Announcement Updated Jan. 10, 2025
Updated Friday, January 10
Ske:g Taṣ! Kamduum?* Hello Salt River Schools Families,
I am eager to announce Bryan McCleney, whom we all lovingly know as Coach, as the Acting Principal of Salt River Elementary School. His duties begin Monday, Jan. 13. While Coach has been with SRES for eight years, he has more than 40 years of educational leadership and teaching experience, including roles as superintendent, principal, instructional coach, teacher, and university-level educator. He also served our country—24 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves.
Call me Coach. Sure, I have advanced degrees, and of course I believe education is important. But for me, education indicates I can learn—and I continue to learn every day. What is important to me is caring. Nobody’s interested in my titles or how much I know until they know how much I care.
I want to focus my life’s work as a coach, the person who supports and guides adults, students, and our entire school community to achieve dreams and goals. I hope to demonstrate in both my words and actions a coaching spirit that is positive, supportive, enthusiastic, goal-oriented, knowledgeable, observant, respectful, patient, and communicates clearly. Every interaction I have helps me learn, grow, and become a better coach.
– Bryan “Coach” McCleney
I am confident in Coach’s ability to lead SRES through this change. He has written a lovely, longer note to staff, students, and families, which you can read below. It is an excellent reminder that we all have the power to shape the environments and experiences around us for the better, especially if we work together.
In the meantime, I am working with Human Resources to fill the vacancy and hire a new leader as soon as possible. We will keep staff and families posted of all updates. Additionally, Coach and I will host an information session for families on Wednesday, Jan. 15, beginning at 10:45 a.m. in the CRC. Thank you for your understanding and support during this time. If you have any questions, please reach out to me.
Sapé,
Sheryl Houston
SRS Acting Superintendent/Director of Education
[email protected]
...
A MESSAGE FROM COACH
Ske:g taṣ! Kamduum?
It’s a powerful thing to observe students at play. In my eight years as an educator at Salt River Elementary School, I have observed students of all ages pretend to be superheroes, and their fight for justice against imaginary foes always leaves me in awe. Watching these incredible children brings me back to my own youth wearing a towel for a cape and running in cowboy boots to fly around the neighborhood for truth and fairness. I was about 10 years old when I had an epiphany: It wasn’t Superman or Batman or Spider-Man who would fight for or save us from anything. It was up to us—to you and to me—to unleash our own superhero powers. And education, I have found, is a tool all superheroes need.
Over the past 40 years, my superhero powers have been refined through academic achievement, serving in the U.S. Army, and my family. I am honored and deeply humbled to step into the role of Acting Principal at SRES, and the superpowers you can expect from me include showing up early, working hard, and staying late to ensure the work gets done. I will build an action plan for our school in partnership with staff, students, and families for everyone to grow and succeed, and I will keep you updated with the challenges and celebrations we encounter along the way. I will deliver on my promises and admit my mistakes. I will treat every day, every task, and every interaction with the attention and effort it deserves. Did I mention I will work hard?
There is a superhero inside of each of us. Power it up, and bring it forth. Matt o t've:m ab o ju: (O’odham). Mat asheevk uuweshuum (Piipaash). We will do this together. Our superpower, together, will be to make our school a place of important learning that is foremost interdependent with the himdag of Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
Dova ep em ñei,
Bryan “Coach” McCleney, Ph.D., M.Ed., Lt. Col., USAR (Ret)
Acting Principal, Salt River Elementary School
[email protected]
Sent Wednesday, January 8
There has been a change in leadership at Salt River Elementary School: Dr. Amanda Guerrero will not return as Principal. The wellbeing and safety of our students and staff is our top priority; therefore, an acting SRES Principal will soon be named, effective January 13.
For the rest of this week (January 6-10), Dr. Emily Niu, Assistant Director of Education, will be on site at SRES as the administrative leader for staff and families during this transition. Previously, Dr. Niu served as Acting Leader of the Early Childhood Education Center; before that, she was the SRES Assistant Principal.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to ensure SRES students and staff continue to experience a supportive school environment led by caring educators. If you have any questions, please call 480-362-2500.
Sapé,
Sheryl Houston
Acting Superintendent/Director of Education
Salt River Schools
…
We also want to let families know that today’s air quality was often labeled “unhealthy” for sensitive groups, including children and elderly, by health experts. At other times, it was labeled safe. During unsafe times, students at the Early Childhood Education Center, Salt River Elementary School, and the Accelerated Learning Academy were kept inside for scheduled outdoor activities. Salt River Schools follows guidance provided by the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources (EPNR), which shares important air quality information to the Community. We encourage families to access this information by
clicking here. For families outside of the Community,
use this resource.
…
Finally, a reminder that Thursday, Jan. 9, our Higher Education team begins the first in its monthly series of orientation sessions to help Community members learn how to navigate applications, scholarships, and more.
Click here to view the flyer. The orientation program is from 4-5 p.m. in the Education Board Room. Learn more at HE.SaltRiverSchools.org or call Higher Education at 480-362-2547.