Blog of Dr. Alan Ingram

Rethinking Teacher Supervision and Evaluation

2012-01-24T16:50:00.002-05:00

An emphasis on team-building took center stage during a daylong training today where all of our principals and senior staff heard from Kim Marshall, author of “Rethinking Teacher Supervision and Evaluation.” While principals are generally resistant about leaving their schools for a full day, I believe everyone understood the great value contained in today’s session as we work as a district to

School Committee meeting highlights the positive

2012-01-20T09:32:00.001-05:00

Thanks to all of you and your respective teams who presented at last night’s school committee meeting!In particular, I thought our students and teachers recognized for their music accomplishments were magnificent along with the RtTT Early Learning Challenge Grant presentation by Erin Craft and Paul Foster’s very informative presentation to update the public regarding our work to improve student

Book Offers Practical and Refreshing Ideas

2012-01-03T15:39:00.001-05:00

Over the holidays I had the chance to discuss Doug Lemov’s book, Teach Like a Champion, with my wife Lisa, who is a National Board Certified Teacher in an elementary school. As a veteran teacher of 18 years in the classroom and one who is always looking for ways to improve her craft, I wasn’t surprised that she found Lemov’s 49 techniques essential to the art of teaching to be concrete, specific

Holiday Greetings

2011-12-23T08:26:00.002-05:00

At this time of year, it is a time to reflect, replenish and reconnect with family and friends while looking ahead. As we celebrate this Holiday Season and the close of 2011, let us do so in the spirit of gratitude to the many volunteers, families, teachers, staff and administrators for the difference they make in the lives of children. While there remains much work to do, we are making

Ray Allen - A Superstar On and Off the Court

2011-12-05T08:54:00.000-05:00

It's not every day that an NBA player shows up unexpectedly at one of our schools to share an encouraging message with students. But that is exactly what happened last Friday when Ray Allen of The Celtics visited Glickman School. Allen spoke with students about the importance of being a friend to others, helping friends when they are going through a difficult time, and not giving up when faced

SPS hat-trick leads to Sensational Superbowl!

2011-12-01T10:29:00.005-05:00

As a former high school football player turned Superintendent of Schools, you best believe I am in my glory as three of our Springfield Public Schools football teams have landed themselves in the 2011 Superbowl! Congratulations to the football teams at the High School of Commerce, Putnam High School, and Central High School for making the Western Massachusetts Playoffs. Regardless of what occurs

Recognizing and Defining Our Mission

2011-11-21T15:05:00.002-05:00

Recently, we presented information to the School Committee on the progress of our Level 4 schools from the site visit monitoring reports prepared by School Works, an independent organization hired by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. While we still have much work to do in Springfield, the good news is the vast majority of our Level 4 schools are making

Reading Success is a Goal Shared by Many

2011-11-09T08:09:00.003-05:00

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a long-term effort by foundations to improve third grade reading proficiency for all students and close the gap in reading achievement that separates many low-income students from their more affluent peers. This campaign strives to make grade-level reading proficiency by the end of third grade a national priority. On Nov. 8, we heard from Ralph Smith,

Bad actions of a few shouldn't tarnish the whole

2011-10-28T11:16:00.002-04:00

The revelations contained in the recent Putnam High School audit should outrage us all. There is no excuse for the disgraceful, dishonest practices that appeared to have run rampant among a group of employees at the school for several years. But we cannot allow the misconduct of a minority to overshadow the great work of the majority of teachers and other school staff and faculty who come to

Audits challenge us to do better

2011-10-12T17:06:00.000-04:00

The recent audit conducted by the National Council on Teacher Quality was an exercise entered into collaboratively with an understanding that the study would provide Springfield Public Schools with an honest look at practices such as recruiting, hiring, evaluations and compensation.The results of the study have given us pause to better understand our strengths and opportunities for improvement. I

Springfield runs/walks/builds for a great cause

2011-09-20T08:16:00.000-04:00

The good work of Sirdeaner Walker in her efforts to bring greater awareness to dangers of bullying was not lost on the many, many supporters who showed up in droves on Saturday morning to participate in The Carl J. Walker-Hoover Foundation’s 2nd Annual Anti-Bullying Back-to-School Road Race/Walk. A spirit of positivity and purpose permeated the air that morning with everyone unified in their

