August 2008
Dear Colleagues,
I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. Many of us have been busy over the summer – some teaching summer school, some setting up classrooms, others working on curriculum, planning lessons, preparing buildings for the opening, and a long list of activities related to the complicated work of educating children.
Many of you have told me about some of the rejuvenating activities you’ve been engaged in including sailing, gardening, traveling, spending time with family, reading, playing Scrabble, making gazpacho, or watching the Olympics. (Go USA!)
There are always exceptions to the rule, but generally when you survey the planet and reflect on the state of affairs around the world and even in many communities in our nation - I think we are fortunate. Fortunate to have meaningful work that pays decently, fortunate to have reasonable healthcare coverage, fortunate to have some relative tranquility and to live in a great country that remains a model of liberty in spite of the hardships that many face.
Our work as educators, tutors, instructional assistants, principals, or whatever particular role you might have in our school district puts us in the middle of the winds of change that characterize our nation and the world. Issues ranging from the social justice aspects of the achievement gap, immigration, global economic realities, defining the meaning of school in a changing world, race and racism, national identity, 21st Century work skills and envisioning and preparing for the future. We help children interpret their world and prepare them for an uncertain future.
And some people say we have easy jobs?
We are trained professionals charged with grappling with the big issues of our time as we strive to educate children to become literate, knowledgeable, skillful and thoughtful adults. And, in addition, we are subjected to regular, mostly unfounded, criticism from polls of every stripe and media pundits.
It’s daunting! But we remain undaunted. Because, on balance, we are fortunate to have meaningful work and, of course, we are up to the challenge.
We’re All in this together!
There is a challenge indeed. The primary measuring stick, the metric, used by the Feds, the SDE, the media, and many “local experts” is standardized testing. We know our students and the work we do is much more complex than the limited metric of the CMTs and the CAPT, but that is the context in which we work.
After a lot of often grueling and intense efforts last year the test score results are mixed. There were some bright spots! Grade 5 results and the high school writing scores among them. And there is evidence (the type that can be measured) that, while not at the state average, there is real growth occurring. As you know so well - our students are learning! But…
Imagine ten students sitting in a row, side-by-side. Proud, expectant, beautiful faces – waiting to be called on. Now imagine that the students who achieved proficiency on their tests are asked to stand.
Far too many remain seated.
In spite of the factors contributing to this scenario, we need – more than ever - to recognize the urgency of the situation. We cannot control the economy, we cannot control the work schedule of the parents of our students or their educational background, etc., etc. We can focus on our part of the equation and work together (peer-to-peer) to ensure we use our experience, our intellectual capital, and the materials, the books, the computers – all of the tools at our disposal to deliver instruction in ways that helps more of those ten students to stand.
We need to recognize what we don’t know (not easy, but necessary). That is where the issue of collaboration among teachers comes into play. It is not a slogan! Collaboration is not wishful thinking, it is hard work. But the change from the current status quo is only going to happen if the trained professionals that we are can wrap our heads around specific samples of student work, diagnose the gaps, and target instruction and support in ways we have not adequately done in the past. It is do-able!
Joining our team this year is:
Tracy Barber Principal BDJMS
Dawn Berger-DeBrodt Science Teacher BDJMS
Nicole Biette English Teacher BDJMS
Gail Bohannon Chemistry Teacher NLHS
Wendy Campbell-Cooper Secretary Harbor
Charles Boucher Technology Teacher STMHS
Kerry Carter PE Teacher District/Elementary
Jennifer Collins Family Consumer Science Teacher NLHS
Michelle Combs Teacher BDJMS
Raphael Diaz Elementary Dean of Students Jennings
Tammy Duhamel-McLellan Math Teacher BDJMS
Janet Farquhar Biology Teacher STMHS
Michele Han Literacy Coach Harbor
Lura Hepler Special Education Teacher Harbor
Lorrie Herz Social Studies Teacher BDJMS
Eben Jones Spanish Teacher NLHS
Bridget Joyce ESL Teacher NLHS
Edwin Mercado English Teacher and Department Head NLHS
Theresa Natoli Science Teacher STMHS
Sara Novia Guidance Counselor and Director NLHS
Uyi Osunde Guidance Counselor NLHS
Analisse Rios Grade 6 Teacher DLAA
Darci Rose Special Education Teacher Harbor
Kathleen Rowsam English Teacher BDJMS
Carla Ryall Math Teacher NLHS
Alison Sposato ESL Teacher BDJMS
Pamela Stark Humanities Teacher NLHS
Pamela Taylor Art Teacher NLHS
Maritza Vargas Spanish Teacher BDJMS
Damaris Zimbelman Math Teacher STMHS
Erin Ziolkowski Teacher Harbor
Please take a moment to welcome our new staff members to the New London Public Schools.
Jennings School will open its doors this year and will house the district’s elementary Dual Language Program. Due to this change there will be an inordinate number of students attending a different elementary school this year than last year, as well as a number of staff transfers at the elementary level. This beautiful new facility will have an enrollment of approximately 600 students. We anticipate hosting a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and public tour on September 19th. More details will follow.
The 2008-2009 school year will also see:
• Winthrop School moving from Grove Street to the modulars on Cedar Grove as we begin the first phase of our elementary magnet plan.
• The Shoreline Academy, an innovative partnership between the district and the New London Education Association (NLEA), open as a K-3 school within a school at Winthrop.
• The expansion of the Dual Language Arts Academy to include Grades 6 and 7.
• Over 250 students attending the Science & Technology Magnet High School, as it begins its 3rd year. For your information, this is the first Welcome Back to School packet disseminated via e-mail. The packet will also be available on our website at www.newlondon.org.
The theme of this year’s opening is a reminder that secretaries, bus drivers, tutors, custodians, food service workers, aides and assistants, deans, principals, Central Office staff, administrators and, above all – teachers…”We’re all in this together.”
Yes, there is added urgency to our work. But we are among the fortunate in this world; and by combining our energies, experience and power we can move beyond the status quo and help more students to stand – not only regarding test scores, but to stand tall and contribute to and benefit from all that makes this country great.
Yours truly,
Chris Clouet