Oakwood superintendent highlights STEM finalist status, forms AI committee and reports credit-rating upgrade

Superintendent Dr. Gupta used the board’s Jan. 7 meeting to outline district priorities and highlight recent achievements, including a STEM program that became a national finalist and an upgrade to the district’s credit rating.

Dr. Gupta described three 'vision statements' — high-quality learning, a safe and welcoming environment, and effective, transparent operations — and credited staff and curriculum leaders for recent successes. He said curriculum director Jenna Hill and building 'STEM champions' led a submission that made the district a national finalist in a STEM recognition program and that about 300 community volunteers were counted in an audit of district STEM activities.

Dr. Gupta also described work on a 'Portrait of a Learner' that the district plans to finalize this month and unveil at the State of the Schools in March. He said an artificial intelligence committee, chaired by the curriculum and technology offices and partnered with ForwardEdge, is studying how AI can support teaching and learning; the committee will report back when it has recommended guidance.

On operations, Dr. Gupta reported traffic-pattern changes at Harmon Elementary designed to improve student safety. He also publicly praised Treasurer Laura Sauber and said Moody’s upgraded the district’s credit rating (as stated in the meeting transcript, 'from a double a 2 to a double a 1'), which he said positions the district favorably for facility planning.

Dr. Gupta encouraged board members and the community to review the district’s updated athletics website and the new district 'quality profile' that includes stories and graphics about district work.

"We have amazing staff, and you're gonna get to hear that a little bit in the curriculum showcase a little bit later," Dr. Gupta told the board. "We just went up went upgraded in our district's credit rating from a double a 2 to a double a 1."