Springfield Educator- Fall 2018

Music man

Vol. 12 No. 2

FALL/WINTER 2018

PHOTO: SEAN BROWNE

Marcos Carreras is overjoyed to be teaching at Springfield Conservatory of the Arts. Story, Page 7.

Come to school, stay in school, excel in school

By Meaghan Casey It may seem like common sense, but any missed school day is a lost opportunity for a student to learn. That’s why Springfield Public Schools is stressing the importance of attendance and its correlation to academic achievement.

“Everyone knows attendance is linked to accountability,” said Springfield Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Lydia Martinez. “It’s an indicator of how successful a student will be.

In order for us to do our job, as educators, we need students in school. We also need staff there every day.”

Both in an academic and social context, students experience decreased engagement and ability if they are chronically absent from school. Research has found that along with test scores,

proficiency rates were lower for students who missed more school.

Patterns of absenteeism can also affect future behaviors and the probability of a student graduating from high school. Martinez says that beginning in third grade, students who read well and have good attendance will have a significantly better chance of graduating on time.

The Hampden County Sheriff’s Office has been a critical partner in boosting attendance. Truancy officers are in the schools, patrolling neighborhoods and making home visits.

On Dec. 13, SPS will host Attendance Matters Day, which will include a competition based on schools’ student and teacher attendance rates that day. Other Attendance Matters events will be scheduled through the remainder of the school year.

INSIDE

Excitement building Page 3

Next level Page 4

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Producing graduates ready for college, career Pediatrician. Military leader.

Electrical engineer. App developer.

Entrepreneur. Mechanic. Educator.

Police officer. Multi-media journalist.

Artist. Plumber. Operations research analyst. Financial advisor. Sports psychologist. Dental hygienist.

Firefighter. Market research analyst.

Carpenter.

DANIEL J. WARWICK Here at Springfield Public Schools we are working to make sure our students graduate ready to achieve 21st-century success, whether they go straight to college after high school, choose to immediately begin their career or to serve our nation by joining the United States military.

Nearly 80 percent of June 2018 graduates reported that they were going directly to college. But their transition to college likely began long before they declared their intentions senior year. For many students, that transition begins with the dual enrollment courses that the district offers

CITY OF SPRINGFIELD DOMENIC J. SARNO, MAYOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE MAYOR DOMENIC J. SARNO, CHAIR CHRISTOPHER COLLINS, VICE CHAIR BARBARA GRESHAM DENISE M. HURST ATTY. PETER MURPHY LATONIA NAYLOR MARIA PEREZ

DELPHINE ZIGWATI STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

PUBLISHED BY: SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DANIEL J. WARWICK, SUPERINTENDENT WWW.SPRINGFIELDPUBLICSCHOOLS.COM

MANAGING EDITOR: AZELL CAVAAN CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1550 MAIN ST. SPRINGFIELD, MA 01103 TEL: 413-787-7100 EXT. 55194 CAVAANA@SPRINGFIELDPUBLICSCHOOLS.COM

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in conjunction with local colleges. Others may realize their college potential as they earn stellar grades in pre- Advanced Placement and then Advanced Placement courses.

Some of our families may gain the confidence to navigate the college application process due to the education and support programs the district offers. Other students may begin to take the idea of college seriously as they sit for the pre-SAT and SAT programming, which we make available free of charge to all students during junior and senior year.

Perhaps some of our young men who may have never considered college have their interest piqued as participants of the 100 Males to College initiative. For some, the goal of attending college may begin long before high school even as they see their elementary teachers proudly wearing college apparel during College and Career Awareness Month in October.

While we are proud of the numbers of students going to college, we are committed to preparing all students for 21stcentury success. Of the graduating class of 2018, more than 20 percent reported plans to join the military or begin their

careers. These students graduated having had technology infused into their classroom experiences because we know that is the future. Many of them graduate having had the opportunity to learn a trade at one of the nation's finest vocational schools. Many will have participated in awardwinning ROTC programming.

We know that there is still more work that we can and must do to ensure that our students graduate prepared to compete in the global economy. Our promise is to never stop working towards that because our students -- who are future pediatricians, military leaders, electrical engineers, app developers, entrepreneurs, mechanics, educators, police officers, multi-media journalists, artists, plumbers, operations research analysts, financial advisors, sports psychologists, dental hygienists, firefighters, market research analysts, carpenters, and more -- deserve nothing less.

Daniel J. Warwick is superintendent of schools.

Gerena: making the grade with air quality Mayor Domenic Sarno, School Superintendent Daniel Warwick, School Committee Member Maria Perez, City Councilor Adam Gomez, and Executive Director of PBRM Patrick Sullivan announced that the indoor air quality at Gerena School continues to be monitored at safe levels. The city performs periodic testing due to water infiltration in Tunnel A from Bernie Avenue.

The city and MSBA have invested more than $5 million for school improvements at Gerena, including a new roof, upgraded boiler, floor remediation in Tunnels A and C, new tunnel pumps and motors, a new indoor playground, and upgrades to safety entrances from the tunnel to the school.

Sarno continues efforts with state officials expressing the need for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to work in conjunction with the city to release the funds necessary to repair the Federal Highway Bridge (Tunnel A roof) on Bernie Avenue.

“We want our residents to understand that the City of Springfield continues to take every precaution to provide a learning environment that is both safe and protective of the children and staff at Gerena School, as well as throughout the entire school district,” said Sarno. “We are at a point that sufficient funds have been invested to keep this building safe and accommodating; however, we need to stay vigilant to ensure that state funds are released for the Bernie Avenue repairs. I am pleased with the current indoor air tests and have told Director Sullivan to continue seasonal air testing at this facility until the tunnel membrane is replaced. The continued testing is necessary to reassure parents that their children are in a safe learning environment.”

"We want our residents to understand that the City of Springfield continues to take every precaution to provide a learning environment that is both SAFE and PROTECTIVE of the children and staff at Gerena School."

— Mayor Domenic Sarno Warwick added, “We are very pleased with the recent tests results. The school district allocates sufficient funds to ensure that air handlers and tunnel pumps are maintained at high standards. Pat Sullivan and I developed a school maintenance plan more than 12 years ago to initiate higher maintenance for the facility and the results today are indicative of the maintenance efforts for Gerena School.”

