I want to say thank you to the amazing educators in the Granite School District for your dedication and commitment to fostering meaningful family engagement. Your efforts to build strong partnerships with families are essential to student success and well-being. As Karen Mapp reminds us, “When schools and families work together, everyone benefits – students, families, and educators.” Your hard work in creating welcoming, collaborative environments does not go unnoticed, and we are truly grateful for all you do.

This week I would like to recognize KariLee Pate, principal at Beehive Elementary. Here’s what one of her teachers had to say about her:

“Principal Pate is a leader who truly embodies what it means to lead with empathy. She has created a school culture that prioritizes both student success and staff well-being. She understands how important it is to have work-life balance and encourages her faculty to maintain this balance. Because of this, she has fostered an environment where teachers feel valued, heard, seen, and supported. Her leadership is rooted in a commitment to continuous growth for every person within her building, always seeking ways to enhance both student learning and professional development. She leads with students at the heart of every decision ensuring that instructional strategies and school initiatives align with that is best for their academic and emotional well-being. She truly cares for the students as people and not just as a number or data point. Every student feels welcomed by her at our school, she is always in the halls talking to students or in the lunchroom getting to know them as people. At the same time, she meets the teachers where they are, providing the support and resources they need to thrive. The culture at Beehive is what is it because of her positive, collaborative, and empathetic leadership style.”