August 2025
Dear Shaler Area School District Community,
As summer draws to a close, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest welcome to the start of a new school year filled with promise, growth, and opportunity.
The first day of school for all students will be Tuesday, August 19, 2025. We will also welcome students in kindergarten, 4th grade, 7th grade, and 9th grade on Monday, August 18, for orientation activities designed to help them feel comfortable and confident in their new school environments.
Our continued theme for the 2025–2026 school year is Engage. Empower. Excel. This guiding message reflects our sustained commitment to engaging students in meaningful learning, empowering them with the tools and support they need to succeed, and inspiring them to excel in every aspect of their education.
This year, we are excited to officially launch our Strategic Plan for 2025–2030. As part of this planning process, we’ve engaged in meaningful conversations with students, staff, families, and community members to help shape the future of our district. Through this work, we are implementing updated mission, vision, and core value statements that reflect our shared commitment to providing high-quality education and fostering an inclusive, supportive learning environment.
Our mission is to create welcoming learning environments that foster academic growth, provide enhanced learning opportunities, and support career readiness while educating the whole child for future success. Our vision remains clear—we strive to engage all students in meaningful learning, empower them to reach their full potential, and inspire them to excel.
We are also proud to introduce the newly revised “Portrait of a Titan,” a shared vision for the characteristics we aim to cultivate in all Shaler Area students. This updated framework replaces the former Portrait of a Graduate and emphasizes the essential skills, mindsets, and values necessary for lifelong success.
The Portrait of a Titan is more than a list of traits—it serves as a foundational guide for our academic programs, student experiences, and culture across all grade levels. It reflects the qualities we believe every student needs to thrive in an ever-changing world and to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
The Portrait of a Titan highlights the importance of being:
- Resourceful – able to solve problems creatively and independently
- Flexible – adaptable in the face of change and challenge
- Compassionate – empathetic, kind, and supportive of others
- Resilient – persistent through adversity and setbacks
- Curious – eager to explore, ask questions, and learn continuously
- Socially Responsible – engaged in making a positive impact locally and globally
These characteristics will be embedded in our instructional practices, student experiences, and school culture to ensure all students are prepared to lead, contribute, and thrive. Our staff will be intentionally incorporating each of these attributes throughout the curriculum to help students internalize and apply them across all content areas and learning experiences.
Additionally, we have identified four key priority areas that will guide our work over the next five years:
- Career Readiness & Workforce Development – Expanding pathways that prepare students for success beyond graduation by connecting classroom learning to real-world careers and postsecondary opportunities.
- Enhanced Learning Opportunities – Providing rigorous, relevant, and innovative academic experiences that challenge students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and develop a lifelong love of learning.
- Educating the Whole Child – Supporting students’ academic, social, emotional, and behavioral growth through inclusive practices, mental health supports, and strong relationships.
- Welcoming Learning Environments – Creating safe, generous, and inspiring spaces where all students feel a strong sense of belonging, and where their varied experiences are valued and celebrated.
We also welcome you to join us for our Coffee & Conversation program, which will launch on September 3, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. at Shaler Area Elementary School. These informal gatherings are an opportunity to connect with district leadership, ask questions, and share your thoughts on the educational experience in Shaler Area.
For a full list of dates and all back-to-school information, please visit: https://shalerarea.org/2025-26-school-year/
As we begin this new school year, I want to thank you for your continued partnership, support, and trust. I look forward to connecting with you at our many back-to-school events in the coming weeks.
Together, we will make this year a powerful step forward in our shared mission to Engage, Empower, and Excel.
With Titan Pride,
Bryan E. O’Black, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