Perez said that as a resident of the North End community and a School Committee member, she is grateful for the efforts of the mayor and the superintendent of schools to continue monitoring the indoor air quality at

the school. “For years we have been told the air is not safe due to the school’s proximity to the highway. Numerous studies have shown this is not true and the recent air samples taken illustrate very clearly that the indoor air at the school is at safe levels,” said Perez. “I will work with the community to share this information and to collaborate with everyone to understand the next step is cooperation from the Commonwealth to assist us with the replacement of the membrane under Bernie Avenue.”

Gomez said the North End community will be pleased with the continued good news regarding safe indoor air quality at Gerena School. “I will be working with School Committee member Maria Perez and the North End Coalition to inform our community that the indoor air is safe,” he said. “I also look forward to working with Mayor Sarno to identify funding for Tunnel A and appreciate that his administration has listened to this community and has responded with the resources to keep this school safe.”

Sullivan said, “We are proud of the work completed to date at Gerena School and we look forward to continuing to research state and federal grants that will meet the capital needs for this facility. Gerena School is a beautiful facility and the educational opportunities here are tremendous. The mayor, school committee, MSBA and city council all should be commended for the investments made that ensure this school thrives. We are proud to verify that Gerena’s environment is conducive to a quality learning experience as we continue PBRM’s mission across the School District to ensure a healthy setting for all students, teachers and support staff.”

The Springfield Educator Fall/Winter 2018 - 3

Building for their future

Putnam student Ashley Luna holds a framed wall in place as support braces are nailed in to secure it.

PHOTOS: SEAN BROWNE

Putnam High School carpentry student Melissa Bautista, right, helps carpentry teacher Dave Elia measure an anchor for a wall brace at the Habitat For Humanity site.

Putnam students team with Habitat to construct new homes

By Cyrus Moulton The foundation has been poured, the mock-up has been done. Now students at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy are ready to raise the walls of a singlefamily house on Orchard Street.

“The kids will get an experience that is second to none,” said Joao Alves, vocational supervisor at Putnam. “Whether they become carpenters, engineers or architects, the experience will be with them for a long time.”

At least 80 juniors and seniors from the school’s carpentry, sheet metal and HVAC concentrations will be collaborating with Habitat for Humanity to build two houses in Springfield.

The first house - which students hope to finish by the close of the school year - is on Orchard Street, and the foundation was poured in the middle of October. The home will be twostories, with three-bedrooms and 1½ baths.

Habitat for Humanity will supply the materials, and the school will provide the labor - framing the walls and doing the heating and electricity.

The students have even built a mockup in their shop at school.

“They’ve acquired all the basics and now they’re getting to put it in a real-life setting,” Alves said, explaining that this was the biggest project in which the students have participated. “The goal was to get a big project like this so that kids could get a good experience.”

Carpentry instructor Dave Elia agreed that it was a worthwhile project for the students.

“I think our students are going to get so much out of this experience,” Elia said. “Building a house is an excellent way to learn and experience carpentry, and it’s a real accomplishment that you can feel and touch and walk around inside.”

And, there’s more to building a house than hammering nails or installing heating ducts.

“You learn to work together as a team to get the job done,” said Elia. “There’s a lot of problem solving and creative thinking involved, and it can be fun and rewarding.

There are also challenges and disappointments and setbacks, and sometimes some pressure, and sometimes the weather is bad. But you learn that you can overcome those things.

I think you learn a lot about yourself doing this kind of work.”

The project benefits not only the students.

“A house is a real part of the community,” Elia continued.

“Families are going to live there, and years, maybe decades from now our students can drive by and say, ‘I built that.’”

Putnam student Alton Llanos levels a framed wall before braces are nailed into place.

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THIS PAIR IS ON THE LEVEL Principals lead schools out of Level 4

By Meaghan Casey With Chestnut Accelerated Middle School: Talented and Gifted (TAG) and Milton Bradley Elementary School both exiting the state’s Level 4 status, principals Colleen O’Connor and Kristen Hughes have something to smile about.

But that doesn’t mean either of them will enjoy a moment of complacency.

“It’s exciting that we’re out of Level 4, but that’s not the goal,” said O’Connor, principal of Chestnut TAG. “We want our students to be outpacing their peers throughout the state.”

“Our priority is always improvement, looking at all subject areas and achievement goals,” agreed Hughes, principal of Milton Bradley.

Hughes, who was honored last year with the national Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership, is very familiar with school turnaround success. In her first stint as principal in 2010, she was able to help transform Lincoln Elementary School from a Level 3 school to a Level 1 school in just two years. From there, she was given a special assignment as principal of White Street School and helped to move that school from Level 4 to Level 1.

“When I first came here [to Milton Bradley], I was looking at behavioral data, attendance data and achievement data.

There were a lot of similar needs in terms of what I saw at White Street, but some different needs as well,” said Hughes, who was actually serving as principal of both White Street and Milton Bradley last year. She has since handed over the reins of White Street to Siobhan Conz, while focusing her efforts on Milton Bradley.

“The sustainability we put in place there is working,” said Hughes.

At Milton Bradley, Hughes has had three priorities. “You can’t get kids to learn if you just focus on one thing,” she said. “We focus on effective instruction, engagement and motivation, and meeting students’ behavioral and emotional needs.”

She has worked to departmentalize the upper grades, as she did at White Street, so that teachers can focus on specific subject areas. The team structure has served as a catalyst for

PHOTOS: SEAN BROWNE

Milton Bradley students and Principal Kristen Hughes have plenty to smile about.

collegiality, providing a feedback loop for teachers to strengthen their practice and feel supported in their work.

“The collaboration with the teams and coaches has really impacted the school,” said Hughes. “The teachers are committed to seeing the school turn around. They want to see it to fruition.”

She has also worked to improve communication with families and boost attendance rates.

“Low attendance was a problem, but it’s absolutely improved,” said Hughes. “What we ask of parents is to get their children to school on time, make sure their homework is done and get them to bed early.”

The teachers are committed to seeing the school turn around.

They want to see it to fruition.

— Kristen Hughes

All of these steps have been leading the school in the right direction. Hughes points out that some of the biggest gains in student proficiency have been in science and English language arts.

“The percentage of students reading at grade level has increased dramatically over the last three years,” said Hughes, noting that guided reading coaches and consultants have been helpful in providing feedback in classrooms.

O’Connor, too, points to improvements across the board at her school based on this year’s MCAS results. The percentage of Chestnut TAG seventh-graders meeting or exceeding expectations in ELA topped the state’s numbers by 24 percentage points, and all numbers have reflected steady improvement since 2014. Student proficiency in science nearly doubled from 2016-17 to 2017-18.

“That’s pretty compelling,” said O’Connor.

