Engaging Learning Environments

Increasing Rigor and Support: These are the two things I hear the most from fellow parents and caregivers. Some families want their children to experience more educational challenge, others find their children need more classroom support from interventionists. All kids want to feel engaged, and all kids need a blend of challenge and support so they do not disengage or fall behind! I plan to work on initiatives that help educators with differentiation and ensure our schools are equipped to deliver it:

  • Interventionist time assigned equitably across district schools and classrooms

  • Working toward staffing of each class so that it reflects the range of student needs as well as size of the class

Safety and Wellbeing

All members of our school community, kids and adults, deserve to feel safe and welcome at school. Now is an incredibly challenging time for many families, and I support the district’s position on safeguarding immigrant students. I also support the district’s movements toward restorative justice, and at the same time understand that consistency is key to getting new models right. I will be an advocate for proven models and strong implementation:

  • Ensure educators and school staff have clarity around and support in implementing restorative justice practices, and that families understand how this process plays out in schools

  • Push for for wraparound supports for families impacted by federal immigration actions, including counseling and legal aid

  • Advocate for continuing SPS’ innovative policing model that emphasizes community engagement 

Improving Communication

What is the best way to contact my child’s teacher?

How and when do I enroll for afterschool?

What opportunities are available for my middle school child?

Parents and caregivers want to understand how to support their children and teachers. Yet, families experience frustration with navigating information. Good communication requires planning and intention, and it needs to be linguistically and culturally appropriate.  On the School Committee, I will look at ways to make communication mechanisms consistent and accessible, including:

  • Streamlining the experience for families by reducing the number of apps, email lists, and calendars and encouraging after-school partners to use communication methods consistent with the schools and district

  • Highlighting and expanding use of methods already being used effectively in schools and within grade level teams

  • Building on existing efforts for availability of interpretation and other language supports to ensure accessibility for all stakeholders