π₯ A Message from Our New Superintendent, Terri Romo π¬
Hello SVUSD Families, Staff, and Community!
Iβm honored and excited to begin this journey as your new Superintendent. As someone who deeply believes in the power of public education, I am committed to continuing the incredible work already happening across our district.
Together, we will build on our foundation of excellence, support every studentβs success, and ensure that SVUSD continues to thrive.
Please take a moment to watch this short video message https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfI76WGMIfs where I share a bit more about myself and my vision for our district. Letβs continue Achieving Excellence Together! πβ¨
#SVUSDpride #AchievingExcellenceTogether #WelcomeSuperintendentRomo
Hello SVUSD Families, Staff, and Community!
Iβm honored and excited to begin this journey as your new Superintendent. As someone who deeply believes in the power of public education, I am committed to continuing the incredible work already happening across our district.
Together, we will build on our foundation of excellence, support every studentβs success, and ensure that SVUSD continues to thrive.
Please take a moment to watch this short video message https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfI76WGMIfs where I share a bit more about myself and my vision for our district. Letβs continue Achieving Excellence Together! πβ¨
#SVUSDpride #AchievingExcellenceTogether #WelcomeSuperintendentRomo
π BUZZING INTO NEW LEARNING! ππ
This year's SVUSD Summer Institute was a HUGE success! Over four days, our amazing staff gave up part of their summer break to grow professionally, connect with colleagues, and dive into powerful strategiesβfrom AI in the classroom to hands-on math, engagement tools, and more!
π This FREE event, led by our incredible curriculum team & instructional coaches, is just one example of how SVUSD invests in its people
π¬ Special shoutout to Crystal Wambach for organizing an unforgettable week of learning!
This is what #AchievingExcellenceTogether looks like.
#BuzzingIntoNewLearning #EmpoweringYou #SVUSDStrong #TeacherLife #ProfessionalLearning





π£ All school and district offices will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.
Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates freedom, resilience, and progress.
We encourage our community to take this day to reflect, learn, and honor this important moment in our nationβs history.
#Juneteenth #SVUSD #HonoringFreedom #CommunityMatters

The Sierra Vista Unified School District Governing Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Terri Romo as Interim Superintendent for the 2025β2026 school year, effective July 1, 2025.
Mrs. Romo brings more than three decades of dedicated service to SVUSD, having served as a student, teacher, principal, and most recently, Assistant Superintendent. A proud product of SVUSD schools, Mrs. Romo is deeply invested in the success of the district and the community it serves.
βWhile I never envisioned myself pursuing the superintendency, I feel called to offer my leadership during this important transition,β Romo shared. βSierra Vista is my home. I am a proud product of this district, and now I have the privilege of raising my children in the same community and schools that helped shape me.β
Throughout her career, Romo has demonstrated a deep commitment to doing what is best for children. Her work has included extensive grant writing, securing millions of dollars in additional funding to support students and staff, and fostering a culture of integrity, transparency, and collaboration.
The Governing Board selected Mrs. Romo to serve as a stabilizing force during the districtβs transition, as the search continues for a permanent superintendent. "Mrs. Romoβs experience, compassionate leadership, and unwavering dedication to SVUSD make her the ideal person to guide our district through the year ahead,β said Governing Board President Donald Lee. βShe understands our schools, our students, and the unique needs of our community.β
Terri Romo will succeed Dr. Eric Holmes, who has served as Superintendent since 2020. The Governing Board extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Holmes for his five years of service, leadership, and commitment to students, staff, and families.
As the district prepares for a year of significant changeβincluding the launch of the middle school academy concept and the closure of two school campuses in the 26-27 school yearβMrs. Romo stands ready to lead with empathy and decisiveness.
βSVUSD is my home,β Romo stated. βI understand the pride each school holds and the deep impact this next phase will have on our community. I am honored to serve as a bridge during this transition, and I remain committed to strong, compassionate leadership.β
Mrs. Romo holds a Bachelorβs degree from the University of Arizona and a Masterβs in Education from Northern Arizona University. She is certified in teaching, administration, and the superintendency.
Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Romo as Interim Superintendent and in thanking Dr. Holmes for his dedicated service to our district.

