Superintendent’s Message

Superintendent Meghan K. Dunn
mdunn6@schools.nyc.gov

Dear District 13 Families and Caregivers,

Happy September 13th - also known as D13 Day! I hope this message finds you well and rejuvenated after a well-deserved summer break. As we embark on a new school year, I am filled with excitement and optimism for the opportunities that lie ahead.

I want to extend a heartfelt welcome to all our families, both returning and new. Your support and involvement are crucial to our district’s success, and we are committed to fostering a strong partnership with you. Together, we can create a nurturing and inspiring environment for our students to thrive. I look forward to seeing the positive impact we will make together this year.

As we wrap up our first full week, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for all the incredible things District 13 has planned for this year. Our district’s educational philosophy focuses on meeting students’ needs and creating welcoming, affirming spaces where they can access rigorous learning opportunities. District 13 schools offer a variety of specialized programs, including project-based learning, International Baccalaureate, and Magnet Schools, ensuring that all students experience rich and challenging learning environments.

As we embark on this new school year, I want to share some of the initiatives you can expect to see across District 13. Our district is diverse and vibrant, and as Superintendent, I collaborate with principals, parent leaders, and the district team to establish a district-wide vision. Our principals and school leadership teams work to bring this vision to life in their schools, focusing on the unique needs of their individual communities.

Below, you will find a brief overview of District 13’s priorities for this school year. I encourage you to speak with your child’s principal and attend your School Leadership Team’s monthly meetings to learn more about how our school leaders are tailoring these initiatives to the unique needs and resources of their individual school communities.

Implementation of a coherent district wide instructional program in literacy, including Strategic Instructional Periods for all students in 3rd - 8th grade. This year, we begin full implementation of EL Education as part of the city wide initiative. All schools, K - 8 will be teaching EL as their core literacy program. I encourage you to check out our District Vision for EL Implementation. Teachers in K - 2 teachers will also be using a foundational skills curriculum. For most schools, this is FUNdations and Heggerty. We will be continuing to implement a strategic instructional period in reading for all students in 3rd through 8th grade.

Shared understanding and implementation of Restorative Justice practices across all D13 schools. We are committed to fostering a positive and inclusive school environment. By implementing restorative justice practices, we aim to build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts constructively, and create a supportive community for all students. As part of our Fostering Diverse Schools grant, we will be offering Tier I Restorative Justice Training to all district staff over the next 5 years. If you have not seen it, please check out our District Wide Statement on Restorative Justice Practices.

Use of the District 13 Assessment in Mathematics (AIM) to support impactful professional learning aligned to math content strategies. We recognize the importance of strong math skills in our students’ academic and future careers. This year, we will focus on enhancing math instruction and aligning professional learning to deepen our teachers’ content knowledge and instructional strategies. All Middle Schools will be participating in NYC Solves and receiving job embedded support for math teachers through a partnership with Teaching Lab. Select elementary schools opted into receiving coaching in math instructional strategies with Solved Consulting.

As we return to school, we are strengthening our commitment to ensure every D13 school has the right resources and programs to support its students’ development. We’re therefore happy to announce the D13 Partnerships Fund, a collaboration with Brooklyn ORG that we hope you will help support. Donations to the fund are used to pay for partnership programs with local organizations that provide supplemental arts, cultural, STEM and other program opportunities for students at less resourced D13 schools.

If you donate to your school’s PTA, please consider a matching donation to support equitable programs across District 13.

Donate at Brooklyn ORG Now

I look forward to seeing many of you as I visit schools. Have a wonderful start of school!

In partnership,

Meghan K. Dunn

Superintendent Community School District 13
New York City Public Schools

P.S. Are you looking to be more involved in District 13? Please consider joining the District 13 Advisory Group! The D13 Advisory Group (AG) is a committee of district and DOE staff, school administrators, teachers, caregivers and parents, and community leaders who help guide district’s ongoing work to support culturally responsive and affirming curricula, meaningful family engagement, high academic achievement, and resource equity across D13 schools. The AG provides thought leadership, oversight, and expertise to ensure that the district is effectively advancing its shared vision.

If you are a D13 parent or caregiver who may be interested in joining the Advisory Group or one of its sub-committees focused on enrollment and facilities, please let us know! Submit the form below to indicate your interest and we will respond with information about how to get involved.
District 13 Advisory Group Interest Form