More than 300 Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) staff gathered on August 4 at the Dante Event Center in Sacramento to launch the new school year with a powerful message: Mission Possible.
Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon, joined by Assistant Superintendents Michael Kast and Jackie White, welcomed educators from SCOE schools, student programs, Foundations Academy, and special education programs. He inspired staff, sharing that SCOE’s work is driven by equity and fueled by a firm belief in students who are often overlooked, underserved, and underestimated.
“Here at SCOE, we don’t work around the edges,” Superintendent Gordon said. “We move right into the heart of challenge and make it the center of opportunity.”
This year’s professional learning session, which takes place each summer, highlighted four key initiatives:
- Black Student Landscape Initiative—Centering the voices of students and families to address inequities and create culturally responsive, affirming learning environments.
- Inclusive Practices for Students with Disabilities—Advancing the principle of Rightful Presence: that every student belongs and thrives in inclusive settings.
- Multilingual Learner Initiative—Recognizing that 84% of SCOE students are English Learners and affirming that every teacher is a language teacher.
- Sacramento County READS Initiative—Elevating literacy as the foundation for equity and lifelong success.
Staff were challenged with one guiding question: “What will I do today to make Mission Possible for a student who’s been told it isn’t?”
Already, progress is clear. Improving literacy rates, rising graduation numbers, and students stepping into their own voices with confidence. As Superintendent Gordon noted, “When I hand a diploma to a student who once doubted they’d make it—it’s what hope looks like.”
Here’s to the 2025–26 school year—one of bold vision, determined action, and collective belief in what’s possible for every student. Working together will make Mission Possible a reality.