WORCESTER—The Worcester community, especially those in education or kids in the school system, have eagerly awaited the “Gathering for Excellence” event, which took place Monday night at Worcester Technical High School.
Beginning with a networking reception, Superintendent Dr. Rachel Monárrez led the evening with an address that outlined what many describe as a bold and transformative strategic plan for the city’s schools.
Under the banner “Our Promise to the Future,” the strategic plan, approved by the Worcester School Committee this past December, aims to unite the city’s schools under a newly crafted vision.
Monárrez kicked off her address with insights on artificial intelligence and the rapid rise in technology for children.
“This is all the new generation knows,” she said. “We need to start realizing that and figure out how we can help them be the best future adult so they have the skills, knowledge, and disposition to lead this great city, great state, this great nation and compete globally.”
Despite noting that artificial intelligence makes it easier to put information together, Monárrez emphasized that humans understand emotional intelligence and the “soft skills realm,” something that AI cannot differentiate.
“Children need to be practicing this every day,” she continued. “Analytical thinking, leadership skills, more and more. We need to have people entering the workforce comfortable with leading and owning that leadership to grow.”
The Worcester School Committee approved the district’s 2023-28 strategic plan at a Dec. 21 committee meeting; it was initially presented to them at the end of November. The plan, which Monárrez calls “our promise to the future,” has six key priorities, which she detailed during her address.
She noted she’s met with more than 800 people in the community to create this progressive plan and promise for Worcester, one of its primary facets to ensure that historically underserved and multilingual youth are progressing in the classroom. Monárrez referred to this as a policy that assures “no child is left behind.”
To bridge the gap between parents and schools, ParentSquare, an innovative online platform, was designed to streamline communication within the school community. This tool will enable the release of announcements, newsletters and surveys while facilitating direct interaction between parents, students, and teachers.
“We are in the process of phasing that platform into schools, with about 10 schools per month launching it,” Dan O’Brien, chief communications officer for Worcester Public Schools, told the Worcester Guardian. “So not all the schools have it yet. We are deliberately doing this slowly to rectify any issues that may arise during onboarding.”
Additionally, the district’s enrollment page on the website has been revamped, and it is in the process of being completely updated to a new platform. There are plans to increase roundtable discussions with parents and caregivers.
“People really enjoy being able to engage and have that bridge with the district,” Monárrez stated, emphasizing the community’s desire for closer ties with Worcester Public Schools.
The strategic plan also focuses on expanding academic and career-technical education courses to better prepare students for both college and future careers. Monárrez highlighted the unpredictable nature of the future workforce, stressing the importance of equipping students with versatile skills and knowledge.
The plan includes significant upgrades to school facilities, with a focus on operations and maintenance. Monárrez elaborated on the strategy for maintenance and repairs of various buildings, stating that the district is in the process of developing an extensive master plan for its facilities. This plan classifies schools into different levels, determined by the immediacy and necessity of repairs or updates needed at each individual school.
Throughout the speech, Monárrez echoed a sense of hope and optimism for this younger generation of students and the future of the Worcester Public Schools.
The hour-long panel discussion following the address brought together voices from parents, students, teachers, and other administrators, with some questions issued in advance of the event. This diverse group deliberated on the various aspects of the strategic plan, offering a comprehensive perspective on the future of education in Worcester.
Melissa Verdier, the union president, remarked on how collaboration is vital to accomplishing goals and overcoming problems that arise. She also mentioned how the district has done a strong job at recruitment and retention of faculty.
“We are about attaining and retaining teachers, and really all educators,” said Verdier. “We’ve done that and we are the beacon that most of Massachusetts is looking at when they’re looking to see how we treat educators.”
When asked about a noticeable shift in the district, Sandra Lozko, a parent of a WPS student, talked about family engagement being stronger now.
“Having that new office has helped to engage parents who really want to be active in the school and the education of our students,” said Lozko. “Everyone at the very top is interested in what we [parents[ have to say. It was very divided before, but there is a lot more collaboration now and the school climate and culture are better.”
She emphasized that happiness is contagious; when teachers are happy to be at school, students respond more enthusiastically.
Inclusivity and a curriculum that caters to each student was a key point of the panel discussion. Ish Tabales, principal of the Union Hill Elementary School, discussed a new reading and writing curriculum called CKLA. “We have to make sure it’s culturally responsive and I think a lot of it is embedded in the program,” said Tabales. “We want students reading. It’s the most important part of our day. We’re really focusing in on that.” Tabales added that the education system at WPS is about “all” [of us].
Toward the end of the panel discussion, Alex Lanzo, a student at South High, was asked about the opportunities he’s had so far at WPS. He responded: “We make sure all students’ voices are heard. We do that by having a lot of meetings, a lot of clubs, the superintendent advisory council, climate council. All students are eligible to participate and have their voices be heard.”
Lanzo thanked all the teachers and administrators for the fantastic job they’re doing to strive for excellence.
The “Gathering for Excellence” event marks a significant milestone in the Worcester School District’s journey towards educational innovation, excellence and success. It is expected to be an annual event.