π£ Starting June 9th, our SVUSD Welcome Center will begin summer hours! βοΈπΌ
Our amazing team will be ready to assist you with registration and answer any questions you may have:
π Mon, Wed, Fri: 7 AM β 12 PM
π Tues & Thurs: 12 PM β 5 PM
π
Special Saturday Hours: Open on July 26th, 9 AM - 12 PM for your convenience!
Enjoy your summer, and we look forward to seeing you soon! π
#SVUSDWelcomeCenter #SummerHours #WeAreHereToHelp #SVUSDPride #EnjoyYourSummer

Wishing all SVUSD families and staff a safe and wonderful Memorial Day weekend. β€οΈ
π Reminder: All SVUSD offices will be closed on Monday, May 26th in observance of Memorial Day.
ππ Congratulations to the Class of 2025! Weβre so proud of all youβve accomplished and canβt wait to see whatβs next! ππβ¨
#ClassOf2025 #SVUSDPride #MemorialDayWeekend #CongratsGraduates #SVUSDStrong

A HUGE thank you to the San Pedro Kiwanis of Sierra Vista for supporting our 5th grade Bolts and Dust Devils throughout the school year! πππ
Special appreciation goes to Lolene Paholke for leading this amazing Terrific Kids program and working closely with our fantastic 5th-grade teams at Huachuca Mountain and PDS!
This inspiring program recognizes students for reaching their personal goalsβand we love celebrating their success in fun and memorable ways! π
π Students received at their last ceremony school-colored baseball capsβblue or white for PDS, and yellow for HMEβalong with a permanent marker so they could collect autographs from teachers and classmates. Itβs a special end-of-year tradition, and many students treasure their hats for years!
Each time a student reaches a new goal, they receive a small reward:
β 1st time: certificate, bumper sticker, pencil, and a bag (with school supplies)
β 2nd time: pencil and bookmark
β 3rd time: water bottle and pencil
π Our Super Terrific Kidsβthose who went above and beyondβreceived a disposable camera and a photo album to capture their memories!
After the celebration, students enjoyed free time outside where they proudly signed each otherβs hats. We've even had former students tell us they still have their hat as a keepsake. π«
Thank you to all the families, friends, businesses, and supportersβand especially the San Pedro Kiwanisβfor helping us honor these hardworking, goal-crushing students! We are so proud of them! π₯°
#TerrificKids #GoalGetters #EmpoweringYouth #SVUSDProudARatedDistrict

π£ Reminder, SVUSD Families!
Tomorrow, Thursday, May 22nd, is the last day of school, and it will be a half day! π
π Elementary release: 11:15 AM
π§ Middle school release: 12:30 PM
We wish all our SVUSD students and families a fun, safe, and relaxing summer! βοΈπ΄ We can't wait to welcome you back on July 30th! π
#SVUSDStrong #LastDayOfSchool #HalfDayReminder #SummerBreak #SeeYouInJuly

π PBIS is in full motion at SVUSD!
Weβre proud to share photos from our most recent PBIS Awards Ceremony, where we celebrated both students and staff who earned the most points for being Respectful, Responsible, and Safe! π
These awards highlight the positive behaviors that help make our schools great places to learn and grow.
π Weβre proud of our recipientsβand of our entire PBIS system!
#SVUSDProud #PBIS #PositiveBehavior #RespectfulResponsibleSafe #StudentSuccess #StaffShoutout #EmpoweringYou








