Leading in Central MA: Maureen Binienda, Principal of South High
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Monday, May 19, 2014
Susan Wagner, GoLocalWorcester Contributor
With Central Massachusetts’ at the forefront of the movement to change the education paradigms in this country, Leading is going to do a series to focus on those education innovators. We are beginning with a previous interview on Worcester’s “Angel of the Battlefield”, Maureen Binienda. Next week, you will meet Sheila Harrity, the principal of Worcester Technical High School who has turned an ailing, low performing high school into a national model of excellence. The following week we will feature the visionaries of Eagle Hill School.
“Education Is the Great Equalizer.”
Maureen Binienda is in her 37th year as an employee of the Worcester Public Schools and her 5th as Principal of South High Community School in Worcester.
First and foremost, she is responsible for exercising vision and providing leadership that appropriately involves staff, parents, students, business partners and community in the identification and accomplishment of the school's mission and goals. Binienda has been called the “Angel of the Battlefield” for the work that she does in Worcester’s poorest school district. She sits on four boards of directors and takes every opportunity she can find to expose her school to the community.
The Interview:
SW: You have been the principal of South High Community School for the past five years. What led you to that career path?
MB: I never had any plans to be a high school principal. I was an elementary school teacher of special needs for years. Proposition 2½ changed a lot of things in the school system and one of those was cutting the funding for my position. I headed to South High when it opened in 1978 and never looked back. I just fell in love with the place. Beginning as a teacher of special needs, and then a special education curriculum specialist, I became assistant principal and Dean of the Academy of Education, Service, and Government in 1994 and served in that position for 14 years. Each job taught me something important that I would use in my job as principal. I am a firm believer in the adage, “bloom where you are planted.” I just do everything I can to be successful in a job or place.
SW: I saw a statistic that in 2011, 10% of the children in Worcester were homeless and at South High the figure was 12%. Do those numbers still hold true? How are you able to assist homeless students with barriers to education such as hunger, poor health, absenteeism, etc.?
MB: That statistic is accurate and those are only the students that we have been able to identify. Homelessness can also encompass students who have lost homes due to foreclosure and are living with relatives or friends. In 2010 with the assistance of our partner, Family Health Center of Worcester, we opened a food pantry at the high school for students and their families. We also provide a full-service health center at the school and have created dental partnerships. We provide free eye exams and the Lion’s Club donates the eyeglasses. Andy’s Attic donates clothing to meet the needs of specific students. We also involve the community. I volunteer as an usher at Hanover Theater and all 300+ ushers are involved in donating goods to our food pantry.
SW: With an almost 70% low-income population, how do you deal with the impact poverty has on academic success?
MB: South High is the poorest district in the Worcester Public School system. There is a lot of unemployment. A lot of our staff members take leadership roles in dealing with these issues, so it is a group effort. As I mentioned before we deal with their basic needs such as health, hunger, clothing, and eyeglasses. In addition, our teachers volunteer their time to stay after school to provide extra academic support. We have up to 120 kids at a time taking advantage of that. We also provide cultural and literacy opportunities in the community with the support of organizations like Hanover Theater. Anytime we can expose our kids to anything in the community, we do. 26 of our staff graduated from this school and we teach kids that education is the great equalizer. One former student even came back as assistant principal. That says so much to the kids they teach and demonstrates that there is no excuse to not move forward.
SW: Can you talk a little about students who have made an impact on you?
MB: We have students from 70 countries. Too often, their parents were killed in front of their eyes and they ran hundreds of miles to safety. Worcester is considered a safe city so kids are brought here to start a new life. They see America as the land of opportunity and the chance for a new life. The look of hope on their face is so powerful when they realize they will be given a free public education. We had a gal from Afghanistan who was not allowed to go to school in her country and yet she graduated number one in her class and went on to Boston College. If that isn’t a statement on the power of a public education, nothing is. It makes me realize how much we take for granted. Many of these kids are the first in their family to graduate from high school. Then they go on to top colleges. Their stories of hope and success are what drive me.
SW: How can the community help with your efforts?
MB: There are so many ways the community can step forward. They can ask for our kids if they have a job to offer. Get involved in classrooms. Tutor and speak at career day. Donate to our food pantry. Offer free medical services for kids. It would be so helpful for people to just speak positively about public education. It may not be perfect but it is making a difference in so many lives.
SW: Any advice for students considering education as a career path?
MB: I definitely think anyone considering a career in education should pursue it. We need good teachers and people who care about these children and the future of our country. It is a lot of work with little downtime but the rewards are huge. Just think of the thousands of kids that you affect as a teacher. As an educator, the future success of a whole generation is in your hands. The difference between kids making it or not making it happens in this school. Otherwise, where are they going without a diploma? An education can help to finally change the cycle of poverty.
