Toltec superintendent outlines instructional coaches, curriculum plans and payroll update at staff kickoff

The Toltec School District superintendent opened the district’s staff kickoff with a broad set of operational and instructional announcements, saying the district is expanding classroom support, continuing strategic planning and managing a temporary payroll distribution change.

“You belong. You all have a role here,” the superintendent said, emphasizing staff purpose as the district rolls out a new layer of instructional coaches who will circulate across campuses to support classroom management, curriculum implementation and professional learning communities.

Why it matters: The district plans to increase in-classroom coaching and professional learning to improve student outcomes. The superintendent said the coaching team includes Title I reading leads and subject coordinators to support new teachers and grade-band instruction.

Key details: The superintendent named Penny Haines and Daniel Nudell among staff who supported summer curriculum work and said Lisa Kornstein will focus on science and project-based learning resources. The district will pilot expanded instructional coaching this year while finalizing how coaches are assigned, she said.

Payroll and certification: The superintendent apologized for a late notice that this pay cycle will use paper checks and warned that lapses in required staff certifications can delay payroll because the district’s payroll is processed through the county superintendent’s office. “It was not her fault,” the superintendent said when explaining the payroll staff’s efforts to process checks.

Special education and international hires: Dr. Morgan, the district’s special education director, announced several special-education hires and visa updates for staff arriving from the Philippines and elsewhere. The district also noted hires from Ghana and India and said several international teachers are in various stages of onboarding.

Curriculum and strategic planning: The superintendent said the district’s curriculum committee has reviewed new math programs and that the committee’s recommendation was Eureka for a future year, but the district will continue with the current EnvisionNow program for the coming year. She said the change has not been formally adopted by the board and the district’s strategic plan aims for completion by the end of the first quarter.

Policy and compliance: The superintendent said the district reviewed its ECOC (code of conduct) with staff, reiterated obligations such as timely reporting of safety hazards and maintaining confidentiality consistent with federal laws and the Arizona Revised Statutes, and named Dr. David Braswell of Upslope Solutions as the district’s consultant and Title IX coordinator.

Student results and recognition: The superintendent reported that several Toltec students scored in the top 10% statewide on recent assessments and named students receiving recognition, citing those results as examples of district progress.

Logistics and next steps: Staff were told to take a 15-minute break, sign out to receive a district "Kids at Hope" T-shirt, and follow site-specific instructions for breakfast, lunch and room assignments. Maintenance staff were asked to remain after the session.

The superintendent closed by thanking summer-school and curriculum staff and asking administrators to ensure attendance and certification requirements are current to prevent payroll interruptions.