Through the remainder of the year, O’Connor hopes to close the gap in proficiency even more, once again making gains in each category.

O’Connor, who is in her 23rd year in the district, was appointed principal of Chestnut TAG in 2013. Previously she served as the district’s director of ELA for middle and high schools. She had her start as an English teacher and literacy coach, but left the classroom hoping to have a broader impact.

One of her goals at Chestnut TAG has been to recruit and retain high quality teachers.

“This school is full of teachers who have the same mindset

The Springfield Educator Fall/Winter 2018 - 5

Accountability system shows academic gains

Chestnut TAG student Rondue Clark tells Principal Colleen O'Connor what he is working on in class.

– that we want our students to be successful,” said O’Connor. “From the beginning, I wanted to create an environment where staff and students want to be here every day.”

She hopes that students not only want to show up, but that they want to become their own champions.

“We really empower our kids to be part of the conversation,” said O’Connor. “We want to involve them in what their data is and encourage them to set goals for their own performance, whether it’s a grade or assessment score.”

She also is more actively involving parents, and rolled out a Parents Academy this year, giving families the tools to help their children make the successful transition to middle school. She is committed to creating a welcoming, predictable environment for her students.

“We have consistent routines and practices all year —

even down to how kids move through the hallways,” she said.

Beyond that, O’Connor has tried to create an enriching space, adding art, music and fitness programs. The school band is thriving with 160 students this year.

“It gives them great confidence and motivation to come to school,” O’Connor said. “There needs to be a balance so that we’re not just focusing on the data and losing sight of the joy.”

This school is full of teachers who have the same mindset – that we want our students to be successful. From the beginning, I wanted to create an environment where staff and students want to be here every day.

— Colleen O’Connor

Springfield Public Schools students’ overall academic performance continues to improve, leading the state to release the district from its previous Level 4 status and identify it as “not requiring assistance or intervention” under a new accountability system.

“We could not be prouder of our students, our educators and our families,” said Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick.

“This is great news for Springfield Public Schools because it proves that our hard work as a community has paid off and it also provides us with a baseline for continued improvements as we move forward.”

Warwick made his remarks following the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) release of statewide accountability results. This year’s results are the first under the state’s new accountability system.

According to information released by the state, Springfield’s target percentage for 2017-18 is 58 percent, which is classified as improving and partially meeting targets.

Under the new system, anything 50 percent or higher is favorable, according to DESE Associate Commissioner of Data and Accountability Robert Curtin.

“The state’s data aligns with how we feel our schools are performing,” said Warwick. “We have experienced success but still have room for continued improvement and we are ready to forge ahead using this new data as a guide.”

Some of the noteworthy successes indicated under the new accountability system include: a 68-target percentage for lowest performing elementary and middle school students; having met the English Language Arts target for grades 3-8; having met the math target for lowest performing students in grades 3-8; having met the high school math target; having met the overall science target; and having met the improvement goal for chronic absenteeism.

In addition to the district’s overall performance, DESE also announced that two Springfield Public Schools exited their former Level 4 status. Under the new system, Chestnut Talented and Gifted and Milton Bradley elementary schools are categorized as meeting targets and partially meeting targets, respectively, based on the significant progress made at the schools over the last several years. With only four schools statewide exiting their previous Level 4 status this year, the district’s progress translates to half of statewide Level 4 releases.

While celebrating the schools’ progress, Warwick cautioned that this year’s results cannot be compared to previous year improvements. “Our students have been on steady path of improvement, but this represents a new baseline for us,” said Warwick. “We view this as valuable data for how our students are performing and we will use it to make plans for steady, continued improvements. Our goal continues to be the narrowing of the achievement gap.”

Warwick pointed out the many indicators that are moving in the right direction. Last year, for example, the district’s graduation rate rose to nearly 77 percent, compared to 55 percent five years ago; and the drop-out rate has been cut in half. These gains represent the best improvements in the Commonwealth.

Pointing out the district’s commitment to college and career awareness, Warwick said that graduating seniors in the Class of 2018 secured more than $12 million in scholarships and nearly 80 percent of them planned to start college this fall.

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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Commerce students get head start on college at STCC On an early Monday morning in September, more than a dozen students sat behind rows of tables and jotted down notes in a mobile app programming class taught at Springfield Technical Community College.

They asked questions and discussed ways to solve mathematical problems. With their backpacks at their sides and notebooks in front of them, they could have been mistaken for mainstream STCC students. But they all came from the High School of Commerce, which is undergoing a program redesign.

This fall, STCC welcomed more than 40 Commerce students who chose to take one of three college-level classes offered to them: mobile app programming, computer basics and airbrushing techniques. The classes are offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the high school students’ usual first period.

The number of students marks a big increase from years past. In the future, even more students from Commerce are expected to attend STCC as part of the redesign efforts.

STCC agreed to work with the Commerce juniors and seniors through its collaboration with the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership, which last year launched the redesign of Commerce. The SEZP serves as a steward of Commerce and 11 other public schools through a partnership of the Springfield Public Schools, the Springfield education Association and the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

As part of the redesign, SEZP this year launched a career pathways curriculum that will provide students with options of study to direct them to college or a career of their choice, said Matthew Brunell, program director at SEZP. Under this redesign, some of this fall’s Pathways freshmen at Commerce will take courses at STCC in two years when they are juniors.

The Commerce students studying three days a week at STCC this fall are paving the way for the redesign plan, as they help STCC to prepare for an increased number of “pathway students” who will take college-level classes in the coming years.

“STCC has been a key player in the redesign of Commerce, and this is a powerful first initiative on their side to make sure we’re providing amazing opportunities for these kids,” Brunell said.

Geraldine de Berly, vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer at STCC, said she looks forward to seeing the college’s partnership with SEZP blossom over the coming years.

“This is a wonderful collaborative approach,” de Berly said. “The Commerce students are getting first-hand college experience. We’re thrilled to see these young students in our classrooms, and we encourage them to consider enrolling at STCC after they graduate from high school.”

Brian Candido, professor and program chair for STCC’s Computer Information Technologies program, has been working closely on the Commerce redesign.

“We’re really excited to be working with the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership,” Candido said. “The students here this fall had the freedom to pick one of three courses. A lot of them have plans to go to college, and they saw this as a great opportunity.”

Zaniah King, 17, a senior at Commerce who is enrolled in

STCC Professor Brian Candido with Commerce students Zaniah King, left, and Sherisa Michel the mobile app programming class, said she enjoys having Candido as a professor and likes the college environment.

