Principal's Message

Welcome to the 2026–27 school year! This year marks my tenth as principal of Independent Elementary, and I remain incredibly proud to serve this school community. Throughout two decades in public education—and leadership experiences spanning California, Chicago, Hawai‘i, and Washington, D.C.—I have been guided by one core belief: Every child deserves to feel known, valued, challenged, and inspired at school. That belief is at the heart of everything we do at Independent.

Independent is a vibrant and diverse school community. Our students speak more than 30 languages and come from families representing a wide range of cultures, religions, experiences, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Some families have deep roots in Castro Valley, while others have recently arrived from across the country or around the world. This diversity strengthens our school, and we work intentionally to ensure that every student and family experiences Independent as a place where they belong.

Our students’ academic growth remains central to our work. Teachers collaborate in grade-level teams to provide rigorous, standards-based instruction that responds to students’ individual strengths and needs. Our Instructional Leadership Team helps guide schoolwide priorities, analyze student learning, and lead professional learning. Together, we continue to strengthen our use of evidence-based literacy practices, data-informed instruction, targeted intervention, and meaningful opportunities for students to think critically, solve problems, collaborate, and take ownership of their learning.

We are equally committed to developing the whole child. Through social-emotional learning, restorative practices, and our schoolwide SOAR expectations—Safe, Organized, Achieve Goals, and Respectful—we teach students how to care for themselves, contribute to their community, repair harm, and grow from mistakes. We want students to leave Independent not only well prepared academically, but also confident in who they are and how they can positively affect the world around them.

Learning and connection extend beyond the classroom. Our partnerships with PlayCV, Adventure Time, and our PTO provide students and families with academic support, arts, recreation, enrichment, community events, and many of the traditions that make Independent special. These opportunities are possible because of the time, talents, and commitment of our staff, families, and community partners.

A strong school is built through genuine partnership. We ask families to remain connected, read school communications, attend events when possible, ask questions, share ideas, and communicate with us when their child needs support. We may not always see every situation in exactly the same way, but we share the same goal: helping every child thrive.

Whether your family is joining Independent for the first time or returning for another year, I am glad you are here. Thank you for trusting us with your children and for the many ways you contribute to our community. I look forward to another year of learning, connection, joy, and growth together.

Best,
Patrick Hansen-Schmitt
Principal, Independent Elementary School