Emphasizing a Culture of Belonging

This post was originally published as the Superintendent's Corner column in the Fall 2021 edition of the Shrewsbury School Journal

As I write this, we have completed a little more than the first quarter of the school year, during which our students, families, and staff have experienced both triumphs and challenges. We began the year celebrating the return of full-time, in-person learning for all of our students and the opening of the extraordinary new Major Howard W. Beal School, while also contemplating how the continuation of the pandemic and the disruptions of the prior two school years would affect our students. Over the past two and a half months, we have seen many of our students thriving in academics, in the arts, in athletics, and in co-curricular activities as the experience of school has returned closer to “normal.” At the same time, we have seen many students struggling with learning, motivation, mental health, and behavior to a much more significant degree than before the pandemic. Sometimes, these are the same students who are thriving in some ways and struggling in others.

It would have been naive to think that things would simply get back to “normal'' given the upheaval so many of our children, families, and staff members experienced since March of 2020. As I expressed to our staff in my opening day remarks, it is important that we not fall into the trap of overfocusing on potential “learning loss” or to approach this year as a race to “catch up” on what students missed. This kind of approach can unintentionally send the message to our students that the pandemic caused them to be damaged goods who somehow need to be “fixed,” and that it is academic performance that is the be-all and end-all goal of their school experience. While learning is, of course, the central purpose of our schools, we must attend to our children’s overall well-being in order to create the conditions where effective learning can take place. More importantly, we must do this because our primary responsibility is to meet our duty to care for our children’s health, safety, and well-being.

Attending to our students’ social, emotional, and mental health needs is critically important, and we have taken various steps to increase our capacity to do so, from adding programming aimed at fostering social and emotional competencies for all students, to adding additional counseling staff to provide support for students who need additional assistance. In addition to targeted approaches, we are intentionally emphasizing creating a culture of belonging, where all members of our school community feel accepted unconditionally, regardless of whatever human differences are part of who they are.

While our schools’ core purpose is to advance student learning, we know that this is best achieved in a culture of caring and positive relationships. As we continue to make our way through the many challenges posed by our current circumstances, we will strive to create an environment of unconditional belonging that creates fertile ground for our students to learn and grow.

Extraordinary Efforts During an Extraordinary Time

This post is adapted from my graduation remarks to the Shrewsbury High School Class of 2021

Usually, you seniors are begging for snow days because you don’t have to make them up at the end of the year, but as you know, this was a very different kind of year.  Little did you know back in early March 2020 that I would be calling a “no school day” because of concerns about a virus, followed by not returning to school for the rest of your junior year and then attending school in-person on alternating days or entirely from home for most or all of your senior year. As was mentioned at last night’s Commemoration, this year part of “senioritis” was actually wanting to come to school more often, and thank goodness that became possible.

Of course, forecasting the weather doesn’t compare to the frustrations we all felt with not being able to forecast the evolution of a pandemic that has affected all of us deeply – and too many tragically due to the loss of loved ones.  I truly wish that your high school experience wasn’t interrupted and impacted in so many difficult ways that were beyond your control.  As a result of the circumstances, many important decisions needed to be made about how we would educate you and all of our students from preschool through high school during this long-duration health emergency.  I am quite sure that there were times when my decisions were imperfect and caused you frustration and difficulties, and for that I am sorry.  I think it is important to commend you for persevering through it all, to commend your families for supporting you, and to commend all of the Shrewsbury educators and support staff who worked incredibly hard to adapt in order to meet your needs to the best of their abilities.  I will be forever grateful for everything that all of you – students, families, and school staff – did to navigate through these challenges, and I ask that you all take a moment to cheer and applaud one another for your extraordinary efforts during what has been an extraordinary time.

This past year has indeed been extraordinary, and your experiences have become a part of the person you are now and will influence the person you will become.  I have no doubt that you are better equipped to adapt to challenges, and that you are better able to respond to the reality that things can change quickly and drastically.   As the pandemic is (hopefully) coming to a close, there are still an abundance of challenges to take on, and our society needs thoughtful and motivated young people like you to use what you have learned from your families, from your friends, from school, and from these extraordinary experiences of the past year to make a positive difference. 

So, here is my final forecast for the Class of 2021.  I’m predicting you will live lives that model respect and kindness; that use the knowledge and skills you have learned to make significant contributions to the well-being of others and your community; and that make a positive difference for those who are fortunate to receive your friendship and love.  I wish you the brightest of skies ahead, and I am confident that after this year that you have what it takes to weather the inevitable storms.  Godspeed, and congratulations Class of 2021!

Exhausted. Worried. Proud. Hopeful.

This post was originally published as the Superintendent's Corner column in the Winter 2021 edition of the Shrewsbury School Journal


As I write this in mid-March, just after the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that our school communities are characterized by a mix of exhaustion, worry, pride, and hope.

Exhaustion, because our students, parents, educators, and support staff have expended tremendous time and energy to adapt to constantly changing circumstances over the past year.

Worry, because of very real concerns regarding the negative effects of this pandemic on too many students’ mental health and well-being, and/or their academic progress.

Pride, because of the innovative ways that educational experiences have been redesigned to meet students’ needs despite many obstacles; the myriad ways in which educators and support staff have gone so far above and beyond the call of duty; and the numerous ways in which families have been flexible and supportive of so much of their children’s learning happening in their homes.

Hope, because of the recent reduction in COVID-19 case counts, the significant increase in vaccinations, and the imminent reopening of our schools to full, five-day per week instruction.

As your superintendent, as I reflect on this past year, I am humbled by what I have witnessed. From my vantage point, I have the benefit of seeing the ways in which so many have risen to the occasion to make things work, including:

• The incredible efforts staff members have made to support students’ well-being, and the innovative solutions they’ve devised to teach them well.

• The deep dedication of support staff who have efficiently and effectively managed our offices and operations, maintained our technology, fed our students, cleaned our buildings, and transported our students.

• The significant sacrifices made and the support given by parents to help their children adapt to a new educational model that required learning remotely from home.

• The amazing academic, artistic, musical, and athletic achievements of our students, which they have accomplished through alternative, non-traditional approaches made possible by their educators and families.

• The intensive and skillful efforts that our district’s leaders have tirelessly given to manage the enormous volume of complicated work necessary to navigate the unprecedented demands placed upon our schools.

• The supportive contributions of our partners in other town departments that keep our students and staff safe, our buildings clean and well-maintained, and our operations functioning.

• The strong support and advocacy provided by the School Committee on behalf of our students and staff.

I am deeply grateful to everyone who has made a difference for our schools during these difficult times. While imperfect, I believe that these efforts have provided our students with an educational experience that has been as safe, stable, and effective as possible.

Our students, staff, and families are understandably exhausted by what has been required of them, and they are justifiably worried by the realities we face in recovering from the effects of the pandemic. At the same time, they should rightfully be proud of what they have accomplished under extremely challenging circumstances, and have good reason to be hopeful as we all look with anticipation to better days ahead.