She looks forward to going to college after high school.

“It’s giving me an early college experience,” King said.

“For this class, I get three college credits. I like it here.

It’s different from high school because there’s a little more freedom. They let you express yourself more in college than in high school.”

Another key partner in the redesign effort is the Latino Education Institute at Worcester State University, which works to help Latino students succeed through mentorship and other supports. “Commerce students get help with assignments from mentors, who also offer guidance about college expectations.” said Kelley Gangi, Chief of Instructional Improvement for the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership.

“The mentors are able to attend courses with Commerce students at STCC on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” Gangi said. “The support and mentorship are customized based on student need to ensure success with those collegeSTCC Professor Brian Candido teaches a course at STCC to level classes.” students from the High School of Commerce.

Vincent Grassetti, who is teaching Computer Basics: Concepts & Applications, said he finds the students to be own in-house students. I will expect certain things from interested and engaged in the material. them, and they’re going to have to produce. I think they’ll “I think this will be very beneficial for them,” he said. be fine. After they finish at Commerce, hopefully they will “They get to see what a college looks like and take college courses. I’m going to treat them the same way we treat our transition to STCC.”

The Springfield Educator Fall/Winter 2018 - 7

3 PHOTOS: SEAN BROWNE

1. Springfield Conservatory of the Arts music teacher Marcos Carreras helps Tanairy Fuentes find the right keys.

2. Student Alexander London plays the keyboard during class.

3. Students Aimele Rodriguez, left, and Christian Spearman enjoy working together on a song while sharing earbuds.

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Marcos makes music at Conservatory

By Cyrus Moulton He has received applause, awards, and accolades from all over the world in his career as a choir conductor, and worked with winners of Grammy, Tony and Emmy awards.

But Marcos Carreras said he has finally found his home and his inspiration as a music teacher at the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts.

“I’ve been teaching for 24 years and this is my first stop where creativity is essential,” Carreras said. “I’ve traveled all over the world and there’s nothing really like the cultural diversity that I’ve been a part of and that I have here in Springfield … I’ve never had the opportunity to be in a school where creativity is the emphasis. Usually music is a secondary, not part of the core.”

Carreras was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in West Hartford, Conn. where he participated in what he described as a “high-powered music program” that exposed him to Grammy Award winners.

He went on to receive his bachelor’s and master’s of music degrees from the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford.

Most of his teaching career he spent as the coordinator of vocal music at Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford,

I LOVE THIS CITY

and … knew this was the place I wanted to come back to.

— Marcos Carreras

during which time he led nine choirs in grades 6-12 which appeared at a cappella events, choir festivals and choral workshops from Hartford to Chicago. The choirs won multiple state and regional competitions as well as three national awards from DownBeat magazine - which he called “the Sports Illustrated for music.”

The choirs commissioned 70 works from composers and performed with some of the most prestigious children’s choir ensembles.

Carreras also worked as a freelance choir director, recently serving as the executive and artistic director of the Children’s Chorus of Springfield. While there, he launched the 14x14 College Visions initiative which was dedicated to exposing singers to 14 college campuses by the time they are age 14.

The opportunity introduced him to many of the civic and school leaders in Springfield, and when he learned of an opportunity at the Springfield Conservatory, he leapt at the chance.

“I thought it would be wonderful to come back,” Carreras said. “I love this city and … knew this was the place I wanted to come back to.”

So now, he is teaching about 100 students in grades 6-8 basic music education in addition to directing the school’s show choir, chorus, and its Varsity Bomba drum group.

He emphasizes the international aspect of music, as students are working on songs including the secondary National Anthem for Puerto Rico, “Que Bonita Bandera,” a gospel tune, a Serbian folk song, and “Respect,” by Aretha Franklin, in addition to learning a Maori warrior dance and learning how to replicate a rainstorm as a choir.

“We’ve kind of been traveling the world,” Carreras said.

And that’s the way he likes it. Carreras said he comes from a world music background, learning the folk songs and music of Puerto Rico from an early age as well as Conservatory training in the European composers.

“I love doing music from Africa, Central and South America, Asia, the Middle East,” Carreras said. “Some of the stops I have had only like Broadway or American composers, which is fine, but by learning music of other cultures, we learn how we are interconnected to the world. It’s so welcome here, I think that’s so special about Springfield.”

And Springfield clearly thinks Carreras is special, too.

“His enthusiasm for music is infectious; you can’t help but laugh and smile and enjoy it,” said Conservatory Principal Ryan Kelly. “When he first started we had kids walking down the hall, seeing what was going on, and asking for their schedule to be changed so that they could be in the classroom.

And some of those kids didn’t even like music, they just wanted to be in the classroom.”

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The Springfield Educator Fall/Winter 2018 - 9

CHARTING A COURSE FOR COLLEGE OR CAREER

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Every October, Springfield Public Schools recognizes College and Career Awareness Month, which builds on pre-existing events that take place in October, such as the administration of the PSAT and local college fairs. While the district offers college access programs and services throughout the year in partnership with area colleges, universities and community organizations, October is the kick-off month for activities that students and parents will be engaged in throughout the school year.

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2 PHOTOS BY LUCILA SANTANA

Scenes from College and Career Awareness Month: 1) Lincoln Elementary students Melanie Johnson and De'Jai Owens spend some time with a student from Springfield College.

2) Celebrating College Day at Brightwood are, from left, students Jacob DeLeon, Anthoni Berrios, Qamar Adan and Lyanette Morales with City Connects Coordinator Monica Gagliarducci and teacher Joanna Mineo.

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3) Commerce students attend the Go Higher College Fair.

4) Putnam students Ramon Montanez, Gretchen Hernandez and Michael Collazo-Rosado take part in the Go Higher College Fair.

5) PACE Center Coordinator Darcy Borecki proudly showcases her office, which is decked in college spirit year-round.

6) Brightwood ELA Instructional Leadership Specialist Danielle Delgado and Principal Jose Escribano dress in college gear to celebrate College Month.

7) Springfield Technical Community College was one of several local and state colleges represented at the Go Higher College Fair at the Basketball Hall of Fame.

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Ready, willing and able PHOTO: SEAN BROWNE

Central High School student Karissa Coleman was recognized with the Ahadi Youth Award by the Springfield Museums.

Springfield senior honored with Ahadi Youth Award

By Dom Nicastro Karissa Coleman is rarely caught off-guard. The senior at Springfield Central High School is an excellent student who does her homework and prepares thoroughly for every test. She’s a terrific student-athlete who loves to cheer and is always on top of her duties. She is always ready for her role with the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corps.

