Hello Natick Students, Parents, and Community Members;
It is my pleasure to write to you today in my new role as Interim Superintendent. It has been my pleasure to serve this community as an educational leader for the past 15 years as vice principal, principal, and assistant superintendent, and I am filled with pride to be able to serve the community in this new role.
In this new role I seek to move forward the vibrant and excellent programs and goals set forth in our strategic plans and in our core values. In addition, I will work to meet and hear community member ideas and unearth district needs with an eye towards informing the upcoming search process and my work in continuing to improve the district through goal setting and program development. I hope you all will join me as I visit upcoming meetings with various school and community groups so we can either become acquainted or reacquainted.
Your children and our community are important to me and continued progress for our excellent district remains my top priority. As one of nine daughters—and a first generation college student—my teachers and public schools in Gorham, NH, (population 2800) gave me a shot at a broader world view, a set of academic and leadership skills, and experiences that launched me into a career I could never have envisioned when I was a young person. We want NPS to give all students those options and potential futures—in doing so, we only work to strengthen our community and our collective society.
We have much to celebrate which have come to us very recently, the community voted YES for the Kennedy project, Boston Magazine ranked our school system #38 in the state—rising 9 slots since last year, our High School Tenacity Team (an academic and artistic competition for African American and Latino students) took the state championships (again!), our middle and high school bands medaled at the recent MICCA state music competitions, and we recently completed a robust theater season with the closing of HS student-directed The Addams Family and KMS Production of James and the Giant Peach. We also welcome new school committee member, Matt Brand, and congratulate Chair, Lisa Tabenkin on her re-election to the board. I look forward to continue working collaboratively with the committee to complete the year.
It’s been a brisk snow day season—I have certainly NOT enjoyed this new responsibility nor the idea of extending the school year for 6 days. However, the Department of Education only makes accommodations for schools with over 10 snow days. To that end, we will vote on the last day of school at our April 23, School Committee meeting. Please note: since two of our cancelled days were professional development days, School Committee recently voted to allow us to make
Wednesday, June 13 an early release day for students
. We share this with you now so that you can make appropriate schedule and child care amendments.
