Superintendent commencing on July 1, 2024. The last step in the process is for the Board to consider and approve the employment agreement at the upcoming regular Board meeting, which will be held at the District Board Room August 8, 2024. Ms. Simson has most recently served as the Superintendent of Anderson Valley Unified School District in Mendocino County, where she led the district through extensive facility upgrades including passing a bond with a 72 percent “yes” vote. The district also received a $5 million all-weather track and field grant funded by Caltrans Clean California and partnered for funding with state and federal agencies to support renovation of 70-year-old campus infrastructure, while also raising expectations and implementing supports to increase student achievement. Ms. Simson said that she is delighted to return to Calaveras County and looks forward to serving students, staff, and families at Copperopolis Elementary and Mark Twain Elementary. “I know what a great county this is from my past role as Assistant Superintendent/Principal at Vallecito Union. In sharing her reasoning for accepting the position, Simson stated, “The Board is dedicated to the achievement of all students and the community support for this school system is very apparent. “I am delighted to partner with Sara Tutthill and Carri Penafiel and all our staff members to innovate to educate and ensure every student achieves to the best of their abilities. I am most impressed with how this community responded to the recent wildfire, and how the district personnel and families pulled together to support one another. It speaks volumes about the care and commitment to each other,” stated Simson. Ms. Simson assumes her duties on July 1 and will be a visible presence in the district. She said she looks forward to meeting the community. “My door is usually always open. Stop in and visit!” Stated Christy Miro, President of the Board of Education, “With the unexpected May resignation of our current Superintendent, the Board was collectively concerned about capable and immediate leadership for the district to provide fiscal and academic stability. With all the community input and engagement that had been generated for the Superintendent search last year, the Board had a comprehensive vision of what the community was looking for. Finding out that Louise was available, especially given her past experience in the area and resume as an extraordinarily successful superintendent, it seemed like a natural fit for the district and provides a continuity of leadership for our students and staff. She stated, “The Board is excited to welcome Louise as our new Superintendent. Louise's remarkable leadership at Anderson Valley Unified highlights her dedication and expertise and we are excited about the positive changes she will bring to Copperopolis and Mark Twain Elementary. The Board is confident that under her leadership, our students will reach new heights. Welcome aboard, Louise!” Ms. Miro continued that she also wished to express her deepest gratitude and appreciation to Sara Tutthill for her temporary assignment as Interim Superintendent praising her for her hard work and leadership, particularly in the challenging wildfire disaster. “Sara did a stellar job in this emergency, and her work is appreciated and valued. We are so lucky to have her serving our district.” Kind Regards, Christy Miro Board Member Mark Twain Union Elementary School District

Dear Mark Twain Union Elementary School District Community and Families, We hope this message finds you well and that you are enjoying your summer. This evening the Board approved Sara Tutthill as the temporary acting superintendent of the Mark Twain Union Elementary School District. Sara will serve in this role until we hire a permanent superintendent. We are confident that her leadership and dedication will ensure a smooth transition. Once her temporary position as acting superintendent is finished, Sara will return to her role as Principal. We are grateful for her willingness to step into this role and for her ongoing commitment to our school community. Sincerely, Mark Twain Union Elementary School District Board

June 17, 2024 Open Session: 1:00 P.M. / Closed Session: 1:05 P.M./ Open Session: 1:15 P.M. (May resume Open Session earlier, depending on length of Closed Session) Location: Mark Twain Union Elementary School District Office 646 Stanislaus Ave, Angels Camp, CA 95222 All meetings are in-person. NO ZOOM OPTION AVAILABLE FOR THIS SPECIAL MEETING.

On May 23,2024 please join the special board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84921414186?pwd=rFQPjbAireloALlgl0od9ReQ6zN1Vr.1 Meeting ID: 849 2141 4186 Passcode: 311817

5th and 6th grade dance

Please join the Board Meeting on 05/09/2024 Special Meeting @ 5:15 Regular Board Meeting @ 5:30 p.m. Closed session @ 5:35 Open Session @ 6:30p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81665385954?pwd=RKNVeL0fxRN2FMegFaeYVRNnEz9Fgw.1 Meeting ID: 816 6538 5954 Passcode: 374240

Special Board Meeting 5/09/2024 at 5:15 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81706599239?pwd=iAuGr1kJff9vaHEaUXlEslIa4L2PZC.1 Meeting ID: 817 0659 9239 Passcode: 565927

May Bulletin

Open House

April Newsletter

Thursday April 11,2024 Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87926941997?pwd=dU39gmr6gEMKmBVw6Ckb7ta6E8CgKI.1 Meeting ID: 879 2694 1997 Passcode: 168332