Superintendent's Update: District Plan
Dr. Victoria L. Greer, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Lyndsay Brown, Chief Strategy Officer
ELA: The Science of Reading
Emily Bryan, K-12 ELA/Literacy Coordinator
Dr. Carolyn L. Turk, Deputy Superintendent
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7d. Consent Agenda:WHEREAS: Given the shortage of teachers supporting our Bilingual Immersion Programs and School; and
WHEREAS: Given that two of the main constraints in recruiting bilingual teachers are having the appropriate visa to work in the US and having the appropriate licensure to teach in Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS: Given that there are many qualified teachers with licensure to teach in other states or countries, for whom the Bilingual Immersion Programs and School need to request waivers and show they are the best candidate over other Massachusetts licensed candidates; and
WHEREAS: Given the barriers faced by teachers of historically disadvantaged communities to obtain licensures in Massachusetts, like cost, number of exams, and a complicated process for even native English-speaking teachers and even more complicated for a non-native English-speaking teacher,
WHEREAS: Given that the district does not have or retain an immigration lawyer that can facilitate the visa applications; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the district provide an updated personnel practice that details the kind of recruitment and support for visas for non-citizens and non-permanent residents and for Massachusetts teaching licensures for otherwise qualified candidates to ensure our Bilingual Immersion Programs and School are fully staffed.
WHEREAS: Maria Luisa de Mederios Raposo will be retiring after twenty-one years of exemplary service to our students; and
WHEREAS: Luisa was born and raised in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel where she attended Colégio de São Francisco Xavier in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel; and
WHEREAS: Luisa’s first job was at Howdy’s Beef Burgers, New Bedford; and
WHEREAS: Luisa is a distinguished graduate of Brandeis University and University of Illinois where she received her master’s and worked at the Listening Center at Brandeis University where she edited cassettes of an oral history project about holocaust survivors; and
WHEREAS: Luisa’s career in education has spanned over forty-six years starting at the Condon School in South Boston as well as Teaching English and History at the University of the Azores and then concluding in Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS: Luisa was a beloved Olá teacher at the Harrington and Martin Luther King, Jr. Open Schools since 2001; and
WHEREAS: During her tenure as an Olá teacher, Luisa brought an impressive ability to adapt Social Studies, Science and ELA curriculum into Portuguese so that students could learn everything expected of them as well as the Portuguese Language and culture; and
WHEREAS: Besides her distinguished career, Luisa loves playing tennis and listening to loud music: Motown, 70’s hits/violin/piano concerto, opera and country music and will return to her homeland of São Miguel, Azores, Portugal where she will spend her time reading novels and enjoying sunsets over the ocean with the man she loves.; and
WHEREAS: Luisa has worked tirelessly to instill respect for all Portuguese speaking cultures as well as a joy for learning a second language and has earned the respect, admiration and gratitude of so many throughout the community; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the School Committee go on record thanking Maria Luisa de Medeiros Raposo for her exceptional twenty-one years of service to the Cambridge Public Schools and wishing her a joyful retirement; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Executive Secretary be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Maria Luisa de Medeiros Raposo on behalf of the entire Committee.
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Public Schools prioritize students' equitable access to educational opportunities and sense of belonging in school communities; and
WHEREAS: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a long history of standing for civil rights, including advocacy for a bill of rights in the U.S. Constitution; and
WHEREAS: Massachusetts codified gender identity as a protected class in the 2011 Act Relative to Gender Identity; and
WHEREAS: All children deserve a safe environment in which to grow up; and
WHEREAS: Some state governments are now criminalizing supportive medical care for trans individuals, moving to bar families from traveling to access such care, and otherwise violating the civil rights of trans children and their families; and
WHEREAS: The defense of the civil rights of the historically marginalized is contained within the first article of the Massachusetts Constitution right of "seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness;" now therefore be it
RESOLVED: that the Cambridge School Committee calls upon the General Court of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts to join with other states in the passage of so-called "sanctuary" laws to ensure transgender children and their families have "the power of enjoying, in safety and tranquility, their natural rights and the blessings of life," as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Massachusetts;" and be it further
RESOLVED: that the Executive Secretary to the School Committee forward a copy of this resolution to the Governor, Speaker of the House, Senate President, and Cambridge delegation at the State House.
