Dr. Greg Goins, Superintendent, Joppa-Maple Grove Unit District 38

“Meaningful progress always begins with caring leadership. We’re especially grateful for our Joppa-Maple Grove School Board—neighbors, parents, and friends whose steady vision and heartfelt commitment help every child and family in our district thrive.”

When I think about what it means to elevate something, I think about lifting it higher—not just for the sake of height, but for the sake of perspective. That’s really what this magazine, Elevate38, is about: seeing our school, our students, and our community from a higher vantage point and realizing how much we have to be proud of.

This inaugural issue tells stories that remind us what’s possible when determination meets opportunity. They’re stories of creativity, of courage, of connection—stories about students who build rockets and bridges and futures, about teachers who pour their hearts into helping every child find their voice, and about a community that refuses to let its small size define its potential. They’re stories about us—about Joppa.

Over the past few years, we’ve faced challenges that could have easily written a different ending. But instead of giving up, we came together. We built new programs, restored pride, and discovered that the most powerful thing a school can do is simply believe in its people. Today, our classrooms are alive with energy—from a STEAM lab where students dream in 3D, to dual credit and career pathways that open doors to college and beyond. Every hallway tells the same story: growth, grit, and grace at work.

That phrase—grit, growth, and grace—has become our guiding compass. Grit keeps us moving forward when the road is hard. Growth reminds us that progress happens a step at a time. And grace reminds us to treat one another the way we hope to be treated. Those three words define the kind of graduates we want to send into the world and the kind of community we want to be.

So, as you turn these pages, I hope you feel what I feel every time I walk through our halls: pride, gratitude, and deep belief in what we are building together. This district isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving. And it’s doing so because of people like you who see the value in public education, who stand behind our kids, and who share in this vision to elevate everything we do.

Thank you for being part of our story. The best chapters of Joppa-Maple Grove are still being written—and they’re looking brighter than ever.

— Dr. Greg Goins Superintendent, Joppa-Maple Grove Unit District 38