Dear Students, Families, and Staff of the Ferndale School District,

I am both humbled and honored to be selected to serve as your new Superintendent for the Ferndale School District. I cannot thank you enough for such a warm welcome. I am excited to serve as a partner, focused on supporting the development of a unified vision that will elevate the incredible strengths of the students and staff. One of Ferndale’s strengths is the collective commitment that is centered on the community, especially our youth.

This past Tuesday night I had the privilege to attend the school board meeting where several of our students eloquently shared during public comments. Their appreciation towards our community, the board, and staff carried a throughline in each of their presentations. Each expressed some form of genuine gratefulness for various course offerings, clubs, activities, athletics, and the general care of our staff. One student summarized it best when he said, “Our small-town feel doesn’t come from the size, but the people.” Being a small-town girl myself, the power of this statement was not lost on me. It aligns with my core belief, “If you teach to the heart of a child, their mind will follow.”

Education is certainly not an easy job but comes with tremendous reward. As educators, board members, business partners, and community members, we have the collective responsibility to believe in each one of our students. Our role is to provide them with the support needed, preparing them to leave the Ferndale School District equipped to engage in a future that builds upon their strengths and speaks to their passions. After meeting some of our students during the interview process and listening to them on Tuesday night, I can confirm that our future is bright here in Ferndale.

I am excited to call Ferndale home both within the community and the district. Ferndale School District has all the ingredients to be one of the best systems around, and I look forward to meeting you, collectively working to design a tomorrow that is bolder than we have dared to dream. From my brief time already, it's clear, in Ferndale, community is a verb, not a noun.

Let's Go Eagles!

Dr. Kristi Dominguez