About Susan Wagner:
With more than 25 years of leadership experience, Susan Wagner is the president of Susan Wagner PR and is partnered with Steven D’Agostino, chief pilot of Best Rate of Climb. They consult with organizations and business to do the strategic planning necessary to help the client to successfully meet their goals. They specialize in the creation of web content and professional writing needs, development and execution of a broad range of outreach programs, & public relations and marketing initiatives that effectively educate, inform, and build relationships with targeted stakeholder groups.
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Asian/Pacific Islander: 4.5%
Black: 27.3%
Hispanic: 13.6%
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Asian/Pacific Islander: 2.8%
Black: 53.1%
Hispanic: 28.4%
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Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 7.0%
Black: 7.3%
Hispanic: 44.8%
Two or more races: 4.1%
White: 36.6%
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Total enrollment: 501
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.8%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.0%
Black: 12.6%
Hispanic: 27.9%
Two or more races: 4.2%
White: 53.5%
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Lowell Middlesex Acad. Charter HS, Lowell, MA
Total enrollment: 99
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 11.1%
Black: 2.0%
Hispanic: 38.4%
Two or more races: 5.1%
White: 42.4%
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Total enrollment: 67
Percentage of total enrollment
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Asian/Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Black: 40.3%
Hispanic: 16.4%
Two or more races: 3.0%
White: 40.3%
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Quincy, MA
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Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.7%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 23.9%
Black: 9.8%
Hispanic: 7.4%
Two or more races: 1.8%
White: 56.3%
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Foxborough Reg. Charter HS, Foxborough, MA
Total enrollment: 1,265
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Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 10.4%
Black: 23.8%
Hispanic: 5.1%
Two or more races: 4.5%
White: 56.3%
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#42 Boston Collegiate
Boston Collegiate Charter HS, Dorchester, MA
Total enrollment: 632
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.9%
Black: 25.5%
Hispanic: 15.7%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 54.4%
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#41 Full Circle HS
Somerville, MA
Total enrollment: 56
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.8%
Black: 21.4%
Hispanic: 35.7%
Two or more races: 1.8%
White: 39.3%
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#40 Waltham Senior HS
Waltham, MA
Total enrollment: 1,389
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 6.4%
Black: 11.2%
Hispanic: 30.6%
Two or more races: 2.6%
White: 49.1%
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#39 Medford HS
Medford MA
Total enrollment: 1,155
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 10.0%
Black: 18.4%
Hispanic: 8.2%
Two or more races: 1.9%
White: 61.9%
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Total enrollment: 397
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 7.6%
Black: 38.3%
Hispanic: 41.3%
Two or more races: 3.0%
White: 9.6%
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#37 Brockton HS
Brockton Champion HS, Brockton, MA
Total enrollment: 194
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Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.0%
Black: 41.2%
Hispanic: 19.6%
Two or more races: 2.6%
White: 35.1%
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Total enrollment: 1,358
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 5.8%
Black: 12.4%
Hispanic: 34.6%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 44.5%
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Total enrollment: 498
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.4%
Black: 58.4%
Hispanic: 20.5%
Two or more races: 3.4%
White: 16.3%
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#34 Lynn Vocational
Lynn Vocational Tech. Institute, Lynn, MA
Total enrollment: 750
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.8%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 6.7%
Black: 10.7%
Hispanic: 60.0%
Two or more races: 2.9%
White: 18.9%
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Total enrollment: 445
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.4%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 3.1%
Black: 38.7%
Hispanic: 40.0%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 15.5%
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Total enrollment: 2,112
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Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 14.8%
Black: 3.9%
Hispanic: 26.6%
Two or more races: 2.6%
White: 51.7%
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Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 10.0%
Black: 8.3%
Hispanic: 12.2%
Two or more races: 8.4%
White: 61.2%
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Total enrollment: 111
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 9.0%
Black: 36.0%
Hispanic: 41.4%
Two or more races: 1.8%
White: 11.7%
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Total enrollment: 2,004
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 4.9%
Black: 23.9%
Hispanic: 32.4%
Two or more races: 1.0%
White: 37.5%
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Total enrollment: 1,611
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 9.9%
Black: 10.8%
Hispanic: 53.0%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 24.0%
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Boston, MA
Total enrollment: 2,379
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 29.1%
Black: 9.5%
Hispanic: 10.6%
Two or more races: 3.1%
White: 47.7%
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Total enrollment: 1,148
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 6.9%
Black: 57.2%
Hispanic: 19.6%
Two or more races: 3.0%
White: 13.0%
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Brookline, MA
Total enrollment: 1,832
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 14.8%
Black: 7.9%
Hispanic: 10.3%
