Worcester Public Schools - From Here, Anywhere... Together

June 2023

Dear Worcester Public Schools Families and Community:

I have nearly completed my first year as your Superintendent, and I continue to be inspired with the beauty, brilliance, and possibilities of Worcester Public Schools. The teachers and staff, families and scholars make WPS a phenomenal place to work and lead. I want to highlight a few celebrations and accomplishments from the past year and share some news updates.

Summer Programs
WPS will host a variety of summer enrichment opportunities. To enroll your child in summer programs at Worcester Public Schools, please visit worcesterschools.org or speak with staff at your child’s school.

High School Graduations
Congratulations to the Class of 2023! This year, we anticipate Worcester Public Schools will continue to have the highest graduation rate among urban districts in Massachusetts. Our graduates have worked tirelessly – and through a pandemic – to reach this milestone with the support of teachers, staff, family, and our collective community. Whether it’s working toward a trade through apprenticeships, bravely serving in the military, or being accepted to a higher learning institution, our graduates’ achievements are a testament to our community. Read the Telegram and Gazette article about our amazing valedictorians.

Seal of Biliteracy
On May 26, 121 seniors received the Seal of Bilteracy, an official designation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Seal is placed on transcripts or diplomas to show colleges or employers a graduate has attained high functional proficiency in English and one other language. Languages represented were Albanian, Arabic, American Sign Language, Luganda, Italian, Spanish, Swahili, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Twi.

Spoken Word Celebration
The Spoken Word Celebration is new this year and was designed to celebrate language and literacy throughout the district. Students were encouraged to recite a poem or essay in their language of choice. The work could be from a favorite poet, author or student-created. Watch a short video of our student’s magnificent work.

Celebrating Our Educators and Staff
Worcester Public Schools’ annual Evening of Celebration was held on May 9 at South High Community School. This memorable event recognized outstanding contributions in our schools. Take a moment to read more about the teachers and staff who made a positive difference in the lives of our scholars.

Superintendent Student Advisory Committee
One of the most satisfying aspects of my work was uplifting student voice through the enhancement of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee. Each month, we met with nearly 60 high school students who volunteered to participate in leadership-building activities and provide feedback about their experiences. In a recent meeting, we reflected on the lingering effects of the pandemic, and how the isolation period continues to impact mental health. We are using this feedback to develop plans to enhance positive culture and climate in all schools.

Key Learnings and Looking Forward
As a leader of a learning organization, it is crucial that I reflect on key learnings and opportunities for improvement. The City of Worcester is filled with people with different perspectives and experiences. It is these experiences that make us a dynamic and complex city. Listening to the different views and honoring them while leading a large organization will always be a challenge. As your district leader, I must strike a balance between valuing individual differences and making decisions on behalf of the whole while maintaining alignment with WPS core values. Next school year, we will collaboratively refine district core values. I look forward to doing this with the entire WPS community.

With collaboration in mind, I would like to share some information about work that will begin to take shape next year:

• A Vision of a Learner: We have begun to work with stakeholders on formulating, A Vision of a Learner, which will outline key characteristics and skills that all Worcester Public Schools students should master upon graduation to ensure all students are future-ready. WPS will be a district leading the way of innovation and support for our staff and scholars. We will be launching the district’s revised Strategic Plan next year, which will incorporate A Vision of a Learner and bring it to life.

• In order to ensure schools are receiving the support they need and to bolster innovative learning, we are reorganizing our district-level staff into four teams based on the district’s geographic quadrants. These staff, which include special education staff, technology and instructional coaches, behavioral specialists, and others, will now work on a team that serves a quadrant of the district instead of the current district-wide structure. The idea is to provide more direct support to schools and build familiarity between schools and district support staff.

I sincerely wish you and your family a summer vacation filled with many positive memories. It is the time to rejuvenate, replenish, connect with family and friends and appreciate the beauty, brilliance and possibilities that abound living in Worcester. From here, anywhere…together!

Sincerely,
Rachel H. Monarrez, PhD
Superintendent of Schools