Message from Our Superintendent
Superintendent’s Message
Hooray for Altar Valley!
Dear Altar Valley Families,
Happy Spring! This season is a wonderful time to reset and refresh as we prepare for the final quarter of the school year. It is also an ideal moment to celebrate the incredible learning happening across our district.
I recently read to a class the Dr. Seuss classic, “Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!” In the story, the students of Diffendoofer School are worried about the upcoming state test, but they ultimately succeed because their creative teachers taught them “how to think” and use their special talents.
This story reminds me so much of our own schools. At Altar Valley, our staff works tirelessly to teach creatively, encouraging students to embrace their individuality and solve problems with confidence. While we will be participating in the Arizona Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) state testing—starting with the upcoming AzSCI—our true goal remains the same as the teachers in Diffendoofer: to equip our students to build, grow, flourish, and succeed with the curiosity and critical thinking skills they need to succeed in the 21st century and beyond.
Hooray for Altar Valley! As we gear up for the test!
Important Dates & Announcements
AzSCI State Science – Testing Starting March 24, our 5th and 8th-grade students will participate in the AzSCI, Arizona’s statewide achievement test for Science. We are excited to see our students showcase their scientific knowledge!
Parent-Teacher Conferences – We will have early release days on Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13, for parent-teacher conferences. Please contact your child’s teacher to schedule a time to discuss their progress and celebrate their successes.
Early Release Schedule (March 12-13):
- AVMS: 12:30 p.m.
- Robles: 1:45 p.m.
Pre-K / Kindergarten Kickoff – Join us to welcome our newest learners and to get them registered for the 2026–2027 school year!
- Thursday, March 12: 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
- Friday, March 13: 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
2026–2027 Registration – Registration for ALL students begins March 12, 2026.
- Returning & Open Enrollment Students: Complete your registration via ParentVUE.
- Note: All Open Enrollment families must also complete a new Open Enrollment Application for the upcoming year.
Family Survey – Your voice matters! Please take a few minutes to complete our anonymous online survey by April 2, 2026.
- AVMS Survey: Click Here
- Robles Survey: Click Here
Spring Break – There will be no school from March 16–20. Enjoy the well-deserved break!
Hooray for Altar Valley!
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.
Meet Our Superintendent
Dr. David Dumon serves as the superintendent of Altar Valley School District. He began his career in 1995 as a social studies teacher at Alhambra School District in Phoenix. In 2000, Dr. Dumon started his administrative career at Surprise Elementary, a K–8 school, in Dysart Unified School District. He spent the next 14 years in Dysart, most of which was as the principal at Surprise Elementary. His school’s achievements were recognized in 2012 when he was selected for the Arizona School Administrator, Distinguished Administrator Award – Elementary Division and honored as a finalist for the Rodel Exemplary Principal Award.
As superintendent of Altar Valley, Dr. Dumon has focused on ensuring schools run efficiently and allocating resources appropriately, while always considering what is best for kids. Dr. Dumon is committed to maintaining small class sizes and offering free, full-day pre-school and kindergarten. In 2022, Dr. Dumon was awarded the All Arizona Superintendent Award for Small Districts and completed his certification for American Association for School Administrators (AASA) National Superintendent Certification.
Dr. Dumon is a three-time graduate of Arizona State University where he received his bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. He lives in Tucson with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.