She volunteers in many community efforts.

But there she was, asked to give a speech to a big crowd earlier this school year at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. It was the night of the celebration of the Ahadi Youth Award and Ubora award presented by the African Hall Subcommittee of the Springfield Museums.

Coleman, a senior, was the Ahadi Youth winner. Keshawn Dodds, executive director of the Springfield Boys & Girls Club and lifelong Springfield resident, won the Ubora award.

“I had to wing an entire speech,” Coleman said, with a chuckle.

Winging it that night is about the only time Coleman has been close to being unprepared during her high school years.

She is a passionate student who not only works day and

night keeping up with her grades, but she is also a dedicated volunteer who simply wants to give back to those in need.

African Hall Subcommittee officials who select the Ahadi award winner naturally saw something special in Coleman.

Coleman’s award is named for the Swahili word for “promise.” According to the African Hall Subcommittee, it is presented to a young African-American “who has excelled in academics and performed admirable service to the Greater Springfield community.” The African Hall Subcommittee is a volunteer group composed of educators, business people and community leaders from the African-American community.

Coleman more than fits the bill. She is a cadet in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (AFJROTC) where she is a training captain. Because she has such a high grade point average, she qualifies to serve as the director of academics and she runs the tutoring program for her fellow cadets. She also helps to mentor younger AFJROTC in the overall training program.

She also keeps busy as a cheerleader, may play softball in the spring, is a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers with Revitalize Springfield, Toys for Tots and breast cancer awareness. She is a choir singer for her church, serves as an usher, works with the children and participates

yearly in the Easter play.

“Her passion and dedication to her extra-curriculars, her school work and anything else she is involved in made her a great candidate to nominate,” Central guidance counselor Sara Sewell said. “Her love for the JROTC program is also evident, on top of all the volunteer hours she has completed for the program. She isn’t a student that volunteers because it looks good on a resume. She volunteers because she wants to make a difference in her community.”

It gives Coleman great pride to volunteer for organizations that help in her community. She has helped to repair homes of veterans, for instance.

“Seeing the smiles on other people’s faces and knowing I’m able to give to other people and help other people that might not have the same things I’ve had is very rewarding,” said Coleman, who may major in political science in college and has schools like Wellesley College, Northeastern and Harvard on her radar. “When you see that you’ve made a difference in someone’s lives you want to continue to make that difference in other people’s lives. People could think I do this for a college application. But I’ve never done things for myself. It’s always to help others.”

The Springfield Educator Fall/Winter 2018 - 11

Nutrition is Home Grown in Springfield

By Meaghan Casey Construction for Springfield’s $21 million, 62,000-squarefoot culinary and nutrition center is nearing completion, with an opening date set for February 2019.

The state-of-the-art facility, located at 75 Cadwell Drive, will house the district’s food and nutrition department. The center will allow the district to produce its own product line, which has been named Home Grown Springfield. The brand was created by Putnam student TaMya Romero, who, along with more than 70 students in Putnam’s design and visual arts program, was tasked to come up with a name and logo. It will appear on all packaging of products produced at the center.

“We wanted to engage students in the branding of this program,” said Mark Jeffrey, district manager for Sodexo, the SPS food service provider. “This is their program. We want them to feel ownership of the program, and Home Grown Springfield will be the face of the SPS culinary and nutrition program for generations to come.”

Romero was awarded a $1,000 prize, and her fellow competitors were awarded $25 gift cards.

“The work that was presented was just phenomenal,” said Timothy Gray, food service administrator for SPS. “It was a difficult choice, but Home Grown Springfield perfectly captures our commitment to sourcing our food locally. With 18 farm partners and 26 school gardens, our products are coming out of Springfield. They truly are home grown.”

The culinary and nutrition center will be used for the daily preparation, cooking and baking of fresh foods for more than 25,000 SPS students, and will also provide training for students and offer new employment opportunities. It will house a central warehouse, a cutting and processing room, a bakery, training rooms and a cook-chill system — a major advancement in prepared foods technology. The expansion is necessary to accommodate the district’s and Sodexo’s staunch commitment to serve nutritious meals every day for every child.

In addition to providing lunch for all of Springfield’s students, Sodexo provides food for the Breakfast in the Classroom program, as well as summer meals throughout the community. A dedicated corporate partner to the district, Sodexo has managed the program for the past 12 years and recently won a five-year renewal.

“This has been in the making for 10 years, so it’s thrilling to finally see it coming to fruition,” said Jeffrey. “What started as an effort to expand Breakfast in the Classroom morphed into a transformation of the entire program. Its benefits will reach far beyond any one program.”

Jeffrey and Gray are looking forward to rolling out new menu items, including muffins baked from scratch, and have already been working with FoodCorps Massachusetts to involve students in taste testing.

“Just imagine students having homemade muffins bursting with blueberries picked from a local farm, still warm because it was delivered to their school straight from our ovens,” said Gray. “I think students are going to love them, but by testing out flavors now, we’re getting our recipe profiles ready.”

“It’s another step to involve students in the decisionmaking process,” said Jeffrey. “We’ll never stop innovating and introducing new things. Our menus can never get stale or else kids will get bored.”

Construction workers install the glass front window at the new culinary and nutrition center.

Putnam student TaMya Romero won a logo contest to name the food and nutrition department's product line.

Juniper Blakeman, left, of FoodCorps and Donna Briggs of Sodexo encourage students at Indian Orchard Elementary to try kale salad.

SPS Chief Financial Officer Patrick Roach, left, and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno tour the new culinary and nutrition center.

12 - The Springfield Educator Fall/Winter 2018

Chestnut Academy student Chassidy Arroyo reads to a Lincoln Elementary student.

Chestnut Academy student Rosa Smith-Ortiz, Principal Dan Sullivan and students Abiel Habte and Jeriel Rivera-Reyes visit Northampton Airport for the Wright Flight program.

Jessica Velazquez reads to a group of Lincoln students.

LEARNING BY DOING Chestnut Academy students engaged in the community

By Meaghan Casey At Chestnut Academy, students are not just learning; they’re doing.

The school, which has repurposed its library as the Esperanza Center — an area dedicated to community engagement — is teaching students to become active citizens in their community.

The transformation of the space was funded through the school’s participation in the Springfield Empowerment Zone. As an Empowerment Zone school, Chestnut Academy has partnered with support organizations and the state to provide high-quality, targeted education and enrichment opportunities to its students.

