Superintendent's Message

Welcome Back for the 2026–27 School Year

Dear MUSD Students, Families, Staff, and Community,

There is something special about the start of a new school year. Our campuses reopen, classrooms buzz with potential, and each student begins with a clean slate. New opportunities to learn, connect, and grow await us all.

This summer, while things have seemed a bit quieter on our campuses, our team has been working hard behind the scenes to prepare for this school year. Construction projects are still underway Districtwide, bringing us closer to completing critical upgrades that will improve every place our students learn, play, and belong. Whether it's the new field at Mammoth High School and Mammoth Middle School, the new TK building and employee housing, or Mammoth Elementary School's Field House, these projects are part of a long-term investment in our students, staff, and community. Construction can often be noisy—or inconvenient—but please know we are making progress on these projects and appreciate everyone's patience as they're completed.

Our planning has also taken place inside our schools. This year, MUSD is expanding our focus on Humanized Education. Humanized Education is founded on the belief that students learn best when they are known, valued, challenged, and supported as entire people. Of course, academic achievement is critical, but if we want students to truly learn and excel in school, we must also prioritize belonging, relationships, student voice, cultural responsiveness and relevance, as well as students' confidence and agency.

At its core, Humanized Education pushes us to look past program offerings and test scores and consider what students experience day to day. Are students seen? Do they know they are loved and belong? Are they engaged in meaningful ways? Do they have trusted adults who believe in them? Are we cultivating not just knowledge and skills, but also the mindsets students will need to succeed?

These are questions we will also explore as part of Reimagine MUSD Together: Class of 2040, our districtwide strategic planning process. Over the next year, we will work together to create a long-range blueprint for who we are as a District, what we value, and how our schools must adapt to prepare all students for an uncertain future. Together, we'll define the knowledge, skills, and mindsets our graduates will need to thrive beyond MUSD. We'll identify what adults must learn and unlearn to better support our students. And we'll examine our systems to determine what can be strengthened and what should be redesigned.

Our strategic plan can't be crafted by District leaders alone. We need to hear from our students, families, educators, staff, and community partners to create a plan that will propel MUSD forward. You are our greatest asset, and your experiences, ideas, and vision for MUSD matter. There will be many opportunities to engage throughout the year, and we look forward to seeing you at these events.

As we ring in the 2026–27 school year, I am proud of how far we have come as a District and inspired by all that we can accomplish together. Change and progress aren't accidental. They require big goals, reflection, collaboration, and a commitment to doing better—especially when the work is hard.

To our students: We are so happy to have you back. Get excited about learning, embrace new challenges, ask questions, and remember you belong.

To our families and community: Thank you for your trust, partnership, and support of MUSD schools.

To MUSD staff: Thank you for your dedication, expertise, and heart. Schools are more than just buildings and amenities. It's what we create inside those buildings and the people who make that magic happen that changes lives.

Here's to a joyful, meaningful, and successful school year. Let's continue imagining what's possible for our MUSD students.

Forward, with purpose,

Dr. Annie Rinaldi
Superintendent
Mammoth Unified School District