Dear Enumclaw and Black Diamond Students, Staff, Parents and Residents,
Please allow me this opportunity to tell you how honored and excited I am to be your Superintendent. The Enumclaw School District is one of the finest school districts in the state, dare I say our nation! Since my initial welcome into the community, I have learned the tradition of excellence that exists here is due to the wonderful people of the communities of Enumclaw and Black Diamond and the work ethic of our students and staff.
I would like to take a moment to tell you a little about myself and my family. First and foremost, I am a husband and father. My wife, Tonya, who is also an educator serving as an elementary mentor, and I have three children, two boys and a girl, ranging in age from 12 to 21-years-old. You may have guessed it; our daughter is our third child, and what a blessing she has been in our lives. Our oldest son is a junior at the University of California, Davis where he plays soccer and is majoring in design. Our second son is a running start senior studying business and graduated this June from his parents’ high school alma mater. Our children are the joy of our lives and serve as our “why” we are so committed to public education and leadership in schools.
I have learned that the Enumclaw School District has earned a reputation for academic excellence, and the boundless alternative opportunities offered beyond the classroom setting are exemplary, as they provide enriching learning experiences for students seeking alternatives to traditional pathways. As an educator for more than 25 years, I wholeheartedly value the programs and services in place, and I am committed to building upon past practices to ensure that current and future students have opportunities to explore their interests and find their true passions.
In addition to the robust educational and vocational programs, it was the overwhelming presence of community involvement that drew me to this district. I witnessed a sense of pride as I underwent the interview process and have experienced it firsthand over the past few weeks, as I met with building leaders, teachers, community members, and several students. Each person that I have met has been extremely welcoming and gracious, truly helping me to feel like “I belong here.” Please know that it is my intent to make every effort to foster and cultivate this inclusive culture to ensure the continued success of our students, schools, and our communities.
While serving as your superintendent of schools, I plan to be accessible to all stakeholders, to be present and visible throughout the communities of Enumclaw and Black Diamond, and maintain an open-door communication policy. I encourage and welcome any questions; comments or concerns you may have about our schools and can be reached directly at our district offices.
It is an exciting time for the Enumclaw School District, and I’m looking forward to the year ahead. Please accept my best wishes for a happy and healthy summer.
Serving you as a partner in educating OUR children,
Text Transcript for our 'Meet Dr. Shaun V. Carey' video above:
Meet Dr. Shaun V. Carey - Personal Hello
(Background music is playing throughout video - Dr. Carey is standing outside in front of the District Office building.)
"I am excited to be the newest member of the Enumclaw School District. I've heard a lot from a number of people in the district who have said we don't know very much about this new superintendent. I'm going to tell you some things about me that I haven't said in any other forum.
So the first thing is the whole doctor piece. Now I'm not really the kind of person who needs a title in front of his name to be someone, but I did work really hard and earned that degree and it's something that means a lot to my family and also to me. I also think that just in a world where there aren't a lot of leaders of color who have titles, the term doctor does mean something and I'd like to think that what it does is it teaches kids - especially minority kids (shows WSU Cougars Ave sign on his office wall) and even kids who come from backgrounds (shows 'Dr. Shaun Carey Superintendent' name plate on desk) that are different than mine that a title does mean something (shows his framed diplomas on office wall) especially when you work really hard for it, so that's why I use the term doctor sometimes.
One of the things that people ask me is they ask me why do I say my name Dr. Shaun V. Carey. Well, there is a significance to that. The initial V means a lot to me from the standpoint that my father (Shows "My Dad Rocks" painted rock) who was in the army for 28 years ('Be Kind' sign) had a best friend by the first name of Vencente, (Shows 'Work Hard' sign and "Five Lessons from Dr. Suess" sign) and they were very good friends for many many years and when I was born I was gifted with his first name as my middle name, (sign saying "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." by Maya Angelou) and so that's where the V comes from. It means a lot to my family, means a lot to me and a lot to my parents.
So now you know a little bit more about me and where my namesake comes from, so when you see me around town I will leave it up to you to decide how you want to refer to me. I'm either Shaun or Dr. Carey, but know that I'm your friend."
Enumclaw School District students, families and community:
Racism, racist behavior and acts of hate are unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the Enumclaw School District. It is our responsibility to help students understand that these behaviors have no place in a shared community where everyone is expected to learn, live and grow. This statement is rooted in the belief that all members of our community are valued and needed to further the human rights and social justice mission of this school district and surrounding communities.
We acknowledge that Enumclaw School District students, staff, and members of our community have experienced racism, bias, and social injustice. As a district, we know there is more work to be done to address issues of racial injustice and inequity. Enumclaw School District is committed to looking inward as we work to ensure equitable opportunities and outcomes for all students. To support and inspire each student to learn, lead and impact our community and the world around them, we are engaged in a comprehensive review of current policies and practices in order to identify and eliminate systemic inequities in our schools. Enumclaw School District prioritizes having a safe and welcoming school environment for all of our students.
As we begin this school year, we have reviewed and revised our plans to ensure the cultural competency of our staff through ongoing professional development in the areas of responding to hate and bias, racial literacy, cultural responsiveness and stereotype threat. Enumclaw School District remains committed to having a safe and welcoming school environment for every student and will continue to work collaboratively with our students, families and our community to ensure this is a reality for everyone in our school community.
The Board of Directors stands with Dr. Carey and the Enumclaw School District against acts of hate. The actions during the last board meeting will not be tolerated. It remains the goal of the district and the board to ensure ALL feel safe, welcomed, respected and valued within our schools and our communities. Let it be clear, hate has no home here. Moving forward, those wishing to address the board during public comment must do so in person. Virtual attendance will be for viewing only.
In an effort to be fully transparent, we would like to share the following information, in regards to the the act of hate during the November 22nd board meeting, that we know to be true at this time:
It is under police investigation.
The district is cooperating with said investigation.
More than one individual was involved through two separate Zoom accounts.
One of the individuals displayed a photo of George Floyd, the other appeared to be an elderly white male.
Two IP addresses have been identified, but the investigation is ongoing.
As more than one individual was involved, the chance that this was a random act of hate is lessened.
Here is a link to the EPD's media release shared by the City of Enumclaw today:
Bryan Stanwood, President
Jennifer Watterson, Vice President
Tyson Gamblin, Board Member
Jennifer Kent, Board Member
