About the District -- Teaching & Learning -- School Improvement Plan -- School Report Cards -- District Contacts -- District Policies -- Technology
About the Methow Valley School District
Our district
The Methow Valley School District is located in Okanogan County in beautiful North Central Washington. The district consists of three schools serving about 550 students. We serve families in Mazama, Winthrop, Twisp, and Carlton.
Our schools and programs
Methow Valley Elementary offers services to children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Liberty Bell Jr./Sr. High School serves students in grades 7-12. The high school won recognition in 2008 and 2009 as a state "School of Distinction." The Independent Learning Center serves junior high and high school students seeking an alternative path to secondary education. Finally, the parent partnership program connects homeschool families to learning opportunities at school.
Quality teaching
Methow Valley School District offers high-quality instruction from 35 classroom teachers, two-thirds of whom have earned a master's degree. In 2009-2010, an intensive staff development program provides teachers with time and resources to engage in small learning communities where they discuss research, review effective instructional teaching practices, and examine student work. As a school district, MVSD is committed to continuous improvement. We believe that by getting better a little bit each day, we can get a lot better over time.
Community support
Strong community support leads to strong schools. Methow Valley School District enjoys great support from local residents. Parents and other community members volunteer in classrooms, help lead field trips, and serve as tutors. In May 2009, local voters supported a school construction bond to replace the high school roof with an astounding 74 percent "yes" vote, one of the highest tallies in the state. The community also supports schools with the regular passage of maintenance and operations levies to support athletics, music, nursing services, all-day kindergarten, and small class sizes.
District leadership
In August 2008, the school board hired Dr. Mark Wenzel to serve as school superintendent. Dr. Wenzel came to Methow Valley from Tacoma, WA, where he served as a district administrator for six years. He previously taught English and Japanese in junior high, high school and college, both in the U.S. and Asia. Superintendent Wenzel earned his doctorate in education leadership from the University of Washington. His dissertation focused on district leadership to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics.
Critical thinking, lifelong learning, character development
The mission statement of the district focuses on three big ideas: critical thinking, lifelong learning and character development. It is the goal of everyone in the district to provide the best learning opportunities for every student who walks through our doors. We believe there is greatness within each child, and our commitment is to do everything possible to help children identify and develop their gifts.
Mission and Vision Statements
The mission of the Methow Valley Schools, in partnership with the community, is to educate each individual by promoting character development, critical thinking, and a desire for lifelong learning and discovery.
Our Vision
Curriculum | Staff, students, parents and community members challenge each other to excellence through an imaginative, interactive, integrated, inspiring, individualized curriculum appropriate to skills, interests, and life goals.
Facilities | The school campus is a balanced ecosystem with multi-use facilities which reflect pride and respect and welcome the community to activities which meet academic, social, physical and emotional needs.
Technology | Multimedia technology is integrated into a transparent learning environment, thus empowering our campus and globally networked learners to acquire knowledge and skills to ably meet and compete academically and socially today and into the next decade.
School and Community | Local and non-local resources are integrated with the schools to create an empowering learning environment that launches learners into valuable experiences as they pursue knowledge to meet the challenges of the future.
Social Needs | Support in a safe school environment is provided for every individual to realize personal potential to achieve a high level of self-worth; to develop respect for the rights, and needs of others; and to promote the acceptance of the diversity of others.
Staff | Teachers are learning facilitators who create a flexible learning environment with the assistance of other staff members, community volunteers, students, technology and innovative instructional approaches that meet the needs of all students.
Students | Students are actively involved in a variety of educational opportunities, feeling confident and able to reach their full potential. Students come to school ready to learn and are respectful, responsible, and cooperative.