Renaissance gets personal with Gov. Patrick

2011-09-08T16:09:00.001-04:00

When Gov. Deval Patrick was in seventh grade, his mother and grandmother were among his greatest influences. How do I know that you wonder? Because it’s information he shared during his visit with a seventh grade class at The Springfield Renaissance School today. The Governor sat in on a class that was in session and one that happened to be having a group discussion about the influence of media,

Enjoy the long weekend

2011-09-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” That well known quote is extremely fitting as we pause as a school district to observe Labor Day this weekend. I wish everyone a relaxing, joyful and safe holiday weekend.

Happy New (School) Year!

2011-08-29T11:54:00.000-04:00

The start of a new school year is an exciting time, especially for Springfield Public Schools where we are always focused on improvement. Our school year may get off to a delayed start this year because of Hurricane Irene, but it is brimming with promise and exciting developments. This year, we open a new middle school, reducing the student enrollment at three other schools; renovations to the

Changes Forthcoming in Educator Evaluations

2011-07-30T17:29:00.001-04:00

Recent changes in the State’s framework for educator evaluations will have a profound impact in helping to improve the capacity of our classroom teachers, principals and other administrators across our system.The impetus for Massachusetts’ new Educator Evaluation System was the award of the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top (RTTT) Grant which has resulted in enhanced labor-management

Week provides invaluable lessons for senior team

2011-07-15T16:30:00.000-04:00

This past week members of my senior team and I participated in the Harvard Institute for School Leadership and Large-Scale Improvement. It was an intense week of study and a great investment of time to strengthen our capacity for the work here in Springfield to transform our schools. Other participants in the institute included educators from South Africa, Australia, Arizona, Connecticut,

Schools supported...

2011-06-23T11:04:00.000-04:00

None other than Bill Cosby himself showed up recently at Harris School to help spread laughter and gain some insight as to how the tornadoes on June 1st impacted our school district, school leaders and children. The visit was a whirlwind with Dr. Cosby starting off in the principal’s office and finishing with a quick stop in a kindergarten room. Dr. Cosby preferred his visit to be low key,

Springfield’s spirit triumphs adversity

2011-06-08T13:02:00.000-04:00

It was one week ago today that the tornado devastated our city, leaving in its path massive damage and destruction. The repair of Springfield Public Schools has remained a priority for state officials. Governor Deval Patrick, State Treasurer Steve Grossman and the Massachusetts School Building Authority have all made meaningful visits to our most damaged schools. The continued commitment of

A new drummer can energize an old beat

2011-05-27T16:30:00.000-04:00

This week, students at five schools had the opportunity to hear real stories of success, hope, and most importantly, the importance of staying in school and giving 100 percent every day. Guest speakers were US Marshal John Gibbons and ESPN reporters Jay Harris and Sage Steele. Gibbons visited the High School of Commerce, SAFE High School and Putnam while Harris and Sage spoke with students at

The Springfield Renaissance School among the nation’s best

2011-05-09T11:44:00.001-04:00

Let’s hear it for The Springfield Renaissance School! The Magnet Schools of America (MSA) organization has honored the school as one of the top magnet schools in the United States. The MSA will bestow its highest merit award, “The School of Excellence Award” upon Principal Dr. Stephen Mahoney during a national conference taking place in Indianapolis next week. The School of Excellence Award is

Students, teachers represent what’s best about school

2011-04-25T15:58:00.002-04:00

Without doubt, the absolute best part of my job is getting into schools to see our teachers and students in action. It motivates and inspires me to peek into a classroom and see hands in the air, backs straight, and eyes glued on the teacher. That’s exactly what I found when I walked into the third grade classroom of Mrs. Robin Fowlkes at Freedman Elementary School recently. It was clear to see

Breakfast fills belly and heart with joy

2011-04-11T13:35:00.001-04:00

I love pancakes but this weekend my favorite breakfast fare tasted sweeter than usual when I stopped by Duggan Middle School for the school’s pancake breakfast. The special treat of the day was the maple syrup that I slathered on my short stack. It was syrup that Duggan students had made themselves – starting from the sap collection process – as part of a hands’ on science learning project. It