Two or more races: 7.0%
White: 60.0%
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New Bedford, MA
Total enrollment: 2,436
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.8%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.7%
Black: 14.8%
Hispanic: 31.1%
Two or more races: 6.5%
White: 45.0%
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New Bedford, MA
Total enrollment: 746
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 17.4%
Black: 58.7%
Hispanic: 9.0%
Two or more races: 1.6%
White: 12.7%
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Charlestown, MA
Total enrollment: 935
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.4%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 20.2%
Black: 41.9%
Hispanic: 30.4%
Two or more races: 0.9%
White: 6.2%
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Worcester, MA
Total enrollment: 996
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.4%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 5.1%
Black: 17.1%
Hispanic: 39.8%
Two or more races: 2.1%
White: 35.5%
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Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA
Total enrollment: 705
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.4%
Black: 25.5%
Hispanic: 42.6%
Two or more races: 6.1%
White: 24.3%
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Sabis Int'l Charter School, Springfield, MA
Total enrollment: 1,574
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 2.8%
Black: 30.1%
Hispanic: 33.2%
Two or more races: 5.2%
White: 28.2%
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Boston, MA
Total enrollment: 487
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 53.2%
Black: 20.7%
Hispanic: 16.8%
Two or more races: 2.3%
White: 7.0%
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Springfield, MA
Total enrollment: 2,086
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 6.6%
Black: 24.1%
Hispanic: 49.8%
Two or more races: 3.7%
White: 15.7%
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#16 Mystic Valley
Mystic Valley Reg. Charter HS, Malden, MA
Total enrollment: 1,499
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 16.0%
Black: 16.6%
Hispanic: 6.2%
Two or more races: 3.9%
White: 57.2%
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#15 Univ. Park Campus
University Park Campus HS, Worcester, MA
Total enrollment: 230
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 23.9%
Black: 7.4%
Hispanic: 49.3%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 18.3%
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#14 Doherty Mem. HS
Worcester, MA
Total enrollment: 1,337
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.6%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 9.3%
Black: 14.1%
Hispanic: 30.3%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 43.4%
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#13 North HS
Worcester, MA
Total enrollment: 1,295
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.2%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 8.3%
Black: 19.2%
Hispanic: 46.4%
Two or more races: 1.7%
White: 24.2%
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#12 Lowell HS
Lowell, MA
Total enrollment: 3,054
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 32.5%
Black: 9.7%
Hispanic: 24.1%
Two or more races: 1.1%
White: 32.4%
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#11 Whaling City Alt.
Whaling City Alternative HS, New Bedford, MA
Total enrollment: 99
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 2.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.0%
Black: 20.2%
Hispanic: 37.4%
Two or more races: 8.1%
White: 31.4%
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#10 Somerville HS
Somerville, MA
Total enrollment: 1,265
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.2%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 11.6%
Black: 15.3%
Hispanic: 39.8%
Two or more races: 0.9%
White: 32.3%
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#9 Pioneer Charter
Pioneer Charter School of Science, Everett, MA
Total enrollment: 359
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 2.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 8.7%
Black: 37.0%
Hispanic: 17.8%
Two or more races: 0.6%
White: 33.4%
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#8 Lynn Classical HS
Lynn, MA
Total enrollment: 1,498
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 11.8%
Black: 14.3%
Hispanic: 45.6%
Two or more races: 2.7%
White: 25.4%
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#7 Cambridge Rindge
Cambridge Rindge and Latin, Cambridge, MA
Total enrollment: 1,741
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.6%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 11.8%
Black: 33.2%
Hispanic: 14.0%
Two or more races: 3.0%
White: 37.5%
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#6 Fecteau-Leary
Fecteau-Leary Junior/Senior HS, Lynn, MA
Total enrollment: 157
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.6%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 8.3%
Black: 19.7%
Hispanic: 43.3%
Two or more races: 3.8%
White: 24.2%
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#5 O'Bryant HS
Roxbury, MA
Total enrollment: 1,353
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 21.3%
Black: 37.2%
Hispanic: 28.6%
Two or more races: 1.6%
White: 11.1%
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#4 Excel HS
South Boston, MA
Total enrollment: 550
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 22.5%
Black: 38.4%
Hispanic: 23.3%
Two or more races: 1.6%
White: 13.6%
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#3 South HS
Worcester, MA
Total enrollment: 1,264
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.6%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 14.9%
Black: 19.6%
Hispanic: 39.2%
Two or more races: 1.7%
White: 24.1%
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#2 Boston Latin Acad.
Dorchester, MA
Total enrollment: 1,689
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.7%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 21.6%
Black: 27.1%
Hispanic: 20.7%
Two or more races: 1.8%
White: 28.2%
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#1 Malden HS
Malden, MA
Total enrollment: 1,835
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.7%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 24.9%
Black: 22.6%
Hispanic: 19.9%
Two or more races: 3.7%
White: 28.3%
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