JUDA - Traci Davis can't wait to start the school year with a homecoming of sorts as she begins her role as Juda school district's superintendent.
For Davis, 1988 Juda graduate, it's been a busy summer. She was hired as superintendent Aug. 14, has gone through the initial phase of getting updated on the district's programs and just celebrated her 25th high school reunion.
"It feels like I'm coming home again," said Davis, a lifelong Juda resident. "I graduated from Juda and I have gone on to get a lot of education beyond that and I'm coming back to share that with the community."
Davis replaces Phil Updike as superintendent. Updike moved on and took a principal position at Argyle.
Davis has been involved with education for 18 years. She worked the last seven years as the director of special education and as a principal for fifth grade through high school in the Albany school district.
Davis and her husband, Bill, who is the Juda softball coach, live on a farm in Juda. They have two children who are seniors - Tyler and Tabatha Davis - and another son, Trent Davis, who is in eighth grade.
There are several initiatives Davis is targeting in Juda. The first includes finding the curriculum that is the best fit to meet new Common Core Standards adopted by the state. The district is also working on implementing the Smarter Balanced Assessment, the statewide test that will replace the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam in the 2014-15 school year.
In an effort to help students prepare for more rigorous state standards, the district is adding a new 43-minute reading class for enrichment at the middle school. Davis said students at the middle school will still have a 23-minute homeroom where they are expected to work on specific reading and math skills they need to improve.
Davis said the district aims to continue funding and maintaining programs.
She's looking forward to the school year. While some smaller school districts may have a lot of turnover at the superintendent position, Davis could just be starting a long career in Juda.
"This has been my home for a long time and probably will be forever," Davis said. "I love the smaller schools. This is the perfect life for me."
For Davis, 1988 Juda graduate, it's been a busy summer. She was hired as superintendent Aug. 14, has gone through the initial phase of getting updated on the district's programs and just celebrated her 25th high school reunion.
"It feels like I'm coming home again," said Davis, a lifelong Juda resident. "I graduated from Juda and I have gone on to get a lot of education beyond that and I'm coming back to share that with the community."
Davis replaces Phil Updike as superintendent. Updike moved on and took a principal position at Argyle.
Davis has been involved with education for 18 years. She worked the last seven years as the director of special education and as a principal for fifth grade through high school in the Albany school district.
Davis and her husband, Bill, who is the Juda softball coach, live on a farm in Juda. They have two children who are seniors - Tyler and Tabatha Davis - and another son, Trent Davis, who is in eighth grade.
There are several initiatives Davis is targeting in Juda. The first includes finding the curriculum that is the best fit to meet new Common Core Standards adopted by the state. The district is also working on implementing the Smarter Balanced Assessment, the statewide test that will replace the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam in the 2014-15 school year.
In an effort to help students prepare for more rigorous state standards, the district is adding a new 43-minute reading class for enrichment at the middle school. Davis said students at the middle school will still have a 23-minute homeroom where they are expected to work on specific reading and math skills they need to improve.
Davis said the district aims to continue funding and maintaining programs.
She's looking forward to the school year. While some smaller school districts may have a lot of turnover at the superintendent position, Davis could just be starting a long career in Juda.
"This has been my home for a long time and probably will be forever," Davis said. "I love the smaller schools. This is the perfect life for me."