Organizations such as Girls Inc. provide on-site after-school services and Sonido Musica offers instrumental instruction.

Clubs are popular, such as the Biz Club, which involves students in the Stock Market Game and in entrepreneurial challenges inspired by “Shark Tank.” Students have also taken flight classes at the New England Air Museum, and will join their mentors as co-pilots on flights out of Northampton Airport; cheered on UMass at basketball games; and made visits to machine shops, seeing first-hand the role of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the workplace.

In addition to New England Air Museum and Northampton Airport Wright Flight, funding contributions for these programs have come from Peerless Precision Inc. and Advance Manufacturing Co., both of Westfield, and other members of the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the National Tooling and Manufacturing Association.

Donald Gallagher, the school’s director of student life, oversees much of the programming. Gallagher, who grew up in the neighborhood, worked in the private sector for 30 years before making the switch to education. He is in his third year at Chestnut, bringing unapparelled energy to his role.

“It’s a unique position and I would love to see a position like mine in every middle school in the city,” he said.

Another popular program out of the Esperanza Center is the Reader to Leader program, which brings books and Chestnut Academy students to nearby elementary schools.

“We’re hoping to build a love of literacy in both the ‘littles’ and the ‘bigs,’ as we affectionately call them,” said Chestnut Academy ELA Coach Kate Phelan. “In addition, we’re hoping to develop the early literacy skills of our elementary school students, while enhancing those skills in our middle school students. We believe in the philosophy that people learn

something best by teaching it to others.”

“It has a deep reach inspiring the younger kids and grooming our students for leadership roles,” said Gallagher.

Chestnut Academy students are reading with Lincoln Elementary School students right now, with plans to add Brightwood Elementary and Gerena Community schools soon.

“We’re hoping to build a sense of community ownership and pride amongst all the students,” said Phelan. “After all, these kids will be our Chestnut Academy kids in just a few short years.”

In partnership with the New North Citizens’ Council, the school has also rolled out a leadership council, with 18 of the 60 student nominees elected this year. Council members will be responsible for projects such as planting trees, cleaning up parks and painting murals throughout the North End. They will also be meeting with the city’s politicians to discuss safety, education and other issues affecting them. The school already hosted an event with State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, five City Council members and a School Committee member.

“In everything we do, we’re helping them find their voice,” said Gallagher.

The Springfield Educator Fall/Winter 2018 - 13

Around Springfield Public Schools High SchoolS

Springfield Renaissance students Desiree Crawford and Da-sha Wilson shine in and out of the classroom. Desiree recently scored her 200th point in a soccer game and Da-sha celebrated more than 500 career saves.

The High School of Science and Technology earned first place during Civics Fest 2018 at Springfield College. The competition is a collaboration between the college, the League of Women Voters and Springfield Public Schools. Congratulations to seniors Jason Cruz and La-Shae Jones, pictured here with history teacher Erin Burns.

track, and provide access and opportunities to explore post-secondary education options. Scholar Athletes is a nonprofit organization based in Boston, working to reduce the opportunity gap for high school students by supporting academic achievement through athletics. Scholar Athletes serves more than 5,000 student Zone members across Massachusetts, including more than 1,000 in Springfield.

Work hard, plan ahead, chase your dreams and don’t settle in life; that was the inspiring message Public Day High School students heard as they met Abdul-Rahmaan I. Muhammad, also known as the Dream Chaser. The author, world traveler, business owner and motivational speaker encouraged the students to make good choices, work hard and pursue their dreams.

Middle/6-12 Schools Springfield Public Day Middle School students experienced college campus life this fall, as they went on a tour at Springfield College. The middle-schoolers toured buildings, met college students, visited a dorm room, participated in a college-awareness activity and even had lunch at the Dining Commons.

The band at Chestnut Middle School Talented and Gifted took their talents to the Big E this fall, where they performed for the first time at the nationally acclaimed fair.

Executive Director of the Caribbean Institute for Human Rights and Clinical Professor of Law at the University of Puerto Rico Annette Martínez-Orabona paid a visit to Central High School, where she talked with students about the status of Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria. Her visit was made possible thanks to Western New England University School of Law. Scholar Athletes recently launched its fourth Athlete Zone at Springfield Central High School.

Athlete Zones, previously launched at Putnam, Commerce and Sci-Tech, are school-based learning centers designed and resourced to support and encourage students to set academic and athletic goals, gain needed support to help them stay on

Elementary Schools Rebecca M. Johnson School is one of only 10 schools nationwide awarded the 2018 SHAPE America grant. The Society of Health and Physical Educators and Gopher Sport provides the highly competitive grant, which is directed at improving and advancing health education, physical education and physical activity.

A group of students at Mary M. Lynch School trained hard this fall in preparation for 2018 Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts 5K race. Students and staff intertwined lessons on cooperation,

community, commitment, friendship and empathy along with cardiovascular and physical training. Other participating schools included: Homer, Harris, Kiley, Lynch, Brunton and Brookings Arthur Talmadge School classrooms are getting new projectors thanks to McDonald’s. As part of the grand re-opening of the remodeled Allen Street McDonald’s (located across the street from Talmadge), the franchise restaurant made a $5,000 donation for the projector.

Liberty Elementary School had a very special reader visit. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stopped by to read “The Gingerbread Man Loose in School” to a class of first-graders.

Districtwide A rousing round of applause for Springfield Public Schools students Jada Ortega, who attends the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts High School; Javion Ortega, a student at Springfield Conservatory of the Arts Middle School; and Kerry Ann Shackiera Patterson, a Renaissance Middle School student. The trio sprang into action after seeing an elderly woman aimlessly wandering the streets as they walked to school. The students called for help and stayed with the woman until an ambulance arrived to take her to safety.

Did you know that you can see Springfield Public Schools’ lunch and breakfast menus right on your phone? Menus are easy to access and updated regularly. Quickly see what’s for lunch, check for allergens, calculate nutritional values and even rate menu items! Powered by Sodexo, visit www. springfieldpublicschools and click on the Menu icon for easy instructions on how to download the app.