Students show SKILLS

2011-03-25T16:06:00.001-04:00

Every day, in every school there are many students who make Springfield Public Schools proud. They are hard working students who come to school every day and give it all they’ve got. Recently, some 50 such students from Putnam Vocational-Technical High School attended the SkillsUSA district conference in North Adams, Massachusetts. But our students did much more than simply attend the event; they

Grants provide promise for schools while payroll error impacts teachers

2011-03-05T08:54:00.001-05:00

This week has brought good news and bad news. The good news is worth celebrating. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) this week awarded Springfield Public Schools more than $11 million to implement redesign plans the district has made for rapid student improvement at Zanetti, Brightwood, Chestnut, Brookings, Gerena, Homer, Kennedy and White Street schools. This follows

Sharpening the Saw

2011-02-21T11:03:00.001-05:00

Education of the conscious is vital to be a proactive and highly effective leader. This requires regular feasting on powerful literature and inspirational speakers, staying current on executive leadership practices and embracing critical friends as thought partners. This past week I had the opportunity to do just that at two events held in Denver, Colorado.The first event was in response to an

Snow Days

2011-02-07T13:04:00.001-05:00

As Mother Nature deals us what has been described as the snowiest winter New England has seen in more than 40 years, school districts throughout the region are left to figure out ways for students to make up the days missed because of snow. In Springfield, we build 5 snow days into our school calendar and as of today, we are two days beyond that safety net. In the past, we have simply tacked on

More time in school will be well-used

2011-01-24T14:53:00.001-05:00

Today, our students at Kiley Middle School will start receiving 45 additional minutes of instruction every day. This time will be used in a strategic, targeted way to help improve student achievement and represents a major change in how we invest in education for our students’ future. I would like to thank the parents, students, staff and faculty at Kiley Middle School for your courage,

Seeing yourself in student achievement

2011-01-10T15:30:00.000-05:00

A challenging concept in public education has long been getting everyone to clearly see and understand the role they can play in improving student achievement. The nature of teaching and learning makes it all too easy for people outside of the classroom to believe there is little they can do help a C or D student become an A and B student. The truth is, those kinds of outcomes occur as the result

Where we’ve been in 2010 and where we’re heading in 2011

2011-01-04T09:04:00.003-05:00

As the school district bids goodbye to 2010 and continues to aggressively pursue our vision for a culture of educational excellence for all students, it is appropriate to highlight some of our successes and some of things we aim to accomplish as we move forward. Attached you will find an article I wrote that appears in the current issue of The District Management Journal, which focuses on those

Principal’s service to nation inspires students

2010-12-09T14:33:00.002-05:00

As a military man who served 22 years with the United States Air Force, I am always appreciative of any opportunity to recognize those who have served our country well. I am particularly pleased to have joined in the recognition of one of our very own school principals this week as we, as a City, took pause to recognize the 69th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.On Dec. 7, 2010, the City of

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-22T16:05:00.000-05:00

As we take a few days off to enjoy family, food and friends, I would like say Happy Thanksgiving to all who comprise the Springfield Public Schools. Our family is huge, nearly 30,000 of us – from students and teachers to custodians and administrators. We each have an important place at the table and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as Superintendent of this school district. I wish each

An unforgettable act of bravery

2010-11-08T07:11:00.000-05:00

High School of Science and Technology student Frederick Rivera was due all the publicity he received in the local media recently when the School Committee honored him for bravery.Frederick was being honored for his actions in coming to the aid of a fellow student recently when he noticed that student was sorely outnumbered (seven to one) in a fight that had erupted before school.It is easy for a

Students shine when adults give their time

2010-11-01T13:45:00.001-04:00

It's always rewarding, heartwarming and inspiring any time I am with students. Last week was no exception as I visited DeBerry and Bowles schools for special events taking place there. As always, it was all about the children - but the events were made possible due to the generous engagement of adults. Justice Roderick Ireland delivered heartfelt, simple yet poignant messages of perseverance and

