El Dorado Elementary School

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Welcome to the 25-26 School Year El Dorado Families!

Dear El Dorado Families and Staff,

It is with great excitement and a deep sense of honor that I introduce myself as the new Principal of El Dorado Elementary School. My name is Martin Herrera, and I am proud to be joining the Golden Eagle school community.

With over 30 years of experience in education—as a paraeducator, teacher, and administrator—I have had the privilege of working alongside dedicated educators and families who believe in the power of learning. For the past 15 years, I have served in leadership roles, always focused on creating opportunities for all students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Being selected to serve the El Dorado community is both a privilege and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. I am committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and high-achieving environment where every student is prepared for real-world success.

I invite you to partner with me as we work together to elevate the Golden Eagles to new heights of learning and achievement. This work will require dedication, collaboration, and a shared belief in what our students are capable of learning. I am fully committed to being visible, accessible, and responsive, and I look forward to engaging with you—whether to listen to your ideas, celebrate our successes, or tackle challenges together.

Together, we will write the next chapter of excellence at El Dorado Elementary. I look forward to meeting each of you in the days and weeks ahead.

Here are some important details that you need to be aware of as we begin our new school year:

School Hours

M, W, Th, F: 7:50 am - 2:33 pm
Tuesday: 7:50 am - 12:05 pm

The first day of school:

Monday, August 12th (Classlist Viewing from 3:00-4:00pm)
Tuesday, August 13th

School Gates OPEN at 7:30am

El Dorado Elementary School has undergone a transformation this year, with a fresh new look including newly painted buildings and a new logo featuring a golden eagle, in line with our school name, El Dorado, which means gold. This symbolizes our vision to provide golden opportunities for our students, ensuring they shine brightly as they strive towards all of their goals.

El Dorado Elementary School continues to embrace the importance of building strong relationships, a principle emphasized by Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH). The entire El Dorado staff believes in the sentiment expressed by CKH founder Flip Flippen: “If you have a child's heart, you have a child’s mind.”

At El Dorado, Teacher Clarity is a priority practice. Teacher Clarity involves having a deep understanding of what to teach, why it should be taught, how to teach it, and what success looks like. This practice helps us focus on the essential components of instruction and communicate these aspects clearly to our students, fostering an environment where they can take ownership of their learning. The key components of Teacher Clarity include:

Learning Intentions: These are clear statements outlining what students are expected to learn. They guide teachers on what should be taught and provide a basis for assessing student learning.
Success Criteria: These are specific details that help students understand what is expected of them and how their work will be judged. It provides clear steps for success.
Learning Progressions: These are the building blocks of instruction that students use to achieve the learning intentions. They represent the steps students take to move from their current level of understanding to mastery.

To support this practice, we encourage parents to refer to the signs posted on our dismissal gates and consistently ask their children these three questions:

What are you learning today?
Why are you learning it?
How will you know that you've learned it?

These questions will help reinforce the learning goals and success criteria discussed in class, ensuring that students have a clear understanding of what they are working towards.

We are also excited to welcome Brandon Farmer as our new Assistant Principal. Brandon comes to us with a wealth of experience, including almost 20 years of experience in elementary education. His extensive background and dedication to student success will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to our school community. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Farmer to the El Dorado family!

We at El Dorado understand the unique challenges that some of our families may face, and we are here to offer support and resources to ensure that your child's educational experience is as enriching as possible. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any concerns or if you need assistance.

Throughout the year, we will come together to celebrate the achievements of our incredible students, and I am eager to be a part of inspiring the growth and development that will undoubtedly take place. Your partnership is an essential piece of the puzzle. I am deeply grateful for your trust in us as we work together to make this school year a truly rewarding experience for each of your children.

In hopes of keeping the lines of communication open, weekly updates will be sent to our families via ParentSquare, Facebook, and email. Please visit the school website to get to know our wonderful teachers and support staff, access student schedules, and learn about other opportunities at El Dorado.

Let's all agree to start this 2025-2026 academic school year at El Dorado Elementary School with the understanding that together we will overcome obstacles, celebrate successes, and create a nurturing environment where every child can thrive! Welcome Back El Dorado Golden Eagles and always remember—El Dorado Eagles SOAR no matter the distance!

Please continue to sign in to ParentSquare regularly for important updates. QR codes that will link you directly to El Dorado’s ParentSquare portal, Facebook page and webpage can be found below.