Aspire East Palo Alto Charter School

Dear EPACS Families,

My name is Terry Kawi, and I am honored and excited to serve the EPACS community as Principal for the third year. Over the past two years, we have faced many challenges together, and through it all, your partnership, resilience, and unwavering support have helped make our school stronger and more aligned in our shared goals.

As we head into the 2025–26 school year, we are doubling down on the “rigorous instruction” portion of our school’s vision. This year, we will be deeply focused on cultivating academic discourse and identity as well as critical thinking in every classroom. In addition, we are bringing back a renewed emphasis on independent reading, writing, and spelling—foundational skills that support lifelong learning and student confidence. 

We are continuing our work around inclusion, socio-emotional learning, and restorative practices, too.

The Student and Family Handbook Addendum in the “Key Docs” section of this webpage outlines key updates and expectations that reflect our commitment to this academic focus. We ask that you review it closely and reach out with any questions or thoughts.

Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership. I am so proud of what we are building together and look forward to an incredible year of growth and learning.

In partnership,

Principal Kawi