8700 South Kyrene Road
Tempe
AZ
85284
Superintendent's Message
July 20, 2026
Dear Kyrene Community,
The first day of school is just two days away, and our campuses are already filled with excitement as students and families attend Meet the Teacher events and our educators prepare classrooms for another year of learning and growth.
Whether your family is returning to Kyrene or joining us for the first time, we are grateful to have you as part of our community. I encourage all families to bookmark Kyrene’s Back to School web page at www.kyrene.org/backtoschool. It includes important information about transportation, meals, safety, payments and the many ways you can stay informed and connected.
Join the Kyrene Superintendent Advisory Council
In Kyrene, we believe our best ideas come from working together. As part of our commitment to the Kyrene Promise, to ensure every student thrives, I am inviting parents, guardians, staff, and community members to apply for the 2026–27 Kyrene Superintendent Advisory Council. This council provides an opportunity to engage directly with the Superintendent and district leadership, share perspectives, and help shape the future of our schools through open dialogue, transparency, and collaboration. Applications are due August 14, and I encourage individuals from all backgrounds and areas of our district to apply.
The Advisory Council's primary focus this year will be imagining the middle school experience in Kyrene. As we prepare for the transition to four middle school regions, council members will help inform the design of innovative, future-ready middle schools that prepare students for high school, college, career, and life while reflecting the needs of today's learners. Your voice will help ensure we create learning environments that honor the Kyrene Promise and provide every student with the opportunities, support, and experiences they need to thrive.
Celebrating our New School Communities
This year marks an important new chapter for several Kyrene schools as students, staff and families come together to build newly merged school communities. Each community brings its own history, traditions, relationships and school pride. Together, they now have an opportunity to honor what came before while creating new friendships, traditions and possibilities for the future.
I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the teachers, principals and support staff who have worked throughout the spring and summer to prepare for these transitions. They have dedicated countless hours to welcoming new students and families, preparing classrooms, coordinating programs and ensuring students feel supported and connected from the moment they arrive.
Thrive! Strategic Plan Updates
Kyrene School District is now three years into the Kyrene Strategic Plan: Thrive! Ready for the Future, and year three brought significant progress at a pivotal moment for our district. I’m proud to share that Kyrene is on track to meet or exceed its strategic plan goals, even as the District undertook one of the most difficult planning efforts in its history. Over the next two years, we will be focused on maintaining those results and reaching our remaining goals. See the progress we have made, the ground still to cover, and our focus areas for year four in my latest strategic plan report.
Thank you for trusting us with your children and for being an essential part of the Kyrene community. Together, we will continue fulfilling the Kyrene promise to create vibrant, world class learning environments where every student can thrive! Here’s to a strong start and a wonderful 2026–27 school year!
Sincerely,
Laura Toenjes, Superintendent