Who is Pushing Education Forward in Worcester
Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Worcester Education Collaborative, located in the Denholm Building on Main Street has demonstrated in less than three short years that they are here in our community to “light that fire” for education. This independent advocacy organization has as its goal to ensure that students in our schools are given every opportunity to succeed.
Already they have established a variety of partners in our community who will work with them in enhancing a quality education for our students. The organization is an independent speaking voice for the children and for the community as they work in partnership with the Worcester Public Schools to create a system of effective schools in which every child is prepared for success in college, career and life.
As member of the school committee and a former principal, I am so pleased to see this organization in our city. If we are to have a viable community, education must lead the way and this organization is here to support the community in fulfilling this responsibility.
The organization has a most impressive board headed by Mr. George W. Tetler, III, Chairman of the Board and partner in the Bowditch & Dewey Law Firm and Dr. Loretta Holloway, Vice Chairman and a Professor of English at Framingham State. The rest of this remarkable board is made up of college personnel, business members, social agencies, a parent, and a member of the clergy. Resources to support the organization come from a number of colleges in Worcester, Trust foundations, grants, businesses and from individual contributions.
Dr. Jennifer Davis Carey is the founding-Executive Director of the WEC and is an individual with vision and a great deal of energy. She has emerged as a leader in this community and has reached out to our community to get the “pulse” of what needs to get done. As stated in their website, this organization in its first year of operation in 2010 established a community responsibility initiative. The Community Responsibility Initiative was designed to align, affirm, and deepen community and family support of our students and our schools. Working with Superintendent of Schools, Melinda Boone a Task Force was created composed of her staff, national experts, faculty, principals, and community members to develop an accountability plan for the Worcester Public Schools. After several months of intense work, the Task Force produced the District Accountability Framework.
In advocating for excellence in education and working to ensure engagement on matters related to teaching and learning, Dr. Carey continues to work with Dr. Boone on a reform agenda. She acknowledged that it will mean pushing us forward and putting our children above all others. “It means holding all of our community – parents, families, students, and businesses, elected and appointed officials accountable to the children and therefore accountable for our future.”
WEC has also partnered up with the United Way of Central Massachusetts in the development of a Parent Leadership Academy. According to Dr. Carey this academy has employed a network model and will work to develop a cadre of parents skilled in mobilizing others and with the detailed knowledge in advocating effectively for schools and for the needs of individual children. As a former principal I applaud this endeavor for if we as a system are to succeed we need to make sure that parents are part of the learning process. An example of involving our parents in the learning process the WEC and Citywide Parent Planning Advisory Council along with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees hosted a training program on becoming involved with school site councils.
Other activities established this year have been the Worcester Family Academy, in partnership with many other organizations in Worcester, Community briefings, and Principal for a Day ( having business and community leaders work with the school principal). The organization is working on the establishment of after school science clubs and a Debating League in Worcester.
Another initiative that I have been working on with Dr. Carey on has been “Raising Readers.” Education leaders have finally focused on the importance of early literacy in an attempt to ensure students can read proficiently by the third grade. This is an initiative that I have advocated for during the past five years. According to a recent Kids Count Special Report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, “Failure to read proficiently by the end of third grade is a crucial marker in a child’s educational development. Failure to read proficiently is linked to higher rates of school dropout, which suppress individual earning potential as well as the nation’s competitiveness and general productivity.”
Early education focus is critical for as a former principal I have seen children entering the kindergarten without the needed readiness skills to succeed. According to research the middle class child brings into the kindergarten over a 1000 hours of literacy ( families reading to their child) as compared to 25 hours from the low-income child. The work being done by the WEC will be critical in the coming year. The engagement of the community must be part of this process and that is exactly what the Worcester Education Collaborative is doing so stay tuned for more information on this initiative.
I believe that the goals and the vision of the Worcester Educational Collaborative can be obtained if we as a community have the will and the desire to make it happen. I believe that if children are given the necessary tools to succeed they will succeed beyond their wildest dreams. It’s great to have an organization in Worcester that is advocating for a better tomorrow for our children.
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