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July 2022
Empower! Inspire! Unite!
We are pleased to be able to provide our students, parents, staff and community with the latest information about our Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District community through this newsletter. Please join us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to connect with us daily!
Superintendent's Message
Dear Mt. Pleasant Community, 
 
I hope your summer is going well! Thank you for your support. I send my gratitude to our team members. You are all crucial partners in the efforts to provide the best academic and social-emotional experience for our students. 
 
Please enjoy this season with safety in mind. We look forward to seeing you in August, ready to start a new school year filled with opportunities to advance our students’ education. 
 
In community spirit,  
 
Dr. Elida MacArthur 
Superintendent 
Celebrating Our Teachers
and Classified Employee of the Year!     
We are recognizing MPESD teachers and classified employee of the year! Their contributions to our school community have been critical and we truly appreciate their commitment and dedication. 
 
Teachers were selected by their colleagues as Teacher of the Year at their school sites: 
August Boeger
Rebecca Nash 
8 years with MPESD 
Ida Jew Academy 
Gabriela Roman  
9 years with MPESD 
Valle Vista  
Rachel McCauley  
24 years with MPESD
Robert Sanders 
Virginia Bailey  
15 years with MPESD
Mount Pleasant 
Christina Okada-Seike  
6 years with MPESD  

Mrs. Okada is the Teacher of the Year representative at Santa Clara County Office of Education. Mrs. Okada-Seike has taught Preschool through 2nd grade for the last 23 years.
Trudy Martinez is Classified Employee of the Year! 

Mrs. Martinez is currently a Family Case Manager and has worked for the district for 20 years. 
Welcome Our New Staff Members 
Our district will be welcoming new staff members and administrators during the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. Please join us in wishing the best to our new team members, who are all experienced and talented professionals in education! 
Davy Dijoux
Principal of Mt. Pleasant Elementary and the IJA/ALAS Dual Immersion Program 

“I look forward to serving MP/IJA ALAS students and working with staff and parents. My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education and a Masters in Educational Leadership. I have over 15 years of teaching experience ranging from kindergarten through high school. I am passionate about education and helping all children succeed. Together, we can make sure that all IJA ALAS and Mt. Pleasant students will succeed.” 
Mak Kegelmeyer
Principal of Robert Sanders Elementary 

“I am excited about the opportunity to serve students, educators and the community to support the impressive work already happening at Robert Sanders Elementary. Professionally, I have seen education from many angles in both general and special education: as a paraprofessional, teacher, coach and administrator. I am driven to return to the school site where I can directly impact student learning, socio-emotional needs and teacher affirmation and growth."
Lisa Kattenhorn
District Student Advisor 

Lisa Kattenhorn is a San Jose native and 4th generation educator. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from Montana State University and her Master of Music in Music Education from Boston University. Ms. Kattenhorn taught 25 years preschool through high school choir and general music and grades 3, 4, and 5, including 16 years in the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District. She regularly draws on her life and teaching experiences to engage her students.
Summer Enrollment   
Ready to enroll your child at MPESD? Summer enrollment is taking place at the District Office (3434 Marten Ave.) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1 pm – 5 pm, until July 28. Join the MPESD family!  
 
You can learn more about enrollment opportunities by visiting our website.
Valle Vista School Has a New Home  
Valle Vista has moved to 1966 Flint Ave.

The school now shares a campus with Ida Jew Academy. We will reopen at our new location on August 1st, 2022.

To reach the office after August 1st, please call (408) 223-3750. 

Voters Approved Measure H! 
Measure H was on the ballot on June 7, 2022, and has been approved. Voters decided in favor of the renewal of funding for programs and services at MPESD, extending an already existing parcel tax.  
 
Measure H funds help to maintain strong core academic programs, including math and science, attract/retain qualified teachers, provide current educational materials, support art, music, reading, and writing programs/access to technology training, and keep libraries open. 
 
This measure will renew, without increasing, its expiring $95 annual parcel tax for seven years, raising around $480,000 annually. A big thank you to our community!