Superintendent's Corner Column

Honoring the Year, Shaping the Next

June 18, 2026

"What we call the beginning is often the end ...

and to make an end is to make a beginning." T.S. Eliot

A few weeks ago, I wrote to you about measurement, about what a number can tell us and what it can never reach. By now, the reports are in, the recognitions are done, and the year has been accounted for. What remains is the better question. Not how we did, but what we should become.

The State of Our Schools report shared on May 29th highlights where we stand across the three goals that organize everything we do: Empowering Pathways to Excellence, Cultivating Belonging and Community, and Building Sustainable Foundations. If you have not yet had a chance to read it, the full presentation is available to read and download here: [State of Our Schools Presentation] or watch on YouTube here: [State of Our Schools Video]. We also encourage you to review the Superintendent’s Annual Assessment Performance Report, published in November 2025 [Leading the Way - Access, Achievement & Advantage]. These documents remain the clearest account we publish of the academic growth, the climate work, and the long-range planning behind your children's days.

A report is a description of where we are. Goals are a decision about where we go. That decision should not be made in a closed room and handed down to you. It should be shaped with your feedback.

So this is the invitation. Before we finalize our district goals and objectives for the 2026-2027 school year, we want to hear from the people those goals are meant to serve. The three goal areas above will carry forward. What I am asking you to help us decide is what lives inside them. Which priorities matter most to your family and our staff? What may we have missed? What would you want a Fair Lawn education to mean for our schools a year from now?

There are three ways to share your feedback. The survey makes each of them simple. You can revisit the State of Our Schools materials and Annual Assessment Performance Report so your thinking rests on the same evidence ours does. You can rank the priorities within each of the three goals in the order that matters to you. And you can tell us, in your own words, what we have not yet thought to ask.

Please share your input here, or scan the QR code: [Survey Link]

The strongest plans are the ones a community can see itself in. Your voice is part of how the process works. Thank you, as always, for your trust in us and for taking the time to help us shape the year ahead.

Last but not least, wishing all the proud dads, granddads, uncles, and more a very Happy Father's Day this weekend. We hope it's a fun and relaxing one as you celebrate alongside your family & friends.

All my best,

Dr. Rui Dionisio

Superintendent of Schools

District Communications Earn

National School PR Awards

For the second year in a row, we’re proud to announce that several of our communication efforts were recognized and lauded by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). Fair Lawn Schools picked up three 2026 Publications and Digital Media Awards in the following categories:

Award of Excellence - Annual Report for “Leading the Way: 2025 Annual Assessment Report” (mentioned and linked above)
Award of Excellence - Branding/Image Package for our district rebrand and launch video with Skye Design
Produced for Memorial Middle’s eponymous veterans recognition assembly, “Salute to Service” earned an Honorable Mention - Video (Single)

“In a season of celebration, these NSPRA awards are the icing on the cake,” says Communications Officer Ms. Rebecca Vogt. “We thank the panel of national judges for once again noticing the ways we highlight Fair Lawn students and staff across all grades, subjects, clubs, and sports. I personally thank the greater community for their contributions to the rebranding effort as well as every individual who lends their talents in front of the camera. You are the true stars in the story of our schools.”

Milestone Events Mark Next Steps for Students

Does anyone know if June is considered “National Celebration Month?” If not, it certainly should be! The last few weeks have been nothing short of spectacular as pre-schoolers, kindergarterners, fourth graders, and eighth graders grace the stage for their respective end-of-year/moving-up events.

It was clear at each ceremony just how much the crowd loved your poems, songs, dances, and sharing in your overall achievements! We sincerely hope you enjoyed our Facebook and Instagram event highlights, too.

And we’re not done yet… we round out the celebrations with FLHS Graduation next Tuesday.

FLHS Musical Theatre Snaps Up Two

Metro Theatre Awards

“I’m gonna be a celebrity, that means somebody everyone knows.”
- Roxie Hart, Chicago

Musical theatre award season shined a huge spotlight on Fair Lawn High School’s spring production of “Chicago,” nabbing numerous nominations from bergenPAC as well as the Metropolitan Theatre Awards (aka The Metros). Hard work paid off this week at SUNY Purchase, where our cast and crew earned two well-deserved awards:

Outstanding Performance in a Leading Female-Identified Role: Mariella Galdieri as Velma Kelly
Outstanding Achievement in Hair and Makeup: Olivia Merriam & Gabriella Serhat

Congratulations and bravo tutti - we're so proud of your talents on-stage and behind the scenes!

English Teacher Ms. Annie Yon Profiled

in Bergen Record

Off the heels of being named one of 10 finalists for the annual Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching, FLHS English teacher Ms. Annie Yon sat down for a spectacular profile piece that was released this week in the Bergen Record. Reporter Mary Ann Koruth spent some time in the classroom, soaking up student conversation while learning about Ms. Yon’s upbringing and love of literature.

Ms. Yon explains, "I realized high school is where teachers really shape who these young adults become." She later adds, "[It’s] these teenagers that you're shaping — they'll probably remember your conversations about going into the wild and chasing their passions. Hopefully that's what remains in them even after high school."

Duty, Honor, Country: Memorial Students Visit USMA

A cherished Memorial Middle School tradition for staff and students alike, the annual “Points of Light” field trip to the United States Military Academy at West Point focuses on the tenets of their character education program.

This distinguished group visited the Pillars of our Nation interactive exhibit, toured historic buildings on campus, and even caught a military flyby with red, white, and blue contrails. Experiences like this help translate the skills MMS students learn in the classroom to real-world leadership and service.

Entrepreneurial Spirit Alive And Well at TJMS

Makers, creators, doers and dreamers have a home at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Earlier this month, the Young Entrepreneurs Club hosted its inaugural TREP$ Marketplace. The project-based learning program empowers students to develop and launch their own businesses, while building real world entrepreneurial skills.

Guided by Mrs. Pell and Mrs. Whalen, students spent months preparing for the event by participating in lessons that focused on research, marketing, pricing, advertising, and sales. The Marketplace event provided students with an authentic opportunity to showcase and sell the products and services they worked so diligently to create.

About the Fair Lawn Public School District: Fair Lawn Public Schools, where excellence in education meets the vibrant spirit of our community. With a population of over 35,000 residents, Fair Lawn is a thriving hub of diverse cultures, ideas, and talents, and our school district reflects this rich tapestry. Comprising ten schools from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, we are committed to providing a comprehensive and inclusive educational experience for approximately 5,700 students. Our dedicated team of 1,200 staff members works tirelessly to cultivate an environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

The leaders of tomorrow attend Fair Lawn schools today. We believe in nurturing the unique potential of each learner, fostering a love of learning, and preparing students to become compassionate, confident, and contributing members of society in classrooms that are dynamic spaces where personalized instruction, innovation, and collaboration flourish. Fair Lawn Public Schools is a place where students discover their passions, unlock their potential, and embark on a journey of lifelong learning.