Welcome to Community School District 29!
We are a vibrant and diverse community of students, families, and staff. District 29 spans several communities in Southeast Queens and consists of 21 K-5, 7 K-8, and 7 middle schools. Our motto is “D29shines and Wins” because we acknowledge and celebrate the brilliance and genius of every student. We shine as a district when our students shine. With this in mind, we invest in our students by investing in the professional growth of our school leaders and teachers. District 29 is a learning community that empowers families through family academies and school-based workshops that provide families resources to support our students’ academic and social- emotional growth. We believe in providing families with multiple platforms and opportunities to communicate with our district to ensure that we include and incorporate our families’ voices.
District 29 shines by striving for excellence in every school community. In D29 we strongly believe that all students will meet and exceed grade level expectations when we provide them the academic and social emotional learning tools and skill sets to problem solve and think critically. To achieve our goal of improving academic outcomes of every learner, we focused on the following buckets aligned to the NYSED Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework and the Chancellor’s Priorities:
Address Disproportionality Develop and Strengthen a Welcoming and Affirming Learning Environment Develop People Empower Families
In D29 we further recognize the importance of assessing and monitoring student learning in order to identify our students’ strengths and align instructional practices to meet students’ academic and social emotional learning needs. To that end, we operationalized the following theory of change:
“If District 29 leaders and teachers regularly monitor student learning to make instructional decisions that meet the needs of all learners, and consistently provide real time actionable feedback that support changes in behavior, practice and mindset, so that all students access grade level curriculum expectations, then D29 schools will address the disproportionate gap in student achievement for students with disabilities and English Language learners while improving outcomes for all students”
District 29 has strong partnerships with community organizations. Thanks to our collaborations with the Community Education Council, Presidents’ Council, and Community Based Organizations, and elected officials, District 29 schools have access to resources to support both students and families. To highlight a few examples of the impact of our collaboration with the larger community, our students have benefited from participation in the My Brothers and Sisters’ Keeper initiative as well as the Hazel Dukes Educational Initiative with Kneoworld/STEM Happens Network/Dell Technologies and Advance Learning Partners.
Superintendent Bonds.
Dear Community School District 29,
It is with a heart of deepest gratitude and hope that I write this letter as your new Superintendent of Community School District 29. I am filled with excitement about the opportunity to learn and grow from our collective experiences with our students and parents, educators, community members, legislators and each other. I pledge to spend much time promoting systems that enhance active communication and information-sharing as this will be critical towards advancing our collaborative efforts supporting student success.
I am humbled and honored to have been afforded the opportunity to serve as the district’s next Superintendent. As a student, teacher and parent from this district, I am elated to be coming home to a place that is dear to my heart, to extend my role as an educational leader. I look forward to building on existing successes, as well as opportunities to collaborate with the District 29 school community to create innovative approaches that advance student and educator outcomes.
As we work together to identify and prioritize the pursuit of targeted strategic actions, we will focus on leadership and innovation. The answer is not with just one person, the answer is an organic collaborative approach that addresses our specific needs. Our continuous efforts will champion consistent expectations throughout our schools, and a focus on ensuring that our children and educators are prepared for their future.
I look forward to working with each and every one of you to lead the district in the reimagined role of Superintendent and set the foundation for collaboration going forward. I will be in touch in the near future with dates and times for Listening & Learning Tours with the community.
With Gratitude,
Dr. Crystal Bonds
Community Superintendent,
School District 29
We Want To Hear From You!
We’re always looking forward to hearing from our community members. You can always contact us for support.