Superintendent Dr. Tahira DuPree Chase is determined to take the Westbury Union Free School District to the next level. She responded in writing to The Herald’s questions about this ambitious endeavor. 

Who came up with the “level up” theme? 

I came up with the theme based on our shared vision, mission and our collective desire to propel our district forward. Furthermore, I thought the phrase would be catchy and appealing to all members of our school community.  

How has the Westbury Union Free School District already “leveled up”? 

The district has made great strides since the launch of “Level Up”. We have adopted and implemented a new literacy and numeracy program, embraced the Professional Learning Communities model, expanded our learning opportunities via a Saturday Academy, and we received candidacy status for an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme–to name a few. We are also excited about the launch of our new “leveled up” website and rebranding efforts. A new turf field is in the works for our athletic teams. It is only December and there is more to come! 

How do you plan on continuing to “level up” the district? 

We are seeing the fruits of our labor. Once you reach desired achievements, you would like to continue on the upward trajectory. Therefore, we will continue to celebrate our small wins, work together as a team and support our scholars, staff and community in the best way possible. Our school district deserves the very best and I will continue to work hard to help us achieve our goals. 

To join in on this initiative, the Westbury High School student newspaper, The Herald, will be moving from its traditional print format to an online news site, allowing students to venture into additional forms of media. Video, audio, and interactive 360° images are just some of the new avenues the Westbury High community will be able to explore through the use of their new SnoSites platform. When asked to comment on this being the last printed edition of The Herald, Dr. Dupree Chase stated, “The movement to an online platform is indicative to the district’s approach to moving to its next level. The online approach allows The Herald to reach a wider audience and is environmentally friendly. Moreover, the online option provides for more real-time information sharing so that our audience can receive great news as it happens. This is just another prime example of leveling up. I support the work of the staff and scholars who diligently work on The Herald. Please continue the great journalism!”