SPS wins International Award for Budget Excellence

2010-10-25T08:48:00.000-04:00

I was delighted to learn recently that The Association of School Business Officials International awarded Springfield Public Schools the Meritorious Budget Award for excellence in the preparation and presentation of its 2010-2011 annual budget. This is the first time Springfield Public Schools has received such an award and I am extremely proud of our Budget and Finance Department, which is led

Week's events give strength and encouragement

2010-10-22T09:06:00.000-04:00

The occupation of the superintendency is as busy as ever and I continue to love the work. There were a few events this week that were especially meaningful to me, which I'd like to share. Early in the week, I attended the Broad Prize announcement in New York City. The superintendents in attendance heard first hand some of the best and most promising practices currently taking place at five high

SPS: Dressed for success

2010-10-18T08:17:00.000-04:00

By the time I became superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, the school uniform policy was already underway thanks to the commitment and great work of the School Committee. As I walk the halls and visit the classrooms of our schools, I am always impressed by how smartly dressed our students are. Sure, there have been some learning curves along the way. Principals have had the difficult task

Community responds to new program

2010-10-12T08:20:00.000-04:00

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the more than 400 parents who have already signed up for - and in many cases participated in - the recently launched Springfield Parent Academy. The journey that has taken the Parent Academy from a concept to a reality has been an amazing one, filled with stories of commitment to and belief in the mission of the academy. The fact that more

College Month

2010-10-04T08:30:00.000-04:00

This month is “College Awareness Month” in the City of Springfield. Throughout the year, the district continually offers college access programs and services in partnership with area colleges and universities, as well as community organizations; but this month, Springfield joins many cities nationwide in setting October aside as a distinct time for students of all ages to learn more about

Grants represent state, federal confidence in SPS

2010-09-28T11:08:00.002-04:00

It’s a good time to be in education and a great time to be in Springfield! The district ushered in the start of school amid a flurry of high profile guests and announcements this year, beginning with US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s visit to the High School of Commerce on the first day of school. There, the secretary publicly recognized the great work we have engaged in to transform our

Community engagement at its best

2010-09-21T09:43:00.001-04:00

The Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover Foundation Anti-Bullying Back-to-School 5k Road Race/2K WALK that took place over the weekend at Forest Park is a shining example of the kind of community engagement that makes a real difference. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the foundation for your great work in organizing an event that drew together people from inside and outside of our

Back to School… And there’s plenty to do!

2010-08-23T16:26:00.001-04:00

I hope that you have had a fun, safe and enjoyable summer with your children! It is almost that time again for a new school year. I would like to bring you up to date on school happenings as we draw closer to the first day. Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the back to school “to do” list and also learn about some great opportunities for parents and kids! Click Here - Back

From sports and music to humanity, Tisdale inspires

2010-08-12T08:31:00.002-04:00

Last night I attended a tribute to Wayman Tisdale at the NBA Hall of Fame (part of enshrinement week activities here in Springfield); the event featured The Wayman Tisdale Story (documentary) which gave a powerful account of his life growing up as a preacher's son in Tulsa; college basketball glory at Oklahoma University (OU); highlights of his NBA career and success as a smooth jazz star;

Board’s vote will help close achievement gap

2010-07-22T08:37:00.001-04:00

I would like to applaud the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for their unanimous vote yesterday to adopt the Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and mathematics. The internationally-benchmarked standards is a giant leap towards education reform in the Commonwealth and a brave move that will help level the playing field for all of our students and help us close

Keeping summer safe means keeping tabs on kids

2010-06-23T13:30:00.003-04:00

As of this week, it’s official: summer is here! But with summer fun comes a responsibility that all of us share – keeping our young people safe. During these summer days and months, I urge all parents to keep close tabs on the whereabouts of your children. It is an important message that Mayor Domenic Sarno, Police Commissioner William Fitchet and myself are echoing loudly and clearly to the

Graduation: an inspiration, celebration and awesome time of year

2010-06-16T14:24:00.001-04:00

Graduation is the most important academic event of the school year. It is also one of life’s blessings for families and friends to witness their loved one’s graduation from high school. Beyond the obvious, the Class of 2010 gives me confidence that we’re turning the corner as a District in our efforts to improve the educational opportunities for all students.The graduation season is one of my

