Superintendent of Schools
Thank You, Mr. Loprete.
To all of the students of the class of 2025 and their families and caregivers, good evening. It is my honor to join you here tonight and to share a few thoughts with you before you take those steps to receive your diplomas.
As always, it’s important for me to thank those who made this ceremony possible. The parents, guardians, and caregivers who have organized the drop-offs and pick-ups, helped with homework, and reminded them to get off the phone and head to bed, thank you.
To our high school administration, Mr. Loprete and Ms. Alonzo, and the senior advisors, who have taken so much time to plan and guide our students through the many experiences this year, including the honor ceremonies, proms, and senior events of the past weeks;
To our educators, counselors, and staff, thank you for inspiring our students and in some instances being the reason somebody came to school that day. Instilling a sense of belonging is your greatest charge and you have made it your mission to welcome all students into our classrooms every day.
There are many others whom I would also like to thank, from the facilities team who have made everything possible this evening, to the food service team, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, administrative assistants, coaches, and administrators who have all played a role in making our schools safe and supportive environments for our students to thrive.
And to Mr. Friedman and the members of our school committee I want to extend my gratitude for your commitment to the policy and financial best interests of our schools and town. We are truly all in this together for the best interest of our students.
When I’m asked about what are some of the things that make North Reading a special place, I consider what makes us unique. The students, for sure, are not only high achievers and talented artists, performers, and athletes, but they are also good and kind people. They hold doors for you. They say hello in the hallways. They serve their community and care about their school and town.
The staff are dedicated, hard working, and innovative. One of my favorite parts of this graduation ceremony is to hear the shout outs to the teachers who have made a difference in our students’ lives. And for so many educators, when they come here, they stay. They make friends among their colleagues, they are visible at concerts, dances, sporting events, parades, and Eagle Scout ceremonies, and they are here tonight in great numbers to celebrate our students.
And when I reflect on why this is such a wonderful place to work, I also consider the longevity of our administrators as well, and the impact this has on our school culture. Having heard the stories from friends who have lived through seven principals in six years, I know that consistent leadership truly makes a difference for our schools.
The recent trend is for 56% of those graduating college to remain in their job for two years or less. Moving around offers opportunities for growth and new experiences. You’re going to be able to work from home, perhaps living in one city while technically being employed in another, and never having to go into the office. The concept of employer loyalty is often seen as outdated, but as you can imagine, there are also many great benefits for you as an individual when you find yourself a part of a community, the way that you have for these past four years at North Reading High School.
I’ve been an administrator in this district for 15 years, and in that time we have only hired three principals, and two of those were filled from within. This year I was a part of four search committees, involving multiple stakeholders, in order to identify the next leaders in our district.
At this time I want to take a moment to acknowledge those wonderful administrators who are moving on to the next phase of their lives.
How many of our graduating students attended the Little school? Another joy of leading this district is to consider how while each of our three elementary schools delivers a consistent curriculum each has its own unique culture and traditions that guide the student experience. Batchelder Bulldogs have popsicle socials, Hood Hound Dogs have a fun run, and for Little School Labradors I’m sure you remember those winter concerts, large scale musicals, turkey trots, family fitness nights, and top dog awards. While many of these events happen across all three schools, it is wonderful how each elementary community, with the support of their parent organizations and school leadership, find a way to make it distinctly their own.
Earlier this week, I was able to celebrate Principal Christine Molle at the Little School Courtyard ceremony, an annual tradition where we recognize retirees, which included Heidi Kasle, Leslie Mazzone, Pat Patalano, and Susan Welch. It was a wonderful turnout for friends, family, and past and present members of the Little School community.
Mrs. Molle began her time in North Reading in 2004 as a first grade teacher before moving on to become a third grade teacher at the Little and eventually in 2010 she became the principal in that same building. Over the next 15 years, she led her school to earn Blue Ribbon status, an honor that is nationally recognized, and once you are a Blue Ribbon school you are always a blue ribbon school. Mrs. Molle was passionate about literacy, instrumental in bringing in new science and mathematics programs to the district, and on a personal note she was always the first person to give me feedback on our strategic plans and initiatives and to catch any typos in my communications. What I’ve learned most about Mrs. Molle while walking the buildings with her is just how much she cares about each and every student, and those students and staff will miss her presence and leadership. Please join me in wishing her the very best in retirement.