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the Cambridge School Committee that on Wednesday, June 22, 2022; the Cambridge Public Schools and Cambridge Education Association will hold a Retirement Celebration; and
WHEREAS: The following educators and staff members will be honored: Aishah Abduel-Musa-Fletcher-Maynard Academy, Diane Abu-Eid-Morse School, Michael Ananis-RSTA, Emily Antonitus-Baldwin School, Christina Astrove-Graham & Parks School, Bentman-CRLS, Margaret Beucler-Homebase Program, Julia Bishop-Morse, Joel Burke-CRLS, Carolyn Callendar-Haggerty School, Juan Casillas-Alvarez-CRLS, Helen Chaisson- Tobin School, Lynn Chester-Vassal Lane Upper School, Linda Costa-Baldwin School, Marie Crowley-School Administration, Mildred Crowley-Morse, Claire Dahill-Graham and Parks School, Lorraine Davis-CRLS, Cheryl DePasquale-Graham and Parks School, Isabel Eccles-Morse School, Suzanne Farman-Haggerty School, Judith Farr-Morse School, Diane Francis-Hassett-Haggerty School, Catherine Gerson-Tobin School, Angela Green-School Administration, William Hansis-School Administration, Robin Harris-School Admin., Adrian Hebard-Fletcher-Maynard Academy, Jennifer Hogue-CRLS, Blondine Hyppolite-School Administration, Claudie Jean-Baptiste-Graham & Parks School, Kathleen Johnson-Tobin School, Leslie Jordan-Tobin School, Marie Klein-Tobin School, Leslie Kramer-Haggerty School, Mary-Claire Krebs-Rindge Avenue Upper School, Archy LaSalle-CRLS, Denise Lee-CRLS, Karen Leighton-CRLS, Jane Lindhorst-Haggerty School, Mary Ann Londino-Peabody School, Leslie Loomis-Putnam Avenue Upper School, James Maloney-School Administration, Amatul Mahmud-School Administration, Katherine Mahoney-CRLS, Beth Mayhew-Kennedy-Longfellow School, Jennifer McConnell-CRLS, Susan-Ann McGlennon-Graham & Parks School, Constance McGrath-School Administration, Carolann Nowlan-Fletcher-Maynard School, Gail Nunes-Cambridgeport School, Regina Ota-Rindge Avenue Upper School, Barbara Photopoulos-Peabody School, Debra Pierce-Peabody School, Luisa Raposo-King Open School, David Richardson-Putnam Avenue Upper School, Donna Richardson-CRLS, Denise Rivera-Tobin School, Mary Schaffner-School Administration, Lisa Serio-Vienneau-CRLS, Catherine Serrano-Peabody School, Zuwei Shi-CRLS, Elizabeth Smith MacKenzie-Morse School, Kim Sneed-Johnson-King Open School, Elizabeth Snell-Fraser-Fletcher-Maynard School, Debra Sousa-Peabody School, Donna Sousa-CRLS, Jean Spera-School Administration, Debra Stewart-Vassal Lane Upper School, Laura Sylvan-Vassal Lane Upper School, Catherine Thomas, CRLS, Mary Shinkwin-CRLS, Briget Evans-HSEP, Janice Tingle-School Administration, Ann Viaud-Vassal Lane Upper School, Ricardo Weir-Morse School and Janet Williams-Amigos; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Members of the Cambridge School Committee extend our sincere appreciation for the many years of service to the children of Cambridge and extend its best wishes on their Retirement from the Cambridge Public Schools; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Executive Secretary prepare a formal copy of this resolution to be presented on June 22, 2022 Retirement Celebration at the Le Méridien Hotel, Anderson Roof Garden, Sydney Street, Cambridge.
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