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School Committee honors teachers, students

Date: 2/9/2011

Feb. 9, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD — Teaching excellence and the actions of two eighth grade students were both recognized by the Springfield School Committee at its Feb. 3 meeting.

The School Committee also heard a progress report on the Gerena School, one of the city's 10 under-performing schools.

Joshua Martinez, an eighth grade student at Van Sickle and Juan Tejada, an eighth grader at the Renaissance School, were recognized for their actions assisting a bus monitor who had been knocked down during a fight between students on Jan. 4

Mayor Domenic Sarno, chair of the School Committee, praised the two students and their parents.

Gerena School Principal Diane Gagnon gave a progress report on the school. Gagnon has been principal since July 1, 2010 and detailed the improvements made so far.

Among the improvements to the building itself is a paint job; the reorganization of the main office; new sump pumps to handle the building's chronic water problem; the re-opening to the cafeteria; the upgrading of the parking lot; the installation of glass doors at the entrance; a new computer lab; and an improvement of the intercom and security systems.

Gagnon said there have been substantial changes to the curriculum from the school's Montessori approach. The school now uses some Montessori principles with a heavy emphasis on literacy.

She said, "There's no one way to teach students."

Gagnon added teachers would focus on results from students and "look at it intensely."

The school is developing an emphasis on health and fitness from its collaboration with partners such as Baystate Health Center to altering its lunch program by eliminating white flour food items.

Gagnon said one plan for the future is to establish a medical and dental clinic in the school.

She noted that student attendance has risen from 89 percent to 92.9 percent so far this school year from last year and teacher attendance has also increased from 92 to 97 percent.

"That's pretty good for the first year," Gagnon said.

School Committee member Norman Roldan, who has championed for changes at Gerena, congratulated Gagnon on her success so far.

School Superintendent Dr. Alan Ingram said, "[Gagnon] has earned my complete trust and confidence.

Gagnon predicted there would be an improvement in the scores from the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System this year, but added the work to make further improvements "won't be easy."

"It will take a lot of work," she said.

***


The School Committee voted to approve the contract with T.J. Plante, the city's finance director, to be its budget director. Plante will split his time between the two assignments. The contract allows the School Committee to dismiss him if the arrangement doesn't work out. He would then return to working at his city position full time.

School Committee members Antonette Pepe and Christopher Collins have questioned the arrangement in previous meetings and Pepe wanted to know why the contract allows Plante to pick between the city's retirement plan and the School Department's plan. The answer she received from School Committee Council Melissa Shea was that Plante has two employers.

The committee, with the exception of Pepe, approved the contract. Collins was absent.

Plante's salary for the new position is $137,700.



***


The School Committee recognized 28 teachers for their selection as the recipients of this year's Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards.

Springfield Public Schools Senior Administrator Mary Ellen Baron said the teachers were selected from more than 100 nominations. Winners this year each received cash awards totaling $500.

"I'm proud of all of you. You represent the best of Springfield," Ingram said.

The award-winning teachers were: Joanne Brown, Brookings; Lisa Cupillo, Kennedy Middle School; Kathleen Czarnecki. Gerena; Devon Dennis, Zanetti; Paula Donais, Kiley Middle School; Nicole Falcone, Springfield Academy for Excellence; Sharon Ford, Van Sickle; Michelle Grilli, Lincoln; Tabitha Guess, Freedman; Rebecca Jackson, Renaissance; Dale Kasal, Sci-Tech/Putnam High Schools; Jon Letendre, Forest Park Middle School; Renee Lodi, District Science Department; Jodi Lucas, Boland; Diane Mackie, Central High School; Kerrie Mancino, Sumner; Gail Manuel, Kensington; Heidi McEwen, Chestnut Middle School; Carolann Motto, Johnson/Cornerstone Coach; Linh Nguyen, Springfield Academy for Excellence; Mary Outhuse, Homer; Susan Restivo, White; Ann-Marie Rosberg, Harris; Patrice Struziak, Ellis; Sara Tourscher, Duggan; and Audrey Wojczyk, Ells.

The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, the Davis Foundation, MassMutual Financial Group, the YMCA of Greater Springfield and Southworth Paper Company of Agawam are the sponsors of the awards.

Ingram said, "It takes a team to educate a child, but teachers are the most critical players on that team. It's such a pleasure for me every year to have this opportunity to recognize teacher excellence. These 28 teachers are just a sampling of the many other great teachers in our schools."



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