Miami School District introduces three new principals

Holly Sow/ Arizona Silver Belt

Miami — Three new principals are ready for the new school year in Miami Unified School District. They have been spending the past few weeks getting acquainted with staff and district policies and are proud to be part of the long Vandal tradition. Classes officially start on Aug. 6 in Miami, but the principals have already been on campus this past month for summer school classes.

Robert Bueche

Taking over the reigns at Miami Jr./Sr. High School this year is Robert Bueche, who is joining Miami after serving one year as vice-principal at Globe High School last year. Bueche is taking over the position after Sue Hocking retired at the end of June. Bueche brings with him years of experience in both education and administration. He served four years as a teacher leader and department head at Florence High School and prior to that he was employed by the school district in Flint, Mich.

For his first year, Bueche has a number of plans he would like to see implemented. His top priority is getting kids motivated to learn. That requires getting the community involved in the education of their children as well, he emphasized.

Bueche would also like to see a more learning friendly environment; first thing he would like to see go are the “prison bars” on campus. School should be a place children want to go to learn and where they feel comfortable and safe being, Bueche pointed out. However, it should not give students the feeling that they are being locked in.

A strong focus will be on self-discipline and creating well-rounded students that not only can perform on a limited AIMS test, but also have the soft skills necessary to become successful employees, college students, and community members. A major change to the curriculum this year will be the introduction of enrichment seminar classes. These classes will target specific skills and help students master them before moving on. Students needing the extra attention will get it so they can build their education on a solid foundation of knowledge. Bueche also welcomes community involvement in the education of the students. A new website this semester is a very good start for the district, making it easier for parents to get information any time on upcoming events for their students. The website also serves as a simplified means of communication between busy teachers and parents, although phone calls will still be on the agenda. The school’s handbook is also available on the website as well as many important forms.

Overall, Bueche wants to see students motivated to learn and to understand the importance of education for their future. He wants to make the school experience as entertaining and engaging as possible, but always with the student’s success at the core of the school’s mission. “Students first” and “success” are a pretty prominent mission statement this year at Miami Jr./Sr. High School.

Curtis Patching

Dr. Charles Bejarano Elementary School will be under the guidance of Curtis Patching this year. Patching comes to the Miami district from Laveen School District in southwest Phoenix, where he was an eighth grade language arts teacher for five years. Patching said he grew up in a town very similar to Miami, which is one of the things that attracted him to the district.

Among his top priorities, Patching said he wants to continue to update and integrate technology throughout the curriculum. Of course, money will be the biggest obstacle; nonetheless, he feels it is important that children be technologically literate for the future. This plays into an overall education that prepares children for further education and the workforce.

Patching also wants to see parent involvement. He plans to set up a parent involvement committee with at least four teachers that will serve to facilitate better communication between parents, teachers, and administrators. Patching's former school was praised for setting up a similar program that improved parent-teacher communications. Patching emphasized, there needs to be more than phone calls; parents should feel comfortable coming to the school.

In response to attendance issues, Patching explained that students (and parents) must realize there are consequences. The district is working on a uniform and consistent means of addressing the issue which will help at all three levels. Patching said that at the middle school level, “it is important to find a student’s interest and tie it in to everything else.” Being able to reach the children through their interests will improve the way they feel about coming to school.

His message to the students this year: “Don’t be afraid of the changes. All in all, we are going to make things interesting and we are going to raise levels of achievement.”

David Pastor

David Pastor is the new principal at Las Lomas Elementary, but he is in no way a stranger to the district or the school. He has been in education for “51 years” he says, although 33 as an administrator. Pastor proclaimed, “I’m excited! We are going to expect excellence from the kids.” He also welcomes parents to come in and visit. “The door is always open. We want everyone to be a part,” Pastor said.