Dear Albany Unified Community,

Last week, our community came together at Ocean View Elementary for a beautiful Ramadan Iftar Potluck, where families, students, and staff gathered to break the fast, share food, and spend time together. Tables were filled with homemade dishes and desserts, students enjoyed making crafts, and families shared traditions and conversation. It was a warm and joyful evening that reflected the care and connection that make our Albany Unified community so special.

That same spirit of connection was reflected at Albany Middle School this week during Unity Week. Throughout the week, students participated in activities and conversations that honored the many cultures, identities, and experiences that make up their school community. Moments like these, both in our schools and across our community, help cultivate the sense of care, belonging, and respect that we want every student and family to feel in Albany Unified.

Portrait of a Graduate

As I shared earlier this week, Albany Unified has begun the work of developing a Portrait of an Albany Graduate. This effort will help us define what we want every student to know, be able to do, and embody by the time they graduate from our schools.

In thinking about this work, I have been reflecting on the words of sociologist Ruha Benjamin, whose research focuses on equity, technology, and how communities imagine more socially just futures. She reminds us, “Remember to imagine and craft the worlds you cannot live without, just as you dismantle the ones you cannot live within.” Her work challenges institutions, including schools, to think collectively about the future we want to build together. The Portrait of an Albany Graduate is one way we engage in that kind of collective imagination for our students and community.

Thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to share their ideas and hopes for our students. We have already received more than 30 submissions and are beginning to see clear themes about what matters most to our community. Ideas shared emphasize strong academic foundations, critical thinking, and deep research skills, as well as practical life skills such as financial literacy and digital citizenship. Many also highlight resilience, self-advocacy, social-emotional well-being, and creating schools where all students feel a sense of belonging and respect for diverse experiences. Civic responsibility, environmental awareness, and preparing students to contribute positively to their communities are also important themes. These collective insights will help inform and guide our future work. These collective insights will help inform and guide our future work. To learn more about this work, you can watch a brief overview video here: Portrait of an Albany Graduate Overview.

This work is strongest when it reflects the voices of our entire community, and we truly want to hear from each of you, as your perspective helps us better understand what we want for our students and the hopes we share for them as they grow and learn in Albany Unified. If you have not yet had a chance, I invite you to take a few minutes to complete the Portrait of a Graduate survey by April 30, 2026. We will be sending out translated versions of the survey next week. Thank you for sharing your voice and helping shape the future of Albany Unified students.

Monthly Community Update

Due to Dr. Kim Trutane’s retirement, the District will shift from a weekly to a monthly community update. These monthly messages will continue to provide important districtwide highlights and updates. For the most current information each week, please continue to look to your school site communications and weekly updates. Also, please continue to visit our district website for updates at www.ausdk12.org.

Calendar Highlights: 

Please see messages from your school for complete information about events. 

• March 4–7: Chicago: Teen Edition, AHS Little Theater, 7pm nightly, and 2pm matinee on 3/7. Get tickets here.  

• March 5–13: Elementary Spring Conferences, Wednesday schedule (8:30am–1:45pm daily) for 1st–5th grades

• March 10:  Regular Board Meeting

• March 20: NO SCHOOL, Professional Development Day.

• March 24:  Regular Board Meeting/Study Session

With gratitude and optimism, 

Sara Stone

Superintendent

Albany Unified School District