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Dear Tisko Families,

Welcome to a brand-new school year at Mary R. Tisko Elementary! For those who are new to our community, I'm Jim O'Connor, and I'm honored to be your Principal. After 15 years at Tisko, I'm still as excited as ever to work alongside our wonderful shoreline families.

We have a lot to be proud of as we enter this new school year. To start, Tisko officially earned Level 1 High Reliability School Certification, recognizing the safe, supportive place our community builds every day. On top of that, we're introducing the Leader in Me program to help students build confidence and everyday leadership—setting clear goals, working first before playing, and learning to listen and find win-win solutions with their classmates. Technology will remain a helpful tool in our classrooms, but our priority will continue to be real connections, active group work, and hands-on projects that get kids excited to think deeply. 

Looking further ahead, we also have the unique opportunity to help shape plans for a brand-new school building. Your input and our shared community values are deeply important in shaping this future, and I am committed to providing stable, focused leadership every step of the way. 

Above all, I want you to know that we’re in this together—growing curious, kind, resilient kids through hard work, heart, and plenty of laughs along the way.  Every school day counts, and when students are present, engaged, and ready to learn, that’s when the real magic happens. My door is always open, so please feel free to reach out, swing by, or say hello when you see me outside at drop-off.

Let’s make this an extraordinary school year!

Warmly,
Jim O'Connor