By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Superintendent Kristen Vogel unveiled her goals for the 2023-2024 academic year during a recent School Committee meeting.
Vogel said the goals she established as part of the state-mandated superintendent evaluation system pertain to district improvement, professional practice and student learning. Similar to previous years, she said the goals are connected to the School Department’s District Strategy and school improvement plans.
District improvement goal
Vogel said the district improvement goal she established pertains to curriculum and instruction.
“I will support our educators and leadership with the expansion of a literacy curriculum in grades K-5, a science curriculum in grades 6 and 7, and full implementation of Vision of the Graduate at the high school,” said Vogel. “I will also support the review and development of new academic schedules at both the middle school and the high school.”
In order to accomplish the goal, Vogel said she will continue providing “leadership and teacher training on the implementation of tiered systems of support, inclusive instructional practices, and safe and supportive classrooms.”
“I will provide professional development and coaching to the leadership team on the implementation of culturally-responsive curriculum and teaching practices,” said Vogel.
Vogel said she will be providing professional development opportunities to support fifth grade teachers with implementing the Wit and Wisdom literacy curriculum. She will also be providing professional development opportunities to middle school educators while they work toward implementing the “OpenSciEd” science curriculum in grades 6 and 7.
“I will also be supporting the full implementation of Vision of the Graduate at Lynnfield High School and begin expanding it to the rest of the district,” added Vogel.
Vogel will also continue conducting classroom observations with the Administrative Leadership Team (ALT) and curriculum directors to evaluate teachers’ instructional practices.
Professional practice goal
Vogel said the professional practice goal she developed involves relationship building with students and educators.
“I will continue to build relationships with students and elevate student voice by expanding the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council,” said Vogel. “I will also continue to build relationships with educators and students through the ‘Superintendent in Residence’ at each school.”
In addition to expanding the Superintendent’s Advisory Councils at the secondary schools, Vogel is also creating similar councils at both elementary schools that will be comprised of fourth-graders. She said the revamped secondary school councils and new fourth grade councils will be “more inclusive.”
Vogel said she will be continuing her “Superintendent in Residence” at each school this academic year. Last year, she stayed at each school for three consecutive days as part of her residency.
Additionally, Vogel said she will be working to “improve communication with key stakeholders through monthly updates and short videos on key topics.”
“I will provide opportunities for students and student groups to present at School Committee meetings,” said Vogel. “I am also looking to develop a non-voting student representative seat to the School Committee. I am very excited about that.”
School Committee member Kate DePrizio expressed her support for adding a non-voting student representative to the board. She inquired how the student representative will be selected.
“There are actually a number of communities in Massachusetts that do have a seat for a student on a school committee,” said Vogel. “There is actually an entire association in Massachusetts that supports student representatives on school committees.”
Vogel noted that Manchester-Essex Regional High School, which is where LHS Principal Patricia Puglisi worked for a decade, has a student representative serving on that school board.
“She is very familiar with the process and will be helping me with this,” said Vogel. “We will have to write up expectations and there will be an opportunity for kids to run for this position. They will need recommendations from teachers. An election will most likely be held in June at the high school for the seat that will begin the next school year. We are thinking it will be a two-year term so there is some consistency compared to a one-year term. They will obviously be non-voting, but they will have the ability to participate in discussions that the committee has.”
Student learning goal
Vogel said the student learning goal she established pertains to “student-centered instruction.”
“I will collaborate with the leadership team and educators to strengthen instructional practices with a focus on Universal Design for Learning and the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS),” said Vogel. “This work will include the implementation of interventions and supports for all students, including professional development.”
In order to implement the goal, Vogel said she will continue to ensure that educators receive professional development and coaching around MTSS and the Universal Design for Learning framework.
“I will work to create and support systemic change by each administrator developing a 100-Day Challenge, aligned to our District Strategy and school improvement plans,” said Vogel. “I will also provide the leadership team the opportunity to share challenges and successes with the 100-Day Challenge during monthly ALT meetings.”
In response to a question from DePrizio, Vogel said the 100-Day Challenges initiative is the result of the book “100-Day Leaders: Turning Short-Term Wins Into Long-Term Success in Schools (A 100-Day Action Plan for Meaningful School Improvement)” by Douglas Reeves and Robert Eaker that school administrators read last year.
“It’s about how you can create systemic change in a district in 100 days,” said Vogel. “Each of our leaders, whether they are a building leader or a director, has identified a 100-Day Challenge.”
Vogel also said she will be supporting the secondary schools as both buildings work toward implementing new schedules.