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The Boston Educator, Spring 2004 ◆ Vol. 5, No. 1 SPRING 2003 Vol. 1, No. 1 Winter 2009 Q. Why is education Turn to Page 3 for Mayor Menino’s Q. such an important A.A. answer to this and other questions priority for you? asked by BPS students. Students Ciara Martinez, left, and Sarah Blanchette interview Mayor Thomas M. Menino for The Boston Educator. PHOTO: DON HARNEY SUPER WOMAN Johnson has big plans for Boston Schools BY MEAGHAN CASEY The award is given annually to a In her second year as “ superintendent who has superintendent of the Carol Johnson has demonstrated a quality of Boston Public Schools, demonstrated leadership that resulted in Dr. Carol R. Johnson that she was the significant positive has maintained that she outcomes for student expects nothing less than right choice to achievement. the best from the lead the Boston Johnson was appointed district’s students. Public Schools. superintendent by the It seems as though she Boston School applies the same Dr. Elizabeth Reilinger, Chair Committee in June 2007. standard to herself. Boston School Committee During her first year in Johnson was recently the BPS, Johnson honored with the Joseph presented her E. Hill Superintendent of the Year Acceleration Agenda, a set of Award by the National Alliance of Black recommendations to improve the School Educators (NABSE). She was academic achievement of all students recognized at the 36th annual NABSE conference, held last month in Atlanta. See SUPERINTENDENT Page 12 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol R. Johnson greets East Boston High School freshmen Areli Navaro, left, and Laury Sanchez. PHOTO: REBA SALDANHA 2— The Boston Educator Winter 2009 City of Boston Renewed energy for the new year Thomas M. Menino, Mayor Boston School Committee Dr. Elizabeth Reilinger s we begin 2009, we look forward to getting these programs off to I also am impressed by parents’ and Chairperson forward to another year of a successful start. volunteers’ active participation in our providing the families of our We must also be mindful, however, Rev. Gregory G. Groover A classrooms and our schools’ efforts to Vice Chairperson city with a first-rate education in of the economic realities in which we offer every child enrichment and Boston Public Schools. At the same live and work. Throughout our nation support beyond teaching and learning – Helen M. Dájer Alfreda Harris time, our nation is undergoing a new – from households to major including arts and music, sports and Claudio Martinez beginning as well, with the corporations – individuals and recreation, and so much more. I am Michael D. O’Neill inauguration of a new president this institutions are confronting incredibly confident that together we are Marchelle Raynor month. We approach this new year challenging financial constraints. In developing young men and women to with great hope and optimism, and with every sector, costs continue to rise become scholars, artists, poets and Moriah Smith Student Representative renewed energy to make a difference in much faster than the resources leaders. Dr. Carol R. the life of every single student, while available to meet them. Without I am grateful for the opportunity to Published by: Johnson recognizing that there are significant question, this economic climate forces lead Boston Public Schools to the next Boston Public Schools challenges ahead. all of us to make difficult choices, and level of excellence. The Boston Dr. Carol R. Johnson January also marks an important the school district is no exception. Foundation recently released “Boston’s Superintendent milestone in the school choice process, As we undertake the budget process Education Pipeline: A Report Card,” when families across the city will begin for the 2009-2010 school year, we will which provides a comprehensive Submit story ideas to: registering their children for September identify strategies to control spending picture of both our successes and the Christopher Horan Chief Communications Officer 2009 school assignments. This is an and make reductions in every school work ahead. Our Acceleration Agenda Boston Public Schools exciting time for families – including and central office, while at the same is designed to close achievement gaps 26 Court St. those new to the district and those time remaining focused on creating and ensure significant improvements Boston, MA 02108 Tel: 617-635-9265 already enrolled – to choose from the even better schools. Underlying every across the board, and with your help, I Fax: 617-635-9568 wide array of schools and programs one of these choices is an unwavering have no doubt that we will make [email protected] available. commitment to providing every child in remarkable progress. Schools opened their doors last fall Boston an outstanding education. Mayor Menino, the Boston School Produced by: during School Preview Time to attract After 16 months as your Committee and I thank you for all that GRANT COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTING GROUP and welcome prospective families. As superintendent, I continue to be you do on behalf of the students of Boston ◆ New York a result of the Pathways to Excellence inspired by what I see in schools and Boston. We wish you the very best for 781-598-8200 plan, there are new options available to classrooms throughout the city. From a great year ahead! [email protected] families next year, including new K-8 pre-school to high school, teachers, Funded by: programs, new pilot schools, and a administrators, support staff, parents Montessori program at the East Boston and students are working hard every Dr. Carol R. Johnson is Superintendent Early Education Center. We look day to improve academic performance. of Schools in Boston. Hi-tech services are our job. Community service is our responsibility. You know we provide the best in digital cable, high-speed Internet and digital voice services. But, we do more than help the people in our communities stay connected—we strive to make real connections with them. That’s because this is our home, too. So, by sponsoring The Educator, we’re doing what we can to build a better community—for all of us. EE112-1208 The Boston Educator Winter 2009 — 3 Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino The following interview was conducted hopes to pursue journalism in college next fall. Foundation and WriteBoston, T.i.P. was for The Boston Educator by Boston Public Martinez, a Mattapan resident, is a junior at founded to improve writing skills among local Schools students Sarah Blanchette and Ciara Health Careers Academy. Both are on the staff students. More than 300 students have been Martinez. Blanchette, a South Boston resident, of Teens in Print (T.i.P.), Boston’s citywide published since the first issue in May 2004. is a senior at Odyssey High School. She was a newspaper for high school students. Born out Blanchette is a senior editor and Martinez is a Caroline Knapp Summer Journalism Intern and of a partnership between the Boston Globe peer leader at T.i.P. What were you most excited about What are your hopes for the Q at the start of this school year? Q future? I saw new energy in the schools, With Superintendent Carol new enthusiasm. It’s Johnson leading the schools, we A Superintendent Johnson’s second A need to continue to progress in year and she’s gotten parents as well as sending students to college and ensure that students involved and engaged in school. they graduate in four years. We want them to get in and stay in. I want colleges to reach What can BPS students do to out and help our urban students. Q make the schools better? What are your highest priorities in I want students to be achievers, to the next two years? work hard. I want them to be Q A active after school as well. That helps you mature and grow — to be in Students Ciara Martinez, left, and Sarah Blanchette interview Mayor Thomas M. Menino Every student is special. We have extracurricular activities. You network with for The Boston Educator. to educate every student. Our goal other people in the city. There are great A is to teach every student to the resources are out there for students, like What are some important changes What was it like to see the best of his or her ability. My goal is for when you’re involved in the Teens in Print in the schools that you’ve seen in transformation of the Burke? people to say “Wow — what an exceptional newspaper at The Boston Globe. It’s a great Q your tenure as mayor? Q urban school system Boston has.” paper. We have more books in the It’s very special to me. Did you What are your proudest Why is education such an classrooms; the schools are wired know I once was in the old accomplishments? important priority for you? A for internet (we were the first A building and almost got hit in the Q Q urban school district to do that); we have head with a ceiling tile? The new school has more permanent, quality teachers in the everything in one building, everything you The Broad Prize for best urban Education is the most important classrooms; the janitors keep the schools need to grow physically, mentally, and A school district; continuous thing in our society. A high school clean. The stars are in alignment right now emotionally. It’s an education portal, improvement in school test scores; A diploma isn’t enough, and we need to make sure every child in Boston has a community center, library, all in one building and the general physical appearance of the to help students be prepared for success in good education.