Message from Our Superintendent

Superintendent’s Message

#AllSTARSREAD

Dear Altar Valley Families,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Spring Break and is ready to have an exciting final two months of school!

ELA Curriculum Adoption

Altar Valley School District is in the process of adopting an ELA curriculum and we value your input! Please visit www.altarvalleyschools.org to take the survey and to learn more about the ELA curriculum.

As we prepare for this adoption, we are also working to foster a culture of reading in our community. Here are a few ways we’re making books more accessible:

Little Free Library
We’re excited to introduce our Little Free Library in front of Robles Elementary! This free book-sharing resource is designed to inspire readers of all ages. Feel free to take a book, leave a book, and enjoy the joy of reading!

Bookmobile Visits
The Pima County Bookmobile brings books to areas with limited library access. Be sure to stop by during one of these visits:

• April 15 – Robles Junction Community Center 2:00–3:00 p.m.
• April 30 – Family Fun Night at AVMS 5:30–7:00 p.m.

AVSD School Libraries
Don’t forget—our students have access to our school libraries at both Robles Elementary and Altar Valley Middle School!

Book Reading of The Night Defenders: Join us in supporting our very own Mrs. Danielle K. Herker as she shares a reading of her book, The Night Defenders. April 14 at 10:00 am at Robles Elementary Family Resource Center.

Important April Dates

Spring Holiday – No School
Friday, April 18 & Monday, April 21

Arizona’s Academic Standards Assessment (AASA)
AASA is the statewide achievement test for Arizona students in grades 3–8. Testing begins in early April—please check with your child’s teacher for specific dates.

Family Fun Night:
Join us at Altar Valley Middle School on Wednesday, April 30, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. for our last Family Fun Night of the year! Free meals will be available for the first 125 attendees—we hope to see you there!

2025–2026 Registration Open
Registration is open for all new and returning students, including Open Enrollment Students in grades PK–8. Don’t wait—secure your spot today!

Happy spring!

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.