πββοΈπ
Our elementary students from Bella Vista, Huachuca Mountain, Town and Country, Pueblo Del Sol, and Village Meadows came together at Buena High School for their first annual Track Meetβand it was a total blast!
π₯ Six events filled the day with energy and excitement:
β’ 100 Meter Dash
β’ 400 Meter Dash
β’ Mile Run (4 laps)
β’ 4 x 100 Meter Relay
β’ Long Jump
β’ Softball Throw
π Each school sent 30 student-athletesβ5 boys and 5 girls from grades 4β6βwho competed in 1 or 2 events each.
π
Ribbons were awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of each event!
π A huge thank you to the PE teachers from the five elementary schools for organizing this incredible event, and to the Buena cross country and track athletes for helping run it smoothly!
It was an amazing day of sportsmanship, school spirit, and fun. Way to go, future champions! πͺππ
#SVUSDProud #ElementaryTrackMeet #FutureAthletes #BoltPride #WolfPackPride #RoadrunnerPride #DustdevilPride #BobcatPride

π½π¨ The Farmers Market at PDS was a huge success!
Our amazing Dust Devils from all grade levels showcased their creativity with crafts, snacks, and drinksβall made with care and heart. π
π All proceeds from the event will be donated to a local nonprofit organization, making it not only fun but meaningful too!
A big thank you to all the families who came out to support and visit with us. You could see just how proud our Dust Devils were of their hard workβand weβre proud of them too!
#PDSPride #DustDevilStrong #FarmersMarketFun #SVUSDProud #EmpoweringYou

π’ Attention Families with Kindergarten-Age Children! π’ Do you have a little one whoβs eager to start Kindergarten but isnβt quite old enough? πβ¨ Sierra Vista Unified School District offers early entrance testing for children whose 5th birthday falls between September 1 and January 1 of the upcoming school year. This assessment helps determine if theyβre ready to jump into Kindergarten fun! π Testing Dates: June 16th & June 30th β³ Sign up early to save your spot! π Have questions? Contact Stacy Jackson-Fesser at 520-515-2743 or visit our website for more details: www.svusd68.org/earlykinder Letβs get your child started on their learning adventure! ππ #EmpoweringYou #SVUSDProudARatedDistrict

πΈ Happy Motherβs Day to all SVUSD moms! πΌ
We appreciate everything you do and hope your day is filled with love, joy, and relaxation. π
Have a wonderful dayβyou deserve it! π #HappyMothersDay #SVUSD #WeLoveOurMoms

π Last week , we had the joy of welcoming our incoming kindergarten students for the upcoming school year!
All of our elementary schools opened their doors for an afternoon of fun for the whole familyβcomplete with scavenger hunts, meet the teacher, table games, a school bus experience, photo booth fun, campus tours, and more! ππΈπ²
We were so excited to meet our future students and their families!
Missed the event? No problem!
Reach out to our Welcome Center or contact your neighborhood school to schedule a tour or get more information.
Weβd love to hear from you and help you get ready for kindergarten! πβοΈ #KindergartenReady #SVUSDWelcome


π Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! π
SVUSD is celebrating all of our incredible teachers and staff this week! We are so proud to have you on our team and beyond grateful for everything you do for our students, families, and community.
Your dedication, passion, and hard work make a lasting impact every single day.
From all of us at SVUSDβthank you from the bottom of our hearts! ππ #TeacherAppreciationWeek #SVUSDShines #ThankATeacher #EmpoweringYou

πΆ The Beat Goes On at SVUSD! πΆ
Thanks to the leadership of Mrs. Romo, our Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, and the support of the competitive Hobbs Grant, music is coming alive in our elementary schools!
With new instruments and supplies, our youngest learners are exploring rhythm, melody, and sound like never before. From drums to ukuleles, students are getting hands-on with musicβand loving every moment of it!
A huge thank you to Mrs. Romo for her vision and dedication. Because of her, music is no longer just a subjectβ¦ itβs an experience. π΅π #SVUSDShines #TheBeatGoesOn #HobbsGrant #MusicMatters

