Hello SMS Community,

My name is Dorothy Abreu-Coito, and it is a joy and a pleasure to serve as SMS’ principal.  I joined SMS in 2009 after having spent seven years as an assistant principal at Fremont High School in our neighboring high school feeder district.  I am a former English, ELD and AVID teacher, and I will always be a teacher at heart!

SMS is a special school.  We serve over 1000 students, and we offer a challenging but supportive educational program.  Our API is over 800, and we hope to keep improving.  We have an exciting focus this year with our teachers working in course-alike teams (Professional Learning Communities, or PLCs) to identify key standards, create assessments around those standards and use this assessment data to inform their teaching.  At schools across the nation, this approach has proven to be extremely effective and successful in ensuring that all of our students are challenged and learning.

Another focus we have this school year is our Spartan Spirit program based on our school motto: “Respect, Responsibility and Right Choices”.  Students can earn Spartan Spirit tickets when they show these traits in their day-to-day interactions, and random drawings are held throughout the school year.  In addition, we reward students with a school-wide award when our students fill our ticket tower with enough Spartan Spirit Tickets.  This fall, we have already celebrated with a DJ at lunch and an extended lunch period.  Our focus on appropriate behavior and respect allows us to spend more time on academics and less time on discipline. 

Please take some time to navigate around our website in order to get a sense of how special our school community is.  We appreciate being part of a strong Sunnyvale community, and we are honored to educate your children.

Warm Regards,

Dorothy Abreu-Coito

Principal