The second person I’d like to acknowledge tonight is Mr. David Johnson, our School Athletic Director and physical education teacher. Just the other day at the baseball game on a Sunday morning I asked Dave if he ever estimated how many hours he has spent on the sidelines of North Reading competitions over the years. In his head he started to do some quick math: 10-12 games a season times 25 sports times 18 years plus playoffs and practices. And he turned and gave me a smile, telling me he loved every minute of it. I don’t know that I’ve ever been to an athletic event here in North Reading where I haven’t seen Mr. Johnson. I’ve had the pleasure of standing beside him for many playoff runs, cheering on our teams at Gillette Stadium, TD Garden, golf courses, hockey arenas, courts, courses, tracks, and pools. In his nearly two decades on the job here the role has become more complex as he manages referees, buses, field schedules, co-ops, weather, rule changes, and the incredibly good problem of having so many of our talented teams and athletes succeed deep into the postseason.
But even more so than the winning that has become synonymous with Hornet athletics is the character of our student-athletes and coaches that Mr. Johnson takes the time to recognize and celebrate through social media posts, newspaper articles, and recognition by the Cape Ann League and at the state level. He is so humble and committed to sharing the accolades that he has spent a good portion of his time this past year helping to recognize and name our athletic fields after those in our community who have contributed to the student experience. But this evening, it is his legacy and a recognition of his service to the district and to our student-athletes that I want to acknowledge, as the impact of Mr. Johnson’s leadership will be long remembered in our fields, stadiums, and classrooms here in North Reading.
Finally, I must pay tribute to Mr. Loprete, who along with Ms. Catherine Francis is retiring this year from North Reading high school.
When Mr. Loprete was a finalist for the Assistant Principal job back in 2010 I received a call from someone I respect very much selling his praises as a great leader, teacher, and coach. I passed that recommendation along to Mr. Bernard but I could tell from the way he responded that he already made his selection and that he knew AJ would be a great addition to the high school team. It was fitting that when Mr. Bernard became Superintendent that Mr. Loprete moved up into the role of high school principal over 10 years ago.
In those years I have worked closely with Mr. Loprete on so many initiatives and ideas, and celebrated so many fantastic occasions. There are too many to count. All will agree that his job is often the most challenging in K-12 education, as he’s always on duty, responding to the needs of the building, the students, and the staff by proactively providing solutions and resolving matters that are challenging to say the least. His firm commitment to always do what is right, what is fair and consistent, has guided us through many challenging situations and to introduce so many new traditions and experiences for our students over these past 15 years is truly remarkable. He was there when we opened the doors to our new school building, became principal in 2014, was visible in the hallways, sometimes in a kilt, a Star Wars costume, or dressed as a boiler maker, but he was there to share that special bond with the students and staff and to make everyone proud to be a Hornet.
On a personal note I will miss him throwing out lines from classic 1970s films and asking “name the movie,” or somehow finding a way to connect any aspect of our current conversation to an episode of Seinfeld, and always offering me a can of the newest flavor of Spindrift sparkling water that I just have to try.
In our recent interviews for administrative positions we included a similar scenario-type question: What do you do when it’s 7 a.m., the buses are late, the internet is down and MCAS testing is scheduled for first period, you receive an email that the PAC appears to be double booked for a Masquers performance and a town meeting that evening, when your phone rings and it’s the Superintendent calling to inform you that there will be a routine unannounced visit from the Department of Elementary and Secondary education this morning and also a reminder that he needs a copy of your PowerPoint for the upcoming school committee meeting. What do you do first?
While this brings a smile to the candidate’s face, what we are truly looking for is how their mind races as they go through the process of figuring out how to balance the many challenges and decisions that a leader must make every single day. And what I have learned and would like to pass along to you, is that they are all equally important.
Whether it is making sure that all the MCAS materials have been returned properly or if an individual student has a ride home at the end of a long day. From securing the timing and logistics for a championship on the turf field to making sure the junior varsity players have their uniforms prepped and ready to go. From looking at data to ensure that students have met their learning targets and are prepared for college and careers, to having an extra box of tissues for the parents who are dropping their children off at Kindergarten and trusting their children with us for the first time. These are all essential, and they do it, every day, for you.
This is why I was so proud of the Class of 2025, who along with some members of the community, approached our leadership team with the request to organize a Senior Clap out, a new tradition we are piloting next week where they will return to their elementary schools to say goodbye and thank you to many of the educators who have helped them along the way. I’ve met with Mr. Loprete, Owen Phillips, your Vice President, and our elementary leaders to organize this event that has been a great addition in many other communities.
As you stand here tonight, and as you look back at your four years in high school, three years in middle school, and your days as a Bulldog, Hound Dog, or Labrador, remember those moments where you took the time to celebrate. The art shows, the bows you took on stage, those senior nights on the athletic field, the pep rallies, grand marches, and the photos at field days, in the parking lots, and on your front steps on your first day of school. You’ve come a long way to be here tonight and to earn this honor, and no matter where life takes you, you will always be a member of our Hornet community and family.
Be well and God Bless.