Message from Our Superintendent

Superintendent’s Message

AVSD Family Survey Summary 2024–2025: Robles Elementary & Altar Valley Middle School

Dear Altar Valley Families,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback through our recent family surveys. Your voices are vital in shaping the future of our schools, and we are grateful for your continued partnership. We’re excited to share some key takeaways and next steps based on what we heard from you.

What We Heard from both Schools:

  • High Marks for Both Schools: The majority of families gave Robles and AVMS an overall grade of A or B, reflecting strong satisfaction with the quality of education and overall school experience.
  • Strong Relationships: Families from Robles and AVMS value the positive relationships students have with teachers and staff. The caring, supportive environment is seen as a major strength.
  • Communication: Families consistently praised the school’s strong communication. At the same time, they expressed a desire for more opportunities to engage in two-way communication, where they can ask questions, provide input, and be part of the conversation.
  • Academic Support: Both schools are recognized for their dedication to student success. Families stated that they would like to see continued emphasis on literacy and math, along with more opportunities for enrichment and extracurriculars

Next Steps:
Strong Relationships:

  • Continue to focus on relationship-building to enhance our caring and supportive community.
  • Highlight student-staff connections in newsletters and social media to celebrate.
  • Continue to create more informal opportunities for families to connect with teachers and staff such as Pastries with the Principal, meet-and-greets.

Communication:

  • Continue to provide timely updates and look at ways to increase two-way communication.
  • Offer regular surveys and open feedback forms to gather input throughout the year.
  • Create intentional opportunities for two-way conversations, such as family listening sessions, classroom Q&A nights, and parent advisory groups.
  • Provide ongoing support to staff on communication tools to ensure messaging is responsive and engaging.
  • Ensure all communication is accessible (translated, clear, and timely), and promote family feedback.

Academic Support:

  • Continue to refine our support systems to ensure every student is challenged and supported.
  • Continue expanding literacy and math opportunities by providing targeted professional development on our new ELA curriculum and ongoing training for our math program.
  • Expand Enrichment and Extracurricular Opportunities by exploring new or enhanced programs that offer students a variety of experiences beyond the classroom, including clubs, activities, and creative learning opportunities.
  • Communicate academic goals and progress clearly with families—share how students are doing and how families can support at home.
  • Continue professional development for teachers around differentiated instruction and accelerated learning strategies.

We are proud of the strong foundations at Robles and AVMS and are committed to continuous improvement with your input at the center of our efforts. Thank you for being an essential part of our Altar Valley family.

Build, Grow, Flourish, Succeed!

Dr. Dave Dumon

Superintendent
Altar Valley School District
ddumon@avsd.org
520-822-1484
#AllStarsRead

Past Messages

DR. DAVID DUMON COMPLETES AASA NATIONAL SUPERINTENDENT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Two adults in suits

The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) selected 30 superintendents from across Arizona to participate in the National Board Certification Program, a 20-month professional experience designed to bolster the effectiveness of superintendents across the nation. The program followed a cohort model and supported leaders with the knowledge, skills, and practices to advance, guide and support superintendents to be future-ready as they enhance learning opportunities for students. The AASA National Superintendent Certification Program provided a real-time focus on key issues that superintendents are facing today. Congratulations, Dr. Dumon!

CONGRATULATIONS, DR. DUMON!

Congratulations to Dr. David Dumon for being selected to receive ASA’s All Arizona Superintendent Award for the Small Size School Districts.

Dr. Dumon is superintendent of the Altar Valley School District in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Dumon and the Governing Board have developed a strong rapport that centers on common goals around students achievement and an understanding that the schools are social and cultural anchors in the small community of Three Points. Within the first year, he and his board created a strategic plan that focused on students achieving both personal and academic excellence. The strategic plan has guided the district toward their goals and is revisited frequently with stakeholders.

Dr. Dumon identified, adopted, and implemented a comprehensive core reading program during the beginning of his tenure. He led the restructuring of the K–8 literacy instruction to include rigorous Tier I instruction and targeted Tier II and Tier III interventions.

He is involved with professional development, instructional coaching, and implementation of DIBELS benchmark screening for teachers and administrators. He believes data should be used to guide teaching, learning, and professional development.

The district is a key partner in the annual Three Points Community Festival where Dr. Dumon serves on the planning committee. At this annual event, the Three Points community, a rural, unincorporated area 25 miles west of Tucson come together. Board members, staff, and community partners come together each Thanksgiving to cook, serve, and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner for families in need. During the pandemic Altar Valley School District partnered with Pima County and provided fresh food boxes to more than 30 families each month.

He is guided by the word of Lewis Carroll, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” Dr. Dumon cares deeply about teaching and learning. He appreciates school isn’t easy for everyone (him included) and that each child has a right to quality instruction. He visits classrooms, playgrounds, and attends extra-curricular events and enjoys taking on the role of motivator-in-chief. You may see him as Professor “Dumon”-dore from Harry Potter, reminding Altar Valley School District students that they have the magic within them to succeed, the Last Jedi inspiring students to find the force within themselves to achieve, or putting the “Super” in Superintendent as Altar Valley Man.

Altar Valley School District is a social and cultural anchor in the Three Points community. It serves nearly 600 students, encompassing nearly 700 square miles of high Sonoran Desert and mountains situated between metro Tucson and the Tohono O’odham Nation.