14 - The Springfield Educator Fall/Winter 2018

Springfield Directory Schools ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Balliet

Jennifer Montano, Principal 52 Rosewell St., 01109 413-787-7446

Beal

Deborah Beglane, Principal 285 Tiffany St., 01108 413-787-7544

Boland

Lisa Bakowski, Principal 426 Armory St., 01104 413-750-2511

Bowles

John Doty, Principal 24 Bowles Park, 01104 413-787-7334

Bradley

Kristen M. Hughes, Principal 22 Mulberry St., 01105 413-787-7475

Brightwood

Jose Escribano, Principal 471 Plainfield St., 01107 413-787-7238

Brookings

Terry Powe, Principal 433 Walnut St., 01105 413-787-7200

Brunton

Martha Stetkiewicz, Principal 1801 Parker St., 01128 413-787-7444

DeBerry

Elizabeth Fazio, Principal 670 Union St., 01109 413-787-7582

Dorman

Rhonda Stowell-Lewis, Principal 20 Lydia St., 01109 413-787-7554

Dryden Memorial

Theresa Carrie, Principal 190 Surrey Rd., 01118 413-787-7248

Ells

Janet Vergne Walsh, Principal 319 Cortland St., 01109 413-787-7345

Freedman

Sumner Avenue

STEM

Gerena

Talmadge

UP Academy Kennedy Middle School

Medina Ali, Principal 90 Cherokee Dr., 01109 413-787-7443 Cynthia Escribano, Principal 200 Birnie Ave., 01107 413-787-7320

James McCann, Principal 45 Sumner Ave., 01108 413-787-7430 Carla Lussier, Principal 1395 Allen St., 01118 413-787-7249

Glenwood

Walsh

Martha Cahillane, Principal 50 Morison Terr., 01104 413-787-7527

Vinnie Anthony Regan, Principal 50 Empress Ct., 01129 413-787-7448

Glickman

Warner

Elizabeth Bienia, Principal 120 Ashland Ave., 01119 413-750-2756

Ann Stennett, Principal 493 Parker St., 01129 413-787-7258

Harris

Washington

Kara Harris, Principal 58 Hartford Terrace, 01118 413-787-7254

Homer

Catherine Roberts, Principal 43 Homer St., 01109 413-787-7526

Indian Orchard

Deanna Suomala, Principal 95 Milton St., 01151 413-787-7255

Johnson

Christopher Sutton, Principal 55 Catharine St., 01109 413-787-6687

Kensington International

Margaret Thompson, Principal 31 Kensington Ave., 01108 413-787-7522

Keith Asher, Principal 141 Washington St., 01108 413-787-7551

White Street

Siobhan Conz, Principal 300 White St., 01108 413-787-7543

K-8 SCHOOL Zanetti

Tara Christian Clark, Principal 474 Armory St., 01104 413-787-7400

MIDDLE SCHOOLS Chestnut Accelerated

Robin Bailey-Sanchez, Principal 962 Carew St., 01104 413-787-7299

355 Plainfield St., 01107 413-750-2333 Chestnut Academy: Daniel Sullivan, Principal Impact Academy: Andrew Marshall, Principal TAG: Colleen O’Connor, Principal

Lincoln

Forest Park

Liberty

Mark McCann, Principal 732 Chestnut St., 01107 413-787-7314

Sara Macon & Gerald Saunders, Principal 46 Oakland St., 01108 413-787-7420

Luis Martinez, Principal 60 Alton St., 01109 413-787-6750 Tamika Stewart, Principal 1385 Berkshire Ave., 01151 413-787-7510

Van Sickle Academy

Robert Francesca, Principal 1170 Carew St., 01104 413-750-2887

Van Sickle Rise

Anna Breen, Principal 1170 Carew St., 01104 413-750-2887

6-12 SCHOOLS Duggan Academy

Michael Calvanese, Principal 1015 Wilbraham Rd., 01109 413-787-7410

Renaissance

Arria Coburn, Principal 1170 Carew St., 01104 413-750-2929

Springfield Conservatory of the Arts Ryan Kelly, Principal High School: 334 Franklin St., 01104 413-732-1301 Middle School: 34 Kopernick St., 01105 413-787-6914

HIGH SCHOOLS Central

Thaddeus Tokarz, Principal 1840 Roosevelt Ave., 01109 413-787-7085

High School of Commerce Diane Bauer, Principal 415 State St., 01105 413-787-7220

Lynch

Kiley

High School of Science and Technology

Julia St. Martin, Principal 180 Cooley St., 01128 413-787-7240

Kevin Lalime, Principal 1250 State St., 01109 413-750-2000

Pottenger

South End

Putnam

Linda Wilson, Principal 315 N. Branch Pwky., 01119 413-787-7250 Valerie Williams, Principal 1435 Carew St., 01104 413-787-7266

Cheryl DeSpirt, Principal 36 Margaret St., 01105 413-750-2442

George Johnson, Principal 1300 State St., 01109 413-787-7424

Springfield Honors Academy

Grace Howard-Donlin, Principal 415 State St., 01105 413-787-6707

ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS

Rhonda Y. Jacobs, Principal 413-335-5127 Martha von Mering, Chief of Pupil Services 413-787-7176

Springfield Public Day Elementary Lisa Pereira, Assistant Principal 34 Nye St., 01104 413-886-5100

Springfield Public Day Middle Linda Singer, Assistant Principal 118 Alden St., 01109 413-787-7261

Springfield Public Day High

Robert Porter, Assistant Principal 90 Berkshire St., 01151 413-787-7036

Liberty Prep. Academy

Jennifer McQuade, Assistant Principal 37 Alderman St., 01108 413-750-2484

Gateway to College at HCC Vivian Ostrowski, Director, Holyoke Community College 413-552-2370

Gateway to College at STCC

Jennifer Sanchez, Acting Director Springfield Technical Community College 413-755-4581

Balliet Middle School

Francis King, Assistant Principal 111 Seymour Ave., 01109 413-787-7284

Springfield High School

Jason Hynek, Assistant Principal 37 Alderman St., 01108 413-787-7285

Student Attendance Resource Center Jennifer McQuade, Asst. Principal 37 Alderman St., 01108 413-552-6495

STEM suits secretary Massachusetts Secretary of Education James Peyser made a special visit recently to Springfield for STEM week. At Springfield Honors Academy and Pathways @ Commerce, he met with students as well as district and Springfield Empowerment Zone leadership to discuss early college opportunities offered to students as part of the school redesign process. He also met with SHA sophomore students who achieved top scores on the Biology MCAS who discussed their futures in the field of science.

The Springfield Educator Fall/Winter 2018 - 15

Teaching students to be teachers Westfield State University, Holyoke Community College (HCC) and Springfield Public Schools comprise one of the three regional partnership teams that will leverage a $1.5 million award to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop MassTeach, a new model for increasing and diversifying the ranks of educators who are prepared to teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in highneed school districts.

