8/14/25 

Dear Faculty and Staff, 

Welcome back to another great year at Hinsdale! 

I’m privileged and honored to be joining this special school, and I’m filled with excitement for the year ahead. I know firsthand the incredible dedication, creativity, and resilience that a team like ours brings to the table, and I’m confident that together, we will accomplish great things. Thank you to those who have taken time out of their summer to introduce themselves and engage in meaningful conversations, not only about your professional work here at Hinsdale, but also about your personal lives. 

We know there will be challenges unique to this school year, but by coming together, communicating openly, and supporting one another, we can create the best possible environment for our students and their families. Having come from a small school district myself, I understand the unique obstacles we face, but I also know the strong sense of community and shared purpose that makes schools like Hinsdale so special. Here, each person is known and valued, not just another nameless face, and I’m excited to learn more about our students and each of you. 

This year, we’re returning to the basics of education: focusing on meaningful instruction, building strong relationships, and holding our students to high expectations. One important step will be the new cell phone ban, which will help reduce distractions and allow us to engage students in thoughtful, research-based learning experiences. This is our opportunity to reignite curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and model the focus and perseverance we want to see in our students. With this change, we have the unique chance to focus on uninterrupted instructional time and make meaningful, data-driven gains that will benefit not only our students, but also you as their instructors. 

I encourage you to embrace innovation, try new approaches, and lean on one another for support. We will celebrate successes together, work through challenges as a team, and always keep our focus where it belongs, on student growth and well-being. I can’t wait to collaborate with all of you and attempt to make this year our best one yet. Enjoy the rest of your summer, recharge, get ready to strive for excellence together and keep your eye on the ball. I’ll see you soon! 

Warmly, 

Principal Sard