Civil Municipal - Feb 2024

lives and building stronger communities through the power of education. Building on this foundation of nurturing and inclusivity, Dr. Mosallam, with a tone reflecting determination and visionary leadership, recounts the transformative journey of Crestwood School District since his tenure began. “In 2019, when I stepped in, we were soon confronted with the Covid-19 crisis,” he shares. This period, as challenging as it was, catalyzed a period of introspection and accelerated change. Dr. Mosallam underscores the urgency of those times: “There was no delay. We had to jump in head first and make some adjustments.” Central to these adjustments was a strategic rebranding of the district. This wasn’t merely a cosmetic change but a deep-rooted shift in focus. Dr. Mosallam elucidates,“Our vision evolved to celebrate culture and diversity and consider the individual needs of each student, academically and socio- economically.”This vision crystallized into a mission statement – ‘Your future, our focus’– encapsulating the district’s commitment to every student’s journey. The superintendent then touches on an issue close to his heart – social-emotional learning. “If our children have social-emotional struggles, academics will not matter to them,” he asserts, highlighting the importance of addressing these needs as foundational to academic success. The disruptions caused by Covid-19 brought these needs into sharper focus. Dr. Mosallam describes the challenges students face returning to school after prolonged absences. “We had to put the brakes on academics for a full month just to reestablish what it’s like to go to school,” he says, underscoring the necessity of this approach despite the risks involved, particularly regarding standardized assessment scores. A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EDUCATION The Crestwood School District, under Dr. Mosallam’s stewardship, has seen a remarkable transformation, not just in its approach to education but also in its physical and technological infrastructure. Dr. Mosallam elaborates on the comprehensive changes, “We have tripled our social work support, doubled our school psychologist and non-instructional staff.” This expansion reflects a commitment to a holistic 167 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 02 CRESTWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT