Elms assists city

By Paula Canning

Staff Writer

CHICOPEE With a recent collaboration between Elms College and Chicopee Public Schools, the city's school faculty, staff, and administrators have been afforded a professional development opportunity to take classes at the college at a reduced fee.

The formal announcement of the partnership between Elms College and the school district, which will assist teachers in pursuing professional development plans tailored to district needs and in achieving re-certification or certification in a new field, was announced during a ceremony at the college last Wednesday.

According to Elizabeth Hukowicz, chair of the Education Department at Elms College, "This is the beginning of a wonderful relationship between Elms College and the city's schools."

She explained that conversations about the partnership began last fall when she conducted literacy programs in Chicopee schools.

She said that discussions between the school adminstrators and Elms College continued, until both agreed that the collaboration would be possible.

According to Hukowicz, Chicopee educators can take a maximum of two courses during each of the school's fall, spring or summer semesters.

She explained that Chicopee public school employees admitted to graduate programs in the fall of 2005 may transfer up to 12 credits of appropriate graduate level course work, which she said is more than is usually allowed.

Hukowicz said that surveys were recently distributed to Chicopee educators to help assess the level of interest and to determine current and future needs.

In response to the needs of the district, Hukowicz said that the college will offer a M.Ed. degree, coursework in writing, coursework in subject matter, and opportunities for physical education faculty.

In addition to helping the district, Hukowicz explained that the college will also benefit from the partnership.

It will allow the college to collaborate with the Chicopee school system's faculty, staff and administration, and to "reach out neighbor to neighbor" to the community at large.

Calling the collaboration a "win-win situation" for both Elms College and the city's school," Interim Superintended of Public Schools Richard Cunningham said that "people have been more than willing to help move this forward," from the moment that discussions began regarding the collaboration. "The excitement has already started," he said. "I think a lot of people are going to get involved."

Cunningham said the partnership will assist in addressing subject areas that have proven weak throughout the district, such as mathematics, which he said has a "critical need" for improvement.

Jams Devine, assistant superintendent for accountability for the Chicopee Public School System, said, "It's so exciting that the staff can now take part in this wonderful opportunity afforded through the partnership."

Devine cited the college's overall accessibility, variety of degree opportunities as well as the number of degrees offered at Elms College as a significant benefit to the city's educators.

"Whenever you can increase teacher expertise, there is always a direct benefit for the students," Devine said. "And that's where the real pay-off is."

"It's really a dream come true," Devine continued, adding that he compliments anyone involved in working out the details of the partnership so quickly.

Ken Widelo, Director of Career and Technical Education at Chicopee Comprehensive High School, said he believes that the partnership will be well-received by teachers in the city's schools, and that they will likely take full-advantage of the opportunities at the college.

He said that the collaboration could allow for the possible expansion of programs at Chicopee Comprehensive High School, something he has already discussed with administrators.

A general information session about the program will take place at Chicopee High School on May 25 and at Elms College on June 1.

Registration for the college will take place August 20, 29, 30, 31, as well as September 1.