Full house tonight: innovation schools

We've got a full house tonight: plenty of people here to testify on innovation, recess, special ed.
Public hearing on innovation schools
School Committee will deliberate and vote at next Thursday's meeting
with apologies in advance for all the names I miss
publishing as I go...updating as the testimony continues 


Woodland Academy
Tammy Boyle, LDC collaborator for the WPS
that's Literacy by Design, which is the Gates Foundation grant
she's citing a number of works on the bibliography that are being used
points out that Woodland Academy teachers have had their work published
Mom with 3 kids at Woodland (who brought one of her sons)
"realized the potential" in Main South
"strong parents and family involvement"...parents enthusiastic
school psychologist for WPS, board member of Boys and Girls Club
"what an important opportunity this is not only for Woodland Academy, but also for the Boys and Girls Club"
"we'd like the community to know...Boys and Girls Club would like to offer opportunities to the students at Woodland Academy for as low as $25 a year"
hoping to open at hours and for younger kids that it generally doesn't serve
"helping youth develop leadership skills"
Mother of two kids at Woodland who volunteers at school
"supporting this plan...so they can learn differently"
"with the approval of this plan we know that we will have great results"
"focus on what's best for students"
Tom Del Prete, professor at Clark
"getting three for one..speaking for" Woodland, UPCS, Goddard
"stay true to the real purpose of the innovation schools to use autonomy in a wise way"
"really fulfill that obligation under the legislation"
"a network of learning and a network of support"
"convinced that they mean a new and more hopeful future for the children of Main South"
UPCS
parents of children at UPCS (and graduates): two have graduated from college and two still at UPCS
have lived in Main South over 18 years
"very happy and lucky that our kids were part of this school"
representing the parent council: "advocate for our children"
faculty member representing her colleagues: speaking on their behalf
"we knew that our school would be perfect for this special status"
"serve as the foundation for the next stage for our school"
"a public school can indeed be innovative"
"despite our success, we've always been dedicated to finding ways to do our jobs better"
parent of children at UPCS and Goddard
"as you know, most of the parents in Main South are there for the schools, not for the neighborhood"
"I really honestly feel like vomiting when I see what goes on there"
"what holds the parents there is the success of the school"
"support the work as a team"
"we believe our children deserve better...it's on your head and it's your hands"
"we'll remember you on voting day"
the Mayor comments "duly noted"
co-chair of CPPAC, professor at Clark (sorry, Eric, I can't spell your last name)
"given the state of" discussion around public schools in our country, "historic occasion" to show that teachers and parents working together
Mayor comments on Eric's "As I See It" earlier this week, to which I will link later
Goddard School
after a bit of a struggle around alphabetical order...
focused instructional coach at the Goddard School, representing the staff
"working collaboratively" high quality teaching and learning
"we are excited about the autonomies that being an innovation school will provide"
 "putting these skills within the context of the Common Core standards"
alignment with the South quadrant
"very excited to pilot the redesign" of the report card
"skills, experience and knowledge"
teacher at the school (1st, 2nd, now ELL) for 19 years, working with community in Main South for 25 years
"I speak on behalf of the needs of English Language Learners"
"will help lower the dropout rate of the English Language Learners"
"should be the next step for the Goddard School"
second grade teacher at Goddard reading something from the school nurse
"have met many children and families who would benefit from such innovation"
shelter, clothing, rest, food...exposure to books, music, and art
"will offer the children of the Goddard School" access to health care
"will promote wellness and will help these children come to school healthy and ready to learn"
United Methodist pastor
"experience Dr. Robert Goddard Day at Goddard School...celebration of learning"
"the Dr. Robert Goddard parade.."
"already is a place of creativity and innovation and learning various ways"
"watering kids as much as plants"
someone from Family Health Center: supporting innovation schools proposals at innovation schools (save Chandler)
"catalyst for many programs that support our mutual goal of keeping kids healthy...and on track to graduation"
"bring these programs to the schools at no cost to the district"
Wyatt Wade, president of Davis Publications
"local education publisher with global reach..since 1901"
"continue to support the Worcester Public Schools"
"we've teamed up with researchers...linked to science research"
"closing the achievement gap for underrepresented populations"
Goddard Scholars (at Sullivan Middle)
Bob Jennings, principal of Sullivan (I should mention that he's not the primary presenter, different from other groups)
"the team has worked extremely hard" 
"students in the Goddard Scholars Academy deserve to reach their full potential"
Diane Duratti, teacher at Sullivan (who is not in the Goddard Scholars program)
"commitment to best practice and collaboration"
"has already affected the other academies at Sullivan"
"thanks to the Goddard initiave, we are seeing many innovations at Sullivan"
Chandler Magnet
Ivonne Perez, principal
"that we believe is going to make a difference in our students"

"to ask you to support our plan, and those of our colleagues"
Mary-Jo Marion, from the Latino Education Institute
LEI, taking kids after school the past eight years
"losing time on the academic piece" while they learn English
"Spanish-speaking skills a thing we can share with students there"
"by the end of the first two years, you'd have students speaking both languages"
"already found ten Spanish-speaking Worcester State students who will be there for the whole day"
Licensure officer at Worcester State
Chandler Magnet has been a partner for licensing teachers
"enthusiastically supports Chandler Magnet's plan"
"working with English Language Learners...with their families and with their faculty"
the students at WSU have adopted the school library
already spent the day cleaning, repairing, renovating the library