“My word for 2025 is ‘disruptive.’That could be taken in a negative way, but I view it through a positive lens,” Hearn explains. “In order to achieve our mission statement, which is to ‘educate and empower kids to soar to excellence,’ we’re going to have to disrupt some things. Disrupt systems that maybe don’t function as well as they should. Disrupt procedures. Do what we can to try to improve on a daily basis.” This philosophy is reinforced by the district’s vision to create a community where families want to learn, live, work, and grow. “Everything we do in every decision we make contributes to making this a community people want to be a part of,” he adds. EARLY LEARNING AND LITERACY INITIATIVES Recognizing the importance of early education, Fairless is committed to preparing students before they even enter the school system.This is exemplified through the early adoption of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which provides free books to young children, promoting literacy from an early age. Additionally, the SPARK program employs a dedicated educator to work directly with families, helping parents develop literacy skills with their young children through play and interactive learning. In collaboration with local pediatric partners, the district ensures that new parents are provided with information on both programs, so they are able to sign up as early as possible. The district also puts a strong focus on the Science of Reading, starting in preschool. Julie Weyandt, Director of Curriculum and Special Programs expands, “We have been intentional in selecting curricula that align with the science of reading, ensuring our students develop essential early literacy skills, such as phonemic awareness. In addition to training teachers in the science of reading, we are providing them with high-quality, research-based curriculum materials.” These efforts help establish a strong literacy foundation by the time students enter elementary school, setting them up for longterm academic success. 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 04 FAIRLESS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
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