Two stories featured on the Liberty Central School District website and shared with local media recently earned an “Excellence” rating in the National School Public Relations Association’s contest.

The two stories, written by public information specialist Denielle Cazzolla, were used to highlight the district’s five-year strategic plan in action.

The first, “LHS senior uses NASA opportunities to help further her goals beyond the rainbow” focused on Jayla Edwards, who was selected for a very competitive program hosted by NASA between her junior and senior year, and then was among a select few in the program to have an additional learning experience. The story also highlighted her interests in theater, as she was playing Dorothy in the Liberty Performing Arts fall production, “The Wizard of Oz.”

The second story, “New technology brings history to life,” featured how the sixth grade social studies classes of Samantha Abplanalp are using AI to “interview” Egyptian pharaohs. Beside learning about the leaders from centuries ago, the students were able to assess the accuracy of the information provided by ChatGPT, bringing 21st century skills into the classroom.

“It’s important to see the impact our district and its strategic plan are having on students and the district’s mission to empower each student to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan. “These stories are just two of many ways our district is working to help our community see what makes Liberty a great place in which to learn, grow and thrive.”

Dear Liberty,

As we close the year, I want to offer an update on the progress of our Five-Year Strategic Plan. The plan was implemented in the 2022-23 school year, and as with any effective plan, it must be reviewed regularly and adjusted accordingly.

In February 2024, a team of administrators, faculty and staff reviewed the progress we have made and set a plan on how to continue moving forward.

I’d like to highlight some accomplishments we have made in each of our four pillars.

• The first pillar is coherence, which is a shared understanding of our purpose and work. We have made progress in reviewing the data to help us improve our practices. Most importantly, we have created a Professional Learning Plan that gives us a roadmap to better align our professional learning with the Strategic Plan.
• The next pillar is curriculum, what we teach our students. It is important for students to have a consistent method of learning, which is why we are aligning curriculum across grades and subject matters. That helps students have a clear understanding of the learning goals, which will build year to year. ELA and reading is aligned kindergarten through eighth grades, and Social Studies and Science curriculums are aligned K-6.  Math curriculum is aligned K-6, and the district is expanding the math curriculum to K-7 in 2024-25, with the introduction of algebra for all eighth graders. Work will also continue on implementing full curriculum mapping, setting mastery standards and entry and exit criteria for grade levels, expanding  enrichment opportunities and more.
• The third pillar is MTSS, or Multi-Tiered System of Supports. MTSS addresses academic as well as social-emotional needs so we can best help our students learn. We continue to have regular K-8 academic screener sessions for math and reading and have implemented the Leader in Me framework for all students. We have also adjusted our monitoring and intervention programs to help our students succeed. Social-emotional learning is a very important part in ensuring a well-rounded education for our students. That is why we implemented the DESSA SEL screener and expanded the use of an SEL screener for all grades. We will continue to use the data to better align MTSS across buildings.
• Culture is the final pillar of our Strategic Plan. These are the values that impact how our school operates. The mission, vision and beliefs of our district are at the heart of what we do. We have continued to communicate these internally and externally at meetings and forums. We also seek input through surveys and focus groups. We also know it is important that the school is part of the community, which is why we were happy to continue to host our All Things Liberty event in the fall and were pleased to re-introduce the Winter Festival in February.

There are three years left of our Strategic Plan. I am happy with the progress we have seen so far, but we know we still have much work to do. To read more about our Strategic Plan, as well as see updates, visit the Strategic Plan page on our website.

I thank you for all of the support you have shown. If you have any questions, please email questions@libertyk12.org.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick Sullivan
Superintendent

Dear Liberty Families,

We are excited to announce we have adopted a new form of school-to-home communication at Liberty Central School District called ParentSquare. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with LCSD.

Invitations to sign up for Parent Square will be sent shortly to all parent or guardian email addresses on file with the district. If you do not receive the invitation, visit www.parentsquare.com/signin and register your account using the phone number or email address on file with the district.

View this video on how to get started.  The video is available in Spanish here. 

All district and school, grade level and classroom information will be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).

Have questions? Click the question mark in the top right corner of the desktop version of Parent Square or the Help tab on the app (tap the triple bar icon at the top left) to find answers to most of your questions.

More information will be provided during open house nights in each of the buildings.

We hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick Sullivan

Superintendent

Three more staff members were honored during the Liberty Central School Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, June 11. Earning Excellence in Service Awards were art teacher Kath Johansen, fifth grade teacher Kim Heinle and Elementary 1:1 teachers aide Syndey Portz.

Kath Johansen

Johansen was recognized by two staff members for going above and beyond for students.

“Not only has she worked so hard to contribute to the District Art show, she has given the life skills class a wonderful experience in art this year, “ one nominee wrote. “Kath always connects what the students are learning in science and social studies and incorporates into her art lessons. From sewing pouches for the Pony Express or making bee houses for pollinators, Kath believes that learning with one’s hands is the best. She has been an asset to the life skills class this year and we appreciate her!”

Kim Heinle

Heinle’s long term dedication to making a difference in the district set her apart.

“Mrs. Heinle epitomizes dedication, compassion and excellence in her role as an elementary educator, embodying the values and commitment that we strive to instill in our educators,” her nominator wrote. “Mrs. Heinle has been an integral part of our district for the past two decades, demonstrating unwavering passion and commitment to the education and well-being of our students.”

She fosters growth, in herself and others.

“Her intentional pursuit of diverse teaching experiences reflects her belief in the power of change and personal growth, both for herself and her students,” the nomination read. “Her approach is characterized by high expectations, flexibility, authentic relationships, and creating a supportive learning environment where students feel valued and empowered to succeed.”

“An unwavering beacon of positivity and optimism,” Heinle inspires students and colleagues, the nomination said.” Mrs. Heinle is a true facilitator, mentor and collaborator, always willing to share her knowledge and expertise with fellow educators.”

Syndey Portz

Portz’s staunch dedication to supporting “a very challenging student” led to her nomination.

“I was humbled by the way Ms. Portz demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her student in every situation,” her nomination read. “She has an admirable ability to be creative, positive, and an excellent teammate.”

And it isn’t just her work with her student.

“She creates a positive and supportive environment for every child in this building,” the nominator wrote. “Her dedication, compassion, patience, and love make her worthy of this excellence award and more.”

Each month, staff members nominate others they believe are going above and beyond, be it a single act of excellence or kindness or a continuous work ethic.

We congratulate these employees on their awards.