Mrs. Jessica Vocca,

Superintendent

Dear Cottonwood-Oak Creek School Families,

Welcome to the 2024-25 school year! As the new Superintendent, I am eager to acquaint myself with each school's distinctive contributions to our community. Over the past few months, I've come to appreciate that our schools prioritize a student-centered culture, fostering a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment. We are fortunate to have such dedicated and hardworking employees within the COCSD community, all committed to serving our families. Together, we will continue to enhance our school cultures.

This year brings exciting updates to our district's curriculum and instructional models. The COCSD ELA Committee has spent the past school year reviewing and updating our curriculum, which is supported by the Knowledge Matters Campaign and reflects the latest research in the Science of Reading . Additionally, all our schools have implemented or will soon implement training in Universal Design for Learning, which aims to remove barriers to learning and ensure all students can access the curriculum effectively.

COCSD remains committed to prioritizing student safety. Over the past two years, significant efforts have been made in collaboration with SROs from MVP and DDB to integrate the latest safety research into our practices. They will continue to play a crucial role in updating our safety procedures and training our staff. Moreover, in partnership with local authorities and our community collaborations, COCSD will establish a district safety committee to ensure comprehensive support and training for every school in our district.

I encourage you to actively engage with your children’s schools. Whether through participating in family-teacher organizations, assisting in classrooms, or regularly meeting with your child’s teacher, your involvement is crucial to your child’s success and to the district as a whole.

Thank you for your continued support,

Jessica Vocca

COCSD Superintendent