The meeting held in the PISD Board Room was packed full with parents, grandparents, business leaders and even a law enforcement official all eager to hear Dr. Clinesmith’s “Excellence for All” vision. The Community Conversations are Dr. Clinesmith’s effort to establish open lines of communication with the citizens of Pleasanton. She shared the recent accomplishments of PISD students and staff, reviewed actions taken at the previous board meeting, and provided opportunities for attendees to address their issues and concerns.   

There was a very sharp parent at the meeting who asked numerous questions. One could tell that this woman had asked these same questions many times before but had never received a satisfactory answer. Her body language screamed, "Don't even think about putting one by me!"  

Dr. Clinesmith answered each of her concerns with openness and gave the specifics of how each problem was being addressed under her new leadership. At the end of the meeting, the parent said, "You are like a light at the end of a very dark tunnel." 

As a parent of twin 15 year old boys, I knew the relief this woman felt. Knowing that a Superintendent not only cares as passionately as you do about your child's education, but has a plan to make sure that every other educator in your child's life cares too is a gift of a lifetime.  

Dr. Clinesmith explained the all encompassing approach of her “Excellence for All” vision. She repeatedly emphasized how everyone involved in a student’s education will be held accountable to a standard of excellence as representatives of the Pleasanton Independent School District.  She further stated that the students too are expected to strive for excellence not just academically but in how they conduct themselves at the school and in the community. 

Dr. Clinesmith said that it is not enough to ask for excellence. She intends to make this possible by providing teachers with a plan, resources, tools, open lines of communication and progress checks so that changes can be made when necessary.  “It is wrong to just ask for excellence while not providing a pathway to make it possible,” said Dr. Clinesmith. 

I urge everyone in Pleasanton to take an hour to attend Dr. Clinesmith’s next Superintendent’s Community Conversation. How our schools perform impacts not only our students and teacher’s lives, but our whole community.  An exemplary ranking of a school district has great financial impact on a community:

·         Higher principal and teacher’s salaries earned by an exemplary rating give the district the opportunity to hire the best educators

·         Government funding for the school increases

·         Real estate prices are impacted in a variety of positive ways such as increased sales value of our homes

·         Businesses are attracted to communities with high performing schools

·         Families looking to relocate favor communities whose districts have high rankings

·         Students have better higher education opportunities when they graduate from exemplary ranked schools

I entered the Pleasanton Independent School District School grounds for the first time since graduation in 1978 last Wednesday.  I immediately felt a part again to a school that I have much pride in having attended. When I was a high school student the relationship the school had with the town was seamless.  There was a synergy of how the school operated that even as a teenager I knew was backed and supported by the businesses and the people of Pleasanton.  

I am excited about the potential for Pleasanton and PISD to form a closer bond that will help to make our community a stronger and better place to live, learn, work and play.  I know that you will be too.