Weekly Superintendent Update 9.18.26

Dear Sierra Unified Community,

This week, I have been thinking about what makes Sierra Unified such a special place to learn, work, and grow.

Sometimes, we hear the phrase “small district” and may assume that means less work. In reality, being a small district often means fewer people doing the same amount of work. Our staff wears many hats. They step into areas outside of their traditional roles, learn new skills, solve problems, and find ways to make things happen for our students.

While that can be challenging, I also believe it is one of our greatest strengths.

Because our staff are asked to know and do so much, they develop a level of versatility, collaboration, and understanding that is truly special. They know our students. They know our families. They know our community. And they are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure our students have opportunities to learn, compete, create, lead, and discover their passions.

One of the things I appreciate most about Sierra Unified is that we work hard to provide the opportunities of a large district while preserving the benefits of being a small district.

Our students can participate in athletics, FFA, CTE programs, college courses, fine arts, leadership opportunities, career exploration, and so much more. At the same time, our students are not just numbers. They are seen. They are known. They are understood.

That does not happen by accident.

It happens because of the people who come to work every day and give a little more. It happens because a teacher takes on an additional responsibility, a coach gives extra time to a student, a classified employee finds a way to solve a problem, an administrator steps in wherever needed, or a staff member learns something new simply because it will benefit our kids.

To each of our teachers and staff: thank you.

Thank you for wearing so many hats. Thank you for continually expanding your knowledge and skills. Thank you for stepping outside your comfort zones. Most importantly, thank you for going above and beyond to make sure our students have access to opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to provide in a small district.

The strength of Sierra Unified has never been about how many people we have.

It is about who we have—and what they are willing to do for kids.

Measure U Updates 

Our Measure U projects continue to move forward, and we are excited to see the finish line getting closer on several of our improvements.

We especially look forward to welcoming our students, staff, families, and community back into the large gym after construction, with the current schedule targeting October 1st for its return to use. The gym will return with improved air conditioning, along with the new sound system made possible through the generous partnership of the Sierra Athletic Boosters and Sierra Foundation.

Thank you to our community for your continued support of Measure U and for your patience as this important work takes place. These improvements are an investment in the learning, activities, athletics, and experiences we provide for our students for years to come.

The strength of Sierra Unified is our people—and Measure U is helping us make sure we have facilities that support the incredible work they do for our kids every day.

Mountain Strong,

Dr. Lori Grace

Superintendent, Sierra Unified School District