Raise the Standard!

As we prepare for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year and reflect on the past year, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the incredible Joliet community for your unwavering support and partnership. The core values that define our school, pride, integrity, work ethic, empathy, and belonging, are brought to life each day through the actions of our parents, families, friends, local businesses, and community members.

Your dedication and involvement helped to make the past year a true success. Whether through volunteering, supporting events, or showing up with encouragement, you have demonstrated what it means to be role models for our students. The work we do in the classroom is only possible because of the strong partnership between school and home.

The students and staff in Joliet are accomplishing amazing things. This past May, we celebrated the graduation of another exceptional group of seniors who are now pursuing trade schools, engineering programs, collegiate athletics, entering the workforce, and exploring other exciting opportunities.

In the classroom, 72% of our K-5 students are at or above grade level in reading. In math, 68% of K-5 students are at grade level or above. In grades six through 10, 100% of classes are above the national average for achievement. In reading, four out of the five grade levels from sixth through tenth are above the national average. The Class of 2026 outpaced their Montana counterparts on the ACT with an average score of 19.9, compared to 19.5 across the state. On top of that, our high school students sat for a total of 46 AP exams. There is always room to grow, but our community should be incredibly proud of the academic work that is being done at Joliet Schools.

I would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the voters who took the time to participate in the recent school election. While the general fund levies were not approved, we are grateful for your engagement and continued support of our schools. Your voice matters, and we remain committed to working together to provide the best possible education for our students.

We continue to make efforts to bring to life the District’s mission statement that begins with, “In partnership with home and community.” At the District level, I am continuing to host Coffee with the Superintendent on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9am at the Community Center to discuss issues that are appearing on the monthly Board agenda. The Board of Trustees continues to hold regular committee meetings to discuss issues before they appear on the Board agenda. These meetings are open to the public and we hope to see you there. We encourage everyone to attend or stream all regular board and committee meetings on the District’s YouTube Channel to help stay apprised of all District happenings. At the building level, substitute teaching is a great way for parents and community members to get involved, support students, and gain awareness of what’s happening within our school. Finally, there is a volunteer application form on our website for those looking to get involved in a more formal way. Contact your child’s Principal for more information on volunteer opportunities.

In the summer of 2026, our nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. For the 2025–2026 school year, our grit role models are the men and women who contributed in countless ways to the American Revolution. These soldiers, leaders, families, and everyday citizens faced overwhelming odds with courage, determination, and a deep belief in the cause of freedom. At places like Lexington and Concord, Yorktown, Saratoga, and Bunker Hill, their perseverance shaped the foundation of the United States. Their legacy reminds us that grit means pressing on through adversity, standing firm in our convictions, and working together to build something greater than ourselves. At the outset of the Constitutional Convention, George Washington penned a letter to a friend in which he outlined his vision for the Convention. He stated, “Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the event is in the hand of God.” Let us do the same this year in Joliet!

Raise the Standard!

Clark Begger
JPS Superintendent