πΎβ¨ Future Coyotes in the House! β¨πΎ
Last week, JCMS was thrilled to welcome all SVUSD 6th graders to campus for an exciting preview of middle school life! π
Our visiting students were greeted with a warm welcome from the JCMS Band and Student Council, followed by an introduction from Assistant Principal Pizutto and Principal Wright. They got a sneak peek at all the fun, learning opportunities, sports, and activities that await them next year! πΆππ
Student Council led small group tours across campus, giving 6th graders a chance to ask questions, learn the layout, and hear straight from current students about what to expect. It was a great day for peer-to-peer connectionβbecause sometimes itβs easier to ask someone who's been there! π
Weβre excited to have them join the pack soonβbecause thereβs a lot of fun and learning ahead at JCMS! ππΊ
#JCMSCoyotes #FutureCoyotes #MiddleSchoolReady #SVUSD #WelcomeToJCMS #CoyotePride #GrowingUpFast

π Staff Highlight for April: Mrs. Gracious Davenport π Meet Mrs. Davenport, our incredible 7th & 8th grade science teacher at JCMS! This is her first year as a Coyote and her eighth year in education, but sheβs already made a lasting impact. π Gracious Grace Davenport lives up to her nameβsheβs passionate, warm-hearted, and full of laughter. Her belief in the potential of every student drives her mission to build a safe, supportive, and inspiring classroom. π¬β¨ Originally from Florida, Mrs. Davenport moved to Sierra Vista with her husband, mom, and kids after her brother was stationed here with the Border Patrol. Her husbandβwho she met working at a middle schoolβis now one of our amazing custodians! Together, theyβre raising three little ones (ages 6, 5, and 1) and loving life in the SV community. π‘π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ Before becoming a teacher, Mrs. Davenport worked in daycare and was active in church youth programs. One special moment with a teen in her youth group encouraged her to pursue middle school educationβand weβre so glad she did! From stepping in as support for a sub while still waiting for her AZ certification to creating fun traditions like Student of the Week (complete with favorite snacks!), sheβs all heart. π« She says, βPeople make people, not money,β and we couldnβt agree more. Welcome to the Coyote family, Mrs. Davenportβyouβre making a difference every day! πΎπ #JCMSCoyotes #StaffHighlight #ThankATeacher #ScienceMatters #CoyotePride #StaffHighlight

Dustdevils, get ready for a fun-filled week at PDS! π
Weβre kicking off Spirit Week with exciting themes each day: Twin Tuesday β Dress alike with a friend! Wacky and Wild Wednesday β Show off your wildest, wackiest outfits! Dustdevil Pride Friday β Wear your blue and show your Dustdevil spirit! π
PLUS, donβt miss our Buy One, Get One Free Book Fair happening all week! π
Join us for a special Parent Night on Wednesday, when the Book Fair will be open from 4 PM to 6 PM.
We can't wait to see everyone joining in the fun! Go Dustdevils! π


π April Teacher Feature β Mr. Austin Meckler! π
Letβs give a big shoutout to Mr. Meckler, our awesome Tech Foundations and Yearbook teacher at JCMS! π This is his third year as a proud member of the JCMS teamβhe spent two years teaching Social Studies and now brings his creativity and real-world focus to CTE (Career & Technical Education).
Mr. Meckler loves helping students explore life skills through hands-on projectsβlike his popular budgeting simulation, where students choose a city to live in, find housing and transportation, write checks, and see what it really takes to manage a budget. The surprise on their faces? Priceless. πΈ
Outside the classroom, Mr. Meckler leads the charge on PBIS Tier One and brings the fun with school-wide events like Rock-Paper-Scissors tournaments, Simon Says showdowns, and Tic-Tac-Toe competitionsβwith awesome student engagement and prizes that build community and school spirit! ππ
He's also a martial arts enthusiast (since the age of 4!), gamer, our former wrestling coach, and proud husband and dad. Heβs currently earning his masterβs degree in education and is passionate about creating a classroom based on mutual respect and strong relationships.
Thank you, Mr. Meckler, for the energy, heart, and creativity you bring to JCMS! You make a difference every day! ππ»π
#TeacherFeature #JCMSPride #SVUSDProud #CTEChampion #PBISLeader #MiddleSchoolMatters #ThankATeacher

