Published in the August 8, 2017 edition.
WAKEFIELD — School Superintendent Dr. Kim Smith has announced that Wakefield Public Schools will host a visit from State Representative Justin H. Woodson of Hawaii on Thursday, Aug. 10. Rep. Woodson represents District 9, which includes Kahului, Puunene, Old Sand Hills, and Maui Lani.
Rep. Woodson is heading a delegation coming to learn how public education works in Massachusetts. The Hawaii State Legislature has direct oversight of education, and Representative Woodson is Chair of the House Committee on Education. Representative Woodson and several other members of his delegation plan to visit the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) staff on Thursday morning to learn more about how educational approaches in Massachusetts differ from Hawaii’s system.
According to Smith, when Representative Woodson asked DESE about visiting a Massachusetts school district to learn more about Education Reform with strategies that have been most impactful, DESE recommended the Wakefield Public Schools.
“I enthusiastically accepted the offer to host the Hawaiian delegation in the afternoon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.” Smith said.
“With the time allotted for touring schools and hosting discussion, I plan to take the delegation to the Galvin and Greenwood schools, contrasting new and old facilities that host consistent, high quality curriculum, instruction and technology,” Smith added. “You can bet that the Hawaiian delegation will leave with WPS ‘Inspire the Love of Learning’ souvenirs! I am really looking forward to proudly sharing information about the Wakefield Public Schools.”