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Date: 1/2/2019
WILBRAHAM – While Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley just recently visited the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (HWRSD), Superintendent Albert Ganem suggested a return trip could take place in the near future.
Riley visited Wilbraham Middle School (WMS) for what Ganem called “a really nice visit,” but the superintendent also admitted the appointment was short-lived and even cut short. Riley was scheduled to visit Green Meadows in Hampden as well, but that was eliminated from the slate.
“Literally, when he walked through the front door of Wilbraham Middle School, he said, ‘By the way, I’ve got to cut this even shorter,’ but we got a good hour,” Ganem said.
Ganem also said that he has developed a strong relationship with the commissioner through a number of different opportunities to meet and speak with him and had the chance to discuss future visits this January to the district that would be inclusive of more schools.
“Hopefully after the holidays he’ll have a chance to visit and let us showcase all our schools,” Ganem said. “He also was very interested in what was happening at Green Meadows with the K-8.”
A date was not confirmed, however, Ganem stressed.
Riley toured the WMS, met with representatives of the district and Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee members Sherill Caruana and Michelle Emirzian, public officials such as state Rep. Angelo Puppolo Jr., as well as WMS teachers and students.
While the commissioner’s visit was short due to a tight schedule that included visits to other districts, Ganem said it was a positive and productive hour.
“It was a nice opportunity for us to talk about some of the really good things that are happening in our school district,” he said, later adding superintendents at other districts indicated to him afterward that they were envious that HWRSD was selected for a visit from the commissioner.
Caruana lauded the student ambassadors leading the tour and also noted the students felt the middle school model appeared to be working in a more efficient and practical manner than the year prior.
Ganem added teachers also weighed in on the adjustment to new scheduling and that the commissioner positively emphasized the way teachers worked together.
“That’s where we’re really going to get some good things happening – teachers working together, principals working together, and superintendents working together,” he said.
Emirzian also credited the students, pointing out their ability to stay focused and on task in spite of the disruption of the large contingent that followed the commissioner.