Kindergarten teacher Allison Bourse highlights students' gains and family engagement

Allison Bourse, a kindergarten teacher at Irving Perch, described the progress kindergarten students make over the school year and emphasized sustained family communication and staff continuity.

Bourse said kindergarten is "such a fun age where they're so excited to learn," and described "light bulb moments" when skills click. "Coming in, practicing their name, their letters, and by the end of the year, they're reading words and being able to write sentences," she told the meeting transcript.

She stressed the role of family engagement in supporting learning, noting that teachers "keep that communication open" through newsletters and photos so families can "see what's happening in the classroom." Bourse credited long-tenured teachers with creating a family-like environment that helps staff and families "get to know" students across years.

Bourse also noted the district's relatively small elementary-school footprint, saying, "We only have 3 elementary schools," and argued that smaller numbers of buildings help preserve a "small town feel" and let teachers and families stay connected as children move to middle and high school.

The transcript does not specify which governing body or meeting forum recorded these remarks. Bourse concluded by calling it "incredible to be a part of [students'] journey."