What Is One HSD?

Recently, a staff member shared that during a committee meeting, a parent asked a simple question from a place of genuine curiosity: “What is One HSD?”

It was a good question and an important one. While we have been having conversations about One HSD internally, I realized that we have not spent enough time talking with our families and community about what it means and, more importantly, why it matters.

During my listening and learning sessions, I heard a recurring theme. There was a perception that one part of our district was somehow better than another based on geography, student demographics, academic data, or other factors. At times, our students, staff, and schools were being characterized by where they were located rather than by who they are and what they are capable of becoming. That is when I knew we needed to focus on becoming One HSD.

One HSD does not mean that every school is the same or that every community has the same needs. Our differences are part of the tapestry that makes Hazelwood who we are. It means that regardless of the school your child attends, the neighborhood in which you live, or the circumstances surrounding you, we belong to one district. We do not have three separate districts divided by regions. We are One HSD, with one mission, one vision, and one shared responsibility for every student.

Our strategic plan guides our direction. The goals we establish belong to all of us. When one school experiences success, we celebrate together. When another school faces a challenge, it is not their problem. It is our challenge to address together. Becoming One HSD means that we refuse to allow geography to determine expectations, opportunities, or what we believe is possible for our students.

I sometimes think about a herd of zebras. Individually, each zebra has its own unique pattern of stripes, but when they move together, those patterns make it difficult for a predator to isolate just one. There is strength in their differences and power in their unity. In many ways, that is the community we are working to build in Hazelwood. We do not lose what makes each school or community special when we come together. Our individual strengths become part of something stronger. So, what is One HSD? Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

That is One HSD. It is not simply a theme or a slogan. It is who we are working to become: a district that brings our community together, celebrates what makes us unique, tackles our challenges collectively, and believes deeply in what is possible for every student. One district. One vision. One shared purpose. One HSD.

With Hazelwood Pride,

Dr. Bonita Jamison
Superintendent of Schools