To Tolleson: Anonymous Concerns Addressed
West Valley Families received an anonymous letter with a list of concerns regarding the Tolleson Elementary School District. Superintendent Dr. Hightower responds.
In late September, West Valley Families received an anonymous letter. The attached note stated, “A letter anonymously sent to community members highlighted the challenges our Tolleson community is experiencing. This has compounded our frustration with the inability to select a qualified superintendent willing to communicate, engage our community, and have a clear mission and vision to guide our district toward academic success.”
THE LETTER
THE RESPONSE
Dr. Lupita Ley Hightower, Superintendent/Treasure Hunter of the Tolleson Elementary School District responded on time, as promised.
She writes:
I hope you are having a wonderful week, please see attached responses to anonymous concerns and give me a call if you have any questions.
I also want to share with you what an incredible honor it has been to serve as the Superintendent of Tolleson ESD for the past 13-plus years and as a team member here for 16 years. I began teaching 28 years ago and am so thrilled that more than half of my career has been right here in this great district of Tolleson ESD. I look forward to continuing in my role through the end of 2024.
Additionally, our award-winning Governing Board voted unanimously to appoint Ms. Gisselle Herrera as Superintendent effective upon my retirement. Ms. Herrera presently serves as Assistant Superintendent and has done an excellent job! She has been with the district since 2008 and in public education since 1996. Her vast experience covers many areas in public education from classroom teaching to curriculum and instruction, English language learners, literacy, and bilingual education to the responsibilities supporting the Superintendent. The Governing Board’s unanimous decision is a vote of confidence for all that we are achieving together as an education community. Together we have accomplished so much, and Ms. Herrera is poised to not only continue the work but elevate our work to the next level. With your ongoing support, there is no doubt we can stay focused and deliver on our core belief – All Children are Capable of Success: NO EXCEPTIONS!
I am looking forward to working with Ms. Herrera through the remainder of the calendar year as I continue to serve as the Superintendent. With the support of our entire leadership team, we will be highly focused to ensure a strong and smooth transition and to ensure our treasures, teachers, staff and families have all they need to engage in and deliver great teaching and learning.
The accomplishments we have celebrated give me great confidence for the future and are truly a collective effort. I outlined some of our accomplishments in my retirement letter and have posted it for your convenience at: https://www.tollesonschools.com/accnt_810336/site_810337/Documents/Superintendent-Retirement-Letter.pdf.
Thank you,
Dr. Lupita Ley Hightower
Superintendent/Treasure Hunter
Arizona Superintendent of the Year 2023
Tolleson Elementary School District
DR. HIGHTOWER’S RESPONSES TO THE ANONYMOUS LETTER
Dr. Hightower responded to the claims in the note. All seven pages of her response are posted below.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
JEN’S TWO CENTS
When a member of the community reaches out to me, I take their concerns seriously. I am not familiar with the Tolleson community as I am located further west. However, I did feel it was important to pass along the community concerns to Dr. Hightower.
I am thoroughly impressed with the time and dedication Dr. Hightower put into answering the community questions. In my 35 years of reporting, Dr. Hightower’s response is by far the most thorough and detailed I have ever seen.
I do hope the Tolleson community has time to review the responses prior to the November 5, 2024 election.
My best to all.