Welcome to the 26-27 School Year

Dear Rochester School District Families,

Welcome to the 26-27 school year! As we prepare to welcome our students back to school, I want to share how excited I am about the year ahead and how honored I am to serve the Rochester School District as Interim Superintendent.

For the families that do not know me, here is a little bit of information about me. My name is Justin Black. I am a husband, father, and educator. I have served the Rochester community since August of 1998 as an RHS Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor (9 years), RHS Assistant Principal (3 years), and the Director of Curriculum and Technology (16 years) for a total of 28 years. My wife (Carrie) and I have been married for 21 years, and our 2 daughters are successful and proud 3rd-generation Rochester High School graduates. I volunteer as a member of the Rochester Scholarship Association (RSA) and the citizens’ group Yes For Rochester Schools. When my daughters were young, I spent lots of time volunteer coaching at Hoss Field. My wife and I raised our family here, and I have spent my entire professional career in this community. Rochester is where I want to be and need to be.

The beginning of a school year is always filled with anticipation. It is by far my favorite time of the school year. There are new teachers to meet, friendships to make, routines to establish, and opportunities to discover. Whether your child is walking into one of our schools for the very first time or preparing for their final year in Rochester, we are grateful that you have entrusted us with an important part of their journey.

At the center of everything we do is a promise we make to each Rochester student:

We promise to know, value, and support every student, ensuring they graduate with confidence and skills for a successful future.

This is more than a statement. It is our commitment to your student.

We want to know your child—not simply their name or their test scores, but who they are, what interests them, where they excel, where they need support, and what they hope to become.

We want every student to feel valued. Every child who walks through our doors should know they belong in Rochester, that they have something important to contribute, and there are adults in their school who believe in them.
We also promise to support every student. Children learn and grow in different ways and at different rates. Our responsibility is to meet students where they are, challenge them to grow, and provide the opportunities and support they need to be successful.

Ultimately, we want every Rochester student to leave our schools with the confidence and skills for a successful future—whatever that future may hold. Preparing students academically is essential, and we also want them to become confident young people who can communicate, solve problems, build relationships, persevere through challenges, and make positive contributions to their communities. We can use the lessons of learning the academic content to help develop those skills.

Fulfilling that promise requires a strong partnership between our schools and our families.

You know your student in ways that we never can, and your voice matters. I encourage you to stay connected with your student’s school, communicate with teachers and staff, attend school activities when you can, ask questions, and share both your concerns and your celebrations with us. When families and schools work together, our students benefit.

As Interim Superintendent, I am committed to listening, communicating openly, and building strong relationships across our district and community. I look forward to spending time in our schools, meeting students and families, listening to your experiences, and learning more about what we can do together to make Rochester an even stronger place for our students.

Like every school year, this one will bring both successes and challenges. Through all of it, I hope we will remain focused on what brings us together: our students and their futures.

Every student deserves to be known.

Every student deserves to be valued.

Every student deserves to be supported.

And every student deserves the opportunity to leave Rochester ready and confident for what comes next.

Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and the many ways you support your student and our schools. We are excited to welcome our students back, and I look forward to a wonderful year together.

Welcome back, Rochester Families!

Justin Black
Interim Superintendent
Rochester School District

A Huge Thank You to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office!

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office dropped off a TON of school supplies for our Rochester students, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their generosity!

These supplies will be available to families at ROOF’s Back-to-School Supply Fair on August 20 and will also be available through our schools to support families throughout the school year. We appreciate the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office and their continued support of our Rochester students and families. Community partnerships like this make a real difference, and we couldn’t reach all of our families without you!

Thank you for helping make sure our students have the supplies they need to start the school year ready to learn!

Today, we celebrate the remarkable 40-year career of Dr. Jennifer Bethman as she retires from education following four years of dedicated service as Superintendent of the Rochester School District.

During her four years in Rochester, she led the collaborative development of our Strategic Plan, bringing together students, staff, families, and community members to help shape the future of our district. She also spearheaded two successful levies, securing critical investments that will benefit Rochester students for years to come, and so much more.

One of Jennifer's greatest strengths was her commitment to being present. Whether visiting classrooms, attending athletic events, celebrating student achievements, or connecting with staff and families, she made it a priority to know and support the people who make Rochester such a special place.

As she closes this chapter and begins a well-earned retirement after 40 years in education, we are grateful that Rochester was part of her journey. Please join us in thanking Jennifer for her service to Rochester and congratulating her on an incredible career.

#OnceAWarriorAlwaysAWarrior