Cartwright School District Acting Superintendent Dr. Barrantes took time out of his schedule to visit two district schools this week, stopping by John F. Long Elementary and Holiday Park Elementary on the morning of Wednesday, September 9 to observe teachers and students in action.

At John F. Long, Dr. Barrantes joined parents for the school's monthly Cafecito, an informal gathering where families connect with school leadership. He then walked the halls alongside parents, visiting several kindergarten and first-grade classrooms, as well as the school library, where a small group of students worked on their reading skills.

During the visits, parents got an up-close look at the school's Professional Learning Community, or PLC, model, a collaborative approach where teachers regularly meet to share ideas, analyze student data, and refine their teaching strategies. Rather than working in isolation, John F. Long teachers pool their strengths to find what works best for their students.

"In every class we visited, we were able to see PLC in action," said Leticia Castro, Principal at John F. Long.

Dr. Barrantes also made his way to Holiday Park Elementary, where he met with Principal Dawn Huffman before visiting classrooms across multiple grade levels, from second grade through sixth grade.

The energy and enthusiasm he witnessed left a strong impression. Teachers across both schools displayed a clear passion for their craft and a deep commitment to student success, something Dr. Barrantes has made a priority as he settles into his role leading the district.