Exclusive Interview with Superintendent

Ligia Noriega-Murphy

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Aiden Luciano Reporter

glad to talk to all the students. The more we communicate, the better our understanding. I fully support students, teachers, and anyone who wants to have their voices heard. I think that’s the best way and it refects as well as afrms our district’s culture of validating student voice. I come from a country where there is not much freedom of expression; therefore I value working in a district that values such freedoms.

Instead of initiating meetings, I prefer to be invited to meetings by students so that they can voice their concerns or questions. I love to communicate. In fact, last year, I met with students twice at the Malden High School gallery. We had good conversations and questions. I answered whatever I could answer within my purview as the Superintendent.

I also met with a few students from Haiti. They were telling me their perspectives and ideas about what can be improved in the school. The Feminism Club members and I had the opportunity to meet as well. They provided invaluable feedback to the design of the code of conduct and the handbook. One of the things they suggested to us was that the code of conduct and handbook should follow the same guidelines. This included the dress code policy.

Do you have plans to gather more student voices? In any of your upcoming decisions?

The answer is absolutely yes! Last year, I was able to meet with many students in our fve middle schools and in our high school. The information students shared with me provided more opportunities to hear their concerns on a wide range of topics from course oferings at the high school to the creating a safe and welcoming school environment.

For example newcomers expressed their feelings about how they were perceived by others especially during lunch time. They gave great suggestions on how to improve the way that we welcome students in our schools.

In other conversations, students expressed the need to have equal instructional time in Math and ELA. Their feedback was extremely important to our equity lens. Right after the meeting, I asked the directors and principals to do a survey of instructional minutes across content and grade levels. Moving this work in the district involves students, educators, principals, parents, caregivers, and community members.

We value students’ input as they bring a critical perspective to