Having taught at Hemingway Elementary School where her three children were students, Alex Sundali was elected to the Blaine County School Board in 2003. Her father had been a public school teacher and she and her siblings had been educated in public schools; hence she has always felt a sense of obligation to give back to public education. In her six years with the district, all under the leadership of Dr. Jim Lewis, she has been instrumental in making many positive changes. Our community now has, to name but a few of its educational innovations, an award-winning dual-immersion program, professional learning communities for teachers, accelerated math and the Lindamood-Bell reading recovery projects. In addition, let's not forget the College for Every Student and No Excuses University, which challenges aspiring students to continue their educations beyond high school.
Never to be accused of resting on its laurels, the Blaine County School Board has recently revealed its Strategic Plan 2015, the community's vision for the district's future. Over 100 members of the planning team considered more than 6,000 comments received from business, medical and nonprofit representatives, parents, students, faculty, administrators and support staff who had been asked for their opinions regarding the district's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This information, posted on its Web site, directly influenced and drove the development of the 10 goals that will in turn drive the future of the Blaine County School District.
Alex Sundali has been involved in all of this. I recommend she stays to help carry it out!
Ruth Lieder
Sun Valley