Westfield State, HCC and Springfield Public Schools were selected as a pilot group for MassTeach in Western Massachusetts because of their rich history of collaboration and commitment to STEM education. The partnership among the institutions will be coordinated during recruitment, through the STEM major, licensure requirements, and early career assistance. MassTeach scholars will be well prepared and supported as early-career STEM teachers.

Community colleges started recruiting potential candidates for entry into the program this fall. Many of the candidates are expected to come from existing STEM Starter Academy programs, which give high school students a chance to take STEM college classes and learn more about STEM careers.

The goal of MassTeach will be to expand to students at all 15 community colleges and nine state universities within three years, eventually placing 50 new teachers in STEM classrooms with 50 more teacher candidates in the postsecondary pipeline.

Westfield State University biology professor Jennifer Hanselman, Ph.D., and associate professor of education Erold Bailey, Ed.D., will serve as co-principal investigators for this regional project.

Currently, 90 percent of Massachusetts teachers are white, compared with an overall student population that is 60 percent white. A wide body of research indicates that students often perform better academically when they are taught by teachers with whom they can identify. One of the unique aspects of MassTeach is that it will place new teachers in

urban communities where they grew up and attended school, allowing grant evaluators to gauge whether educators’ local roots serve as a catalyst for their retention in the classroom.

The five-year grant was awarded through NSF’s Robert Noyce Scholarship Track. It is the first of its kind awarded to a state higher education system and will be used to simultaneously address two critical issues: the overall shortage of trained and licensed STEM instructors and the lack of under-represented minorities currently teaching in the state’s K-12 classrooms. The new program, intended to be both sustainable and scalable, will utilize A2B (Associate to Bachelor’s) degree pathways that are part of the statewide MassTransfer system, which allows students to begin their undergraduate education at one of the state’s community colleges and then transfer to any state university at a substantial cost savings and without a loss of credit.

The MassTeach Scholars will receive $20,000 scholarships as well as academic advising to keep them on track to transfer, graduate with a STEM degree and obtain a STEM teaching license. By drawing from the highly diverse community college population, MassTeach will cultivate a culturally rich pool of potential educators who are often the first in their family to attend college and likely to reside in economically disadvantaged urban districts where the need for qualified and diversified STEM instructors is most acute.

“Highly qualified, effective and diverse educators is a strategic focus of Springfield Public Schools. It is intentional and embedded in our mission because teacher quality is a key determinant of student success,” said Daniel J. Warwick, superintendent of schools.

“We are so pleased about the MassTeach grant and how it aligns so closely with the district’s ‘grow your own’ initiatives.

MassTeach will enable us to move closer to our goal of a more diversified teacher workforce, especially in the area of STEM where there is a critical shortage not just in Springfield but also nationwide.”

WMass Champs again

PHOTO: MASSLIVE

Central High School football players celebrate a 22-0 win over Westfield on Nov. 9 giving the Golden Eagles their second straight MIAA Western Mass Div. 3 title.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Central High School athletes who will be continuing their career in college include Jaliena Sanchez and Myles Bradley.

Playing in college Central to their plans SPORTS from page 16 Kyla Hill The speedster won all of her competitions as a junior in the 55-meter race last winter, beating the competition in every dual meet, every state competition and even taking the New England crown. She won the 55-meter state title as a sophomore at Minnechaug before transferring to Central.

Her coach, Jim Bermudez, said Hill has a great attitude, is very positive and works extremely hard. “And, she’s outright fast,” Bermudez said. “She puts in the work, she’s focused and knows what her goals are.”

Jaliena Sanchez Sanchez is a two-time All-Western Mass selection who scored her 1,000th point last December. She has committed to play at Weber State in Utah next year.

“Jaliena is a strong, fast, explosive guard,” Central coach Erik Maurer said. “She has great court vision and is an adept passer. She always has the ball in her hands and steps up in the biggest games. She is looking forward to leaving her mark her senior year by leading her team on another state title run. She is a soft-spoken, mild-mannered individual that has always been committed to her family, friends and team.”

Sanchez maintains a 3.25 GPA. Hason Ward A huge presence at 6-9, Ward was a first team All-Western Mass player in 2018.

“Hason is a competitor off the court as well as on the court,” Central boys basketball coach Darryl Denson said.

Ward has played on two high-level AAU teams to enhance his chances of receiving a Div. 1 scholarship.

“The things that make this young man special is the respect he has for his support system and his kind heart toward his teammates in wanting to see them do just as well as him if not better,” Denson said. “Hason has been playing organized basketball for three years and has made tremendous growth in his skill level and IQ for the game.”

16 - The Springfield Educator Fall/Winter 2018

T he S pringfield E ducator

PHOTO: SEAN BROWNE

Central High School student-athletes who have been recruited by Division 1 colleges include, from left, Elijah Ayers, Jaliena Sanchez, Kyla Hill, Myles Bradley, Keshaun Dancy and Hason Ward.

College is Central to their plans

By Dom Nicastro Springfield Central High School has several student-athlete seniors who will have the opportunity to compete in college at the Division 1 level. The list includes: Elijah Ayers, football: University of Albany Myles Bradley, football: Colgate University Keshaun Dancy, football: several offers but has not committed Kyla Hill, track: Fordham Jaliena Sanchez, basketball: Weber State University Hason Ward, basketball: several offers but has not committed The Educator spoke with coaches of these outstanding athletes to get their thoughts on what they have contributed to Central in their careers thus far.

Elijah Ayers “Elijah is a person for the people,” said Valdamar Brower, special education teacher and varsity football coach at Central.

“Elijah is school president. He was his class president three out of four years. Elijah started playing organized football as an incoming freshman. He is a two-year varsity starter that continues to grow his football IQ daily.”

Ayers held offers to Bryant University and St. Anselm College.

However, he committed to the University of Albany.

Myles Bradley “Myles is the definition of a student-athlete,” said Brower. “He has been a four-year varsity starter, a three-time team captain, and mature beyond his years.”

Bradley had offers from Brown University and Sacred Heart

University but is verbally committed to play at Colgate University next fall, according to his coach.

Keshaun Dancy Brower called Dancy a “private person that is determined to get better every day.”

“Keshaun is an amazing student with a 3.7-plus GPA,” the coach added.

Dancy was weighing offers from many universities, including the University of New Hampshire, Holy Cross, University of Albany, Colgate, Sacred Heart University, Fordham University, Lehigh University, Lafayette College and Bryant University.

See SPORTS page 15