More time in school will be well-used

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, flexibility and commitment to changing your school for the better. It has taken an enormous amount of planning, preparation and resources to make this occur and I am confident that it will help us achieve our goal.

Kiley has been a trailblazer in leading our efforts to turn our Level 4 schools around and though the school sets out on its own today as the only school in the district to increase the length of the school day, other Level 4 schools will follow suit next year (Brightwood, Brookings, Homer Street, Gerena, White Street, Zanetti, Chestnut, Kennedy and Commerce). Though details of an extended school day has yet to be worked out at those schools, tremendous work is already underway to help students there in ways that are innovative and far-reaching.

The work of all of Level 4 schools is extremely important as we will use lessons learned there to help shape our entire education system. I must remind you, however, that change does not occur overnight. As a district, we did not arrive at our current status quickly, but rather over a course of time. It will also take time for us to re-build our district into a culture of educational excellence – today we have taken a large step forward toward that goal.

Seeing yourself in student achievement

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 of many structures, roles, strategies and conditions. Yes, there are some variables beyond our control, (i.e. the socio-economic condition of students, state and federal mandates, district policies and political and economic trends) but there are many factors that we can positively impact every day. We have spent the last two years addressing absenteeism, student learning, achievement gaps, the graduation rate, community partnerships and other important factors that impact student achievement. As we continue to advance the SPS 2009 – 2012 Strategic Plan, signs of hope are all around us and we are working hard to debunk the myth that educational excellence is the work of only teachers and students. To the contrary, we know that it takes an entire community.

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

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 things.

The District Management Journal - Winter 2011 (PDF)

Principal’s service to nation inspires students

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 Springfield awarded Margaret C. Ells School Principal Dr. Jose Irizarry the 2010 Daniel O’Sullivan Award. The late Daniel P. O’Sullivan was a Vietnam veteran and former director of the city’s Code Enforcement Department. The award named in his honor recognizes veterans employed by the City of Springfield who demonstrate courtesy and fairness towards their employees and colleagues.

Dr. Irizarry has served in the US Army Reserves for nearly 30 years and is currently a First Sergeant with Detachment 1 3,200 Strategic Intelligence Group at Fort Devens, Massachusetts which is part of the New England Reserve Intelligent Support Center. He served during Operation Iraqi Freedom as an advisor to the Iraqi army and has earned multiple military awards, including a Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and others. I was especially moved during his acceptance speech when he spoke of the boxes and boxes of stuffed animals Ells students had collected and sent overseas as gifts to youngsters less fortunate than they.

I am very proud to count Dr. Irizarry among those City of Springfield employees whose selfless contributions protect the very freedom we as Americans enjoy every day.

Happy Thanksgiving

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 and every one of you a happy and joyous holiday.