SPS Strategic Plan is a living, breathing document

2010-06-10T10:22:00.000-04:00

Pockets of success and opportunities for improvements within the school district were the topic of conversation during a meeting at the district’s Professional Development Center at Duggan yesterday, which reconvened stakeholders who had participated in the district’s strategic planning process in 2008.We reviewed the strategic priorities that were developed during that process, which center

Partnerships Inspire

2010-05-25T12:40:00.002-04:00

On May 20th, more than 150 people came together for the first Level 4 Schools Stakeholder meeting, and the half-day meeting/planning session was time well spent. The commitment to making our schools better was clearly demonstrated by this working group, which spent the day entrenched in data and dialogue. I have said all along that the Level 4 status of 10 of our schools presents this district

Keeping up the pace...

2010-05-06T16:23:00.002-04:00

This academic school year is quickly coming to an end. This has been a busy year, with many successes and many challenges. As the weather turns warmer and the days get longer, the temptations to begin taking it a little easier become harder to resist. Let’s all work hard to stay motivated as the last day of school inches nearer so we can finish strong. Students, teachers, parents, administrators

Archbishop Desmond Tutu Inspires

2010-04-21T09:07:00.001-04:00

The City of Springfield was recently honored with a visit by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu of South Africa. Reverend Tutu was here at the invitation of American International College, where I also serve as a Trustee to the college in giving back to the community. The purpose of Reverend Tutu’s visit was in support of the inaugural launch of the Desmond Tutu Public Health Awareness Series,

April 1st is U.S. Census Day

2010-04-01T14:15:00.002-04:00

Today is U.S. Census Day, the official day for sending completed Census Forms back. I urge everyone who hasn't turned theirs in yet, to fill it out and return it today. It's important for us here in Springfield to make sure we are all counted to help ensure that our community receives the largest possible amount of federal dollars – dollars that can help bridge a gap during these difficult

Governance Team Training: An Investment in Student Achievement

2010-03-22T08:20:00.001-04:00

The Springfield Public Schools governance team is comprised of the superintendent of schools and the school committee. With four new school committee members (out of a seven-member committee) taking office this past January, it seems prudent that we would look for opportunities to build capacity and strengthen the effectiveness of our governance team in Springfield.Thanks in part to the

SPS partners with District Attorney for Bullying Prevention Seminar

2010-03-15T08:10:00.000-04:00

I am pleased to partner with District Attorney William Bennett to host a Bullying Prevention Seminar that we think will help school administrators throughout Hampden County better understand the proposed anti-bullying legislation, which the Massachusetts Senate voted to approve on Thursday, March 12. If approved by the state House of Representatives, the bill will require public, private and

SPS raises more than $13,600 to help Haiti

2010-03-09T10:26:00.001-05:00

I was overjoyed by the large sum of money raised by SPS students, faculty and staff recently to help efforts for Haiti Relief. Indeed, $13,649.35 is a figure that we should all be proud of! In fact, Richard Lee, the executive director of the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter, said it was the largest school fundraiser he’d ever seen. Our efforts as a school district are made even more

Level 4 means working together for kids

2010-03-08T10:05:00.000-05:00

The recent identification of 10 schools in SPS (and 35 statewide) as likely Level 4 schools by the State's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, is an opportunity to move forward smartly while honoring the reform work of the past in alignment with new accountability measures and the best interests of students at the forefront of all our decisions.The “level 4” designation provides

Grant funds efforts of union, school district and community

2010-02-25T13:45:00.006-05:00

A Springfield partnership bringing together the SEA, community leaders and the school department recently won a $1.25 million grant that will be used over the next five years to help close the achievement gap.We were selected out of a pool of national applicants based on a plan and commitment between the teachers union and SPS to work together with a focus on professional development and parent

G.R.E.A.T work students!

2010-02-17T15:00:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to all our students who have completed the six-week Gang Resistance Education and Training course at Balliet and Rebecca Johnson schools. These students are now leaders amongst their peers, modeling the kind of behavior that shuns gang involvement. These students have learned skills that should be valued