Welcome La Paz families to the 23-24 school year! My name is Tiffany Harville and I am honored to be the principal at La Paz. My husband and I have two children, who are both products of SVUSD. I am so excited to be a part of this community, not only as your principal, but as a parent as well. When I say we are all in this together, I truly mean it. I am thrilled to be on this journey with you. It is my belief that all students can learn when provided the opportunity, equal access and a positive environment. At La Paz, we pride ourselves in creating a learning environment where students feel like they belong, have no limits, and all students can reach their maximum potential. Our staff is committed to providing students a rigorous learning experience that engages all students and prepares them to be College and Career Ready.

La Paz is an outstanding middle school and has been a National School to Watch since 2011, and has been recognized as a California Distinguished School and a National Blue Ribbon School since 2017. Receiving these recognitions is quite an achievement and speaks highly to the dedication our staff has to helping our students sustain their path towards excellence. At La Paz we have established norms and a culture that focuses on the whole child. We realize that middle school is the time where students are discovering who they truly are and identifying strengths and challenges. Together we work with families to help ensure that these middle school years are a time where students can explore interests, take both social and academic risks and develop positive relationships.

This year our theme is “ Pawsitive Impact” because we are challenging our staff, students and community to make a Pawsitive Impact that is contagious and supports one another. At La Paz we want our students to understand and believe that they have the ability to impact the world positively, but no one gets anywhere by themselves which is why we are partnering with both our staff and our community, because together we are truly better. Our theme this year reflects our collective commitment to fostering an environment where each student can flourish academically, emotionally, and socially. Our goal is to create a school culture that not only values academic excellence but also places great emphasis on nurturing kindness, empathy, and respect.

This year we will continue to focus on cultivating a growth mindset, emphasizing the power of perseverance, and celebrating the uniqueness of each individual. We will encourage our students to embrace challenges, learn from their mistakes, and develop resilience as they work towards their goals. I am thrilled to be working together as we embrace these challenges and embark on this exciting journey of learning, growth, and positive impact together.

I look forward to connecting with all of you this year, as we work together to help our students have an academic year filled with positive impact and limitless opportunities.

Tiffany Harville