Message from Our Superintendent

Superintendent’s Message

Merry June and Happy Summer!

I hope everyone’s summer is off to a great start. Here at Altar Valley School District, we have had so many great things happening this past month that it feels like Christmas every day in June! It has been wonderful to get out and see all of the learning, growth, and activities taking place throughout our district.

One of the highlights of June has been our Discovery STEM Camp and the culminating Discovery STEM Family Day. It was great to see so many families learning, exploring, and having fun alongside their child. These opportunities help strengthen the connection between school and home while creating memorable experiences for our children.

Each summer, Altar Valley partners with Pima County through the Summer Youth Employment Program. This program provides local youth ages 14–21 with valuable opportunities to learn new skills by working in a variety of roles throughout the district while also attending classes designed to help them prepare for future success. We are grateful for this partnership and the positive impact it has on our community.

June is a time when I reflect on the accomplishments of the past year—both personally and professionally—and begin planning for the school year ahead. One of the things I love about education is that it naturally provides opportunities to pause, reflect, and look forward. Whether it’s the end of a quarter, semester, school year, or even the calendar year, each milestone gives us a chance to celebrate our successes, learn from our experiences, and prepare for what’s next.

For me, June is a little like Christmas—a gift that offers time to recharge, reflect, celebrate, and look ahead with excitement for a new beginning. As we prepare for another school year, we remain committed to our mission of ensuring every student builds, grows, flourishes, and succeeds, academically, socially, and emotionally.

As we move into July, we will be completing the transition into the B Building at Altar Valley Middle School. This move will allow us to better support student learning and create a stronger middle school environment for our students in grades 6–8. We are also looking forward to welcoming our teachers back on July 8–9 for Modern Classrooms Project Math professional development as we continue investing in high-quality instruction and student success. The District Admin Team will be meeting in mid-July to complete our reflection for the past year and to plan and create goals for the up coming year.

Summer also provides an opportunity to slow down and spend time with family and friends. I have been fortunate to enjoy some special family time this summer, including attending a Sugar Skulls game and taking a trip to the beach in San Diego. These moments are a great reminder of the importance of balance, relationships, and creating memories with the people we care about most.

And, of course, we couldn’t help but spend a little time reflecting on this past school year and talking about our goals for the year ahead. When you’re in education, it’s hard to turn that part of your brain off—but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I hope you and your family are finding time to relax, recharge, and enjoy all that summer has to offer. Thank you for being such an important part of the Altar Valley family. As we look ahead to a new school year, we remain committed to planting the SEEDs of success by building relationships, supporting growth, and creating opportunities for all. Together, we will continue to Build, Grow, Flourish, and Succeed!

August 5, 2026 | 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Meet the Teacher

August 6, 2026
First Day of School

See you soon!

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

DR. DAVID DUMON COMPLETES AASA NATIONAL SUPERINTENDENT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

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.