Brian O'Connell

I graduated from Worcester Academy, and I continue to work closely with the Academy as Secretary of its Board of Trustees.

The Academy did much to prepare me for college, for law school, and for my career. It featured small classes, assuring its students close and supportive individual instruction. It was particularly skilled at teaching students to write persuasively, as its teachers assigned extensive writing assignments, and graded them closely, with many suggestions for improvement. The school challenged students to exceed their own expectations, and it provided them close individualized attention to help them to do so. It urged them to take full advantage of the sports, clubs, and other activities which it offered, leading many students to arrive early at school, and to remain there until very late afternoon or early evening.

The Academy clearly provided a top-quality education which was “transformative” – for me, for many of my classmates,and for students today as well.

David LeBoeuf

"I wouldn't be the person I am today if it hadn't been for my time at South High. The school not only academically prepared me to pursue higher education but also showed me what it meant to be a good citizen. South teaches the values of giving back, building a more inclusive community, and working together for the common good. People are surprised when I say South taught me a lot more about myself than any college ever would have been able to. It gave me an opportunity to find my calling; I can only hope all students in WPS can have this experience."

Matt Wally

"As a 1993 graduate of Burncoat High School I can confidently state that the lessons I learned in the classroom and on the football field prepared me for life after graduation and provided me with some of the best memories of my life.  My high school education gave me an understanding of discipline, increased my critical thinking skills, exposed me to diversity, fostered life-long friendships, and gave me an educational foundation that allowed me to further my education at both the College of the Holy Cross and Clark University. 

"As the son of two Worcester Public School educators I have always admired those who dedicate their lives to teaching.  I was fortunate to have been taught by hard working, influential, creative, and challenging teachers who had high expectations for their students.  Throughout high school I was inspired to work hard, encouraged to stretch my limits, and most importantly set high goals for myself.

"My four years on the Burncoat High School football team helped to instill many values that have served me well.  Persistence, determination, loyalty, and discipline are necessary to succeed on the football field and in life. The diverse hallways of Burncoat provided me with an exposure to different cultures, which made for a rich learning environment.  At an influential age I realized the importance of respecting differences, accepting others, and that living in a diverse world benefits us all.

"I would not change my high school experience for anything.  That experience formed the foundation for my love for learning, my respect for public education, and my approach to living life."

Cindy Nguyen

"I can’t express how grateful I am to have had my education at Burncoat. Not only did my experience there provided me the skills and knowledge I need, but also the guidance and care that isn’t typically translated on paper. I am the first person in my family to have graduated high school, and finishing that part in my life was a huge achievement. It was not easy, growing up with parents who work 6 days a week and 12 hours a day—my academic responsibility was completely up to me. However, every teacher I have encountered reached out to me and voluntarily gave me the extra assistance I need beyond the classrooms. Some would sacrifice their lunch breaks to eat with me and indulge my curiosity, whether it was about European History or a piece of literature. The guidance counselors and the staff always made sure to memorize every students name, and ask them about their course work—sometimes, even getting personally involve. They understood that education was not just about test scores, but it was about fostering relationships and trust. They see so clearly that education involves not just an academic agenda, but also a kind of compassion and love. A student’s academic growth comes from their social and home environment, when a student lack a healthy balance in their life their education reflects it. I was in that position. Juggling between extracurricular, working two part-time jobs to help my family, and putting immense of academic pressure on myself—it felt unbearable. But I was fortunate for all the staffs at Burncoat who cheered me on at every step of the way. Helping me getting into College of the Holy Cross and giving me the advice I need for a balance life. The school offered me so much, and offered many other students so much, yet they lack resources and support. Hence, after I left, the impact my public education had on me inspired me to go back and directed a tutoring program to assist Burncoat’s teachers. The teachers, and staff welcomed the program and worked with me to assure its success. They taught me to be open-minded, to constantly learn and explore new ideas, and most importantly to be involve in my community."

Gary Vecchio

"I graduated from Worcester's North High School in 1971.  We had very dedicated teachers who knew their subject matter and challenged us to do our best, while demonstrating concern and care for us as people. Those are traits I tried to share with my students in my 36 years of teaching.

"I got an excellent education at North High which prepared me for college and life in general. At the same time, my high school years were some of the best years of my life; attending weekly sporting events,  special dances and socials,  and developing my leadership skills as the chairperson of the junior prom and vice president of the senior class.

"The teachers, friends, and experiences that I had in high school went a long way toward making me the person that I am today."

Hilda Ramirez

"I graduated from Norman Thomas High School in New York City.  This high school exposed me to business and the arts and modeled what it means to be professional as our school was located in the business district in midtown Manhattan. We walked into our building with adults dressed in business suits because we shared space with a bank.  

"I was inspired to dream big and that is what I continue to do."