Mill Valley School District

Dr. Elizabeth Kaufman - November 2024

The Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Dr. Elizabeth Kaufman, who has served as the district's superintendent since July 1, 2023, continues to lead the district with a vision rooted in excellence, equity, and community collaboration. 

Dr. Kaufman brings a wealth of leadership experience to her role, with a career spanning a variety of positions within education. She holds a Doctorate in Organizational Development from the University of San Francisco, a Master’s in Curriculum & Instruction from Dominican University, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Reed College. Prior to joining Mill Valley, Dr. Kaufman served as both Acting Superintendent and Associate Superintendent for Educational Services in the Sonoma Valley Unified School District. Her experience also includes leadership roles as a high school superintendent, TK-12 principal, and principal of a dual immersion school. Additionally, Dr. Kaufman has extensive experience in special education, gifted programs, and as Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services in the Tamalpais Union High School District.

Since her appointment as superintendent, Dr. Kaufman has spearheaded key initiatives to enhance educational opportunities for all students in the district. One of her most significant accomplishments has been leading the adoption of the new elementary English Language Arts curriculum, Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA), which emphasizes foundational literacy skills, cultural literacy, and critical thinking. This curriculum is designed to better meet the needs of diverse learners and support a balanced, rigorous approach to instruction. In addition, Dr. Kaufman has played an integral role in the continued implementation of the district’s modernization projects, overseeing the upgrading and revitalization of facilities across the district to create more dynamic, inclusive, and technologically advanced learning environments for students and staff alike.

Dr. Kaufman is a strong advocate for equity and inclusion, having participated in programs such as the National Equity Project, Epoch Education, USC’s Urban Superintendent’s Academy, and Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Center for Advanced Educational Leadership. She is fluent in Spanish and holds a certification in school business management, having successfully led communities through parcel tax and general obligation bond measures.

Dr. Kaufman shares a personal connection to the community, as her mother attended Archie Williams High School (formerly Drake High School). She has long admired the Mill Valley community, with its natural beauty and deep commitment to the well-being and success of its children. Reflecting on her work with the district over the past 18 months, Dr. Kaufman says, “I am humbled to serve Mill Valley children and families. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together so far and am excited to continue working with the Board, staff, parents, students, and the broader community to build on our tradition of educational excellence. It’s a privilege to be part of this community, and I welcome further opportunities to engage and collaborate with all who are invested in our students' success.”

Superintendent's Message - Welcome Back to School

August 2024

As we embark on another exciting school year, I am filled with enthusiasm and optimism for the opportunities ahead. Our district is committed to providing the highest quality education for every student, and this year, we are proud to share some significant updates that will strengthen our community, support our mission, and our continuous focus on answering the question, “What’s Best for Every Student?’ in our daily work. 

Attracting and Retaining Highly Qualified Teachers and Staff

Our district recognizes that the foundation of a great education begins with great educators. This year, we have focused our efforts on attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers and staff. By fostering a supportive environment and providing professional growth opportunities, we are committed to ensuring that our students are guided by the best educators. In a time when staff shortages are a concern nationally, we are proud to welcome the following members to our team.

Focus on Elementary English Language Arts Curriculum

This year, we are excited to introduce a new elementary English Language Arts curriculum, Amplify CKLA, aligned with the science of reading and designed to build strong foundational literacy skills. Our teachers spent time on their own this summer unpacking and organizing these materials and participated in before school professional learning to prepare to implement this district-wide curriculum, and we are committed to providing ongoing support to ensure its success in developing proficient readers and confident learners. To learn more, please visit the link here.

Strengthening a Supportive and Inclusive Culture

We are deeply committed to nurturing a supportive and inclusive culture across our district. This year, we are enhancing our focus on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to create a positive school environment where every student feels valued and respected. To ensure we deliver these supports in the best possible way, we will continue our work with Sam Drazin of Changing Perspectives, as well as introduce through our library classes a curriculum about belonging designed by Tenisha Tate-Austin from Critical Friends. These resources are offered in addition to daily support for social, emotional, and behavioral learning provided by elementary counselors and staff through Morning Meeting and Toolbox. Our district’s sixth to eighth grade students are also supported daily by our middle school counseling staff and wellness center, where Sara McKenna, our new Mill Valley Middle School Principal, will also lead the implementation of PBIS to ensure that our students have the resources they need to thrive.

Back to School Nights

We warmly invite you to join us for our Back to School Nights, where you will have the opportunity to learn more about our programs and initiatives. The Elementary Back to School Night will be held on September 5, and the Middle School Back to School Night is September 12. These evenings will also be a chance to get to know your schools and teachers and connect with our community partners, including the PTA, Kiddo!, and ITAV, which play a vital role in supporting our schools.

Ongoing Communications

In an effort to streamline our communications district-wide, and to avoid repetitive information, we will not be publishing a district-wide family newsletter each Wednesday. Instead, our weekly “Superintendent Update” in your principal’s Friday newsletter. I continue to encourage you to reach out to me directly by email at ekaufman@mvschools.org, by office phone at 415-389-7705 or by cell at 415-634-8085

Superintendent's Message - Welcome Back to School

August 2023

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! 

I am delighted and honored to be joining this amazing community of educators. I look forward to getting to know each of you this year and learning about MVSD and our opportunities for working together to serve all learners. 

The Mill Valley School District Vision states, “Our learning community is dedicated to developing globally-mind, compassionate, resilient, and courageous students to learn and lead change in their world.”  At the core of our district's mission is the belief that everyone should feel welcome, safe, accepted, and prepared.  Strong partnerships with Kiddo!, the Mill Valley Parent Teachers Associations, and It Takes a Village support our educational community in addressing one fundamental question: "What is best for every Mill Valley School District student?" 

As we approach the 2023-2024 school year, our focus will include belonging and transparency. In doing so, we hope to foster a collaborative community that a listens to all opinions, focuses on evidence-based practices, and realizes equity for all students. Looking forward, we will sustain and expand ongoing district efforts to develop:

• Multi-tiered systems of support for all learners

• Culturally relevant, inclusive instructional practices

• Developing “guaranteed and viable” curricula to engage all students

I value high-level accountability and transparency and welcome your feedback. As we welcome students back to school, I encourage you to reach out, share your thoughts and ideas, and actively participate in the growth and success of Mill Valley School District. Please feel free to contact me by email (ekaufman@mvschools.org), or at (415) 389-7705 

Together, we will create exceptional educational experiences for all of our students.