Ten Teachers Hired to Assist Massachusetts Department of Education in Helping Local Districts with Education Reform

Malden - Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Robert V. Antonucci announced the appointment of ten teachers who will be taking sabbaticals from their teaching positions to work with the Massachusetts Department of Education on curriculum development issues. The ten teachers, from Attleboro, Bolton, Cambridge, Hamilton-Wenham, Holyoke, Lancaster, Peabody, Westford, Weston, and Weymouth were selected from over seventy-five applicants for their knowledge of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, their experience in conducting workshops for colleagues on curriculum and assessment topics, and their involvement with professional organizations.

"We are very excited to have these instruction specialists join us," commented Commissioner Antonucci. "These teachers will be helping to implement the learning standards of the curriculum frameworks and assisting in the development of the statewide assessment system. Also, they will be offering technical assistance to school districts all across the state. It is a unique opportunity for the Department to benefit from the energy and expertise of classroom practitioners."

The teachers selected for two year sabbaticals are:

Joanne Grenier, Wamsutta Middle School, Attleboro - focusing on interdisciplinary teaching in History/Social Science and English Language Arts at the middle and high school levels. Joanne has over 20 years of classroom experience, including 6 years as a member of an inclusion team and 11 years working with academically talented students.

David Bouvier, Nashoba Regional High School, Bolton - focusing on Technology Education (covering the use of technology in society and the design process.) David has over 20 years of experience in education as a curriculum leader and department chairman. David is a member of the state science and technology assessment development committee.

Kathy Brown, Peabody School, Cambridge and citywide Middle Level Science Staff Developer - focusing on science at all levels (serving the second year of her sabbatical.) Kathy has 24 years of classroom teaching experience, and has worked extensively with universities and other educational institutions on science projects in education. She has been a member of state science and technology assessment development committee.

Jean Jonker, Dean Technical High School, Holyoke - focusing on English Language Arts in vocational-technical high schools. Jean has 24 years of experience teaching English at the high school level, including 6 years in vocational technical schools.

Claudia Peters, Memorial School Complex, Lancaster/Nashoba Regional Schools - focusing on English Language Arts at the elementary level. Claudia has over 20 years of experience in education as a Title I Director, Reading Supervisor, and Reading Specialist. For the past three years, Claudia has coordinated Nashoba's Title I Mentor Project disseminating literacy performance assessment practices to communities across the Commonwealth.

Madeline Levine, Higgins Middle School, Peabody - focusing on helping special education students to meet the standards of the curriculum frameworks. Madeline has 16 years experience as a special education teacher, including 8 as a mentor teacher and curriculum coordinator in conjunction with Lesley College of Cambridge.

Wendell Bourne, Weston Middle School, Weston - focusing on History/Social Science at the middle school level. Wendell has over 25 years of teaching experience at the middle school level and seven years of experience working on projects at the college level. Wendell was a member of the statewide History/Social Science curriculum frameworks committee.

Anne Collins, Weymouth Jr. High, Weymouth - focusing on mathematics at all levels. Anne has over 17 years of teaching experience at all levels from Grade 1 to High School, and has been a member of both the statewide mathematics portfolio program and the state mathematics assessment development committee.

Two teachers were selected for one year sabbaticals focusing on the uses of educational technology in all curriculum areas and for professional development. The teachers are:

Grace Meo, elementary technology coordinator for the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District. Grace has over 14 years of experience working on the uses of technology in education, including 11 years of experience in the public schools.

Linda Schaye, Abbot Elementary School, Westford. Linda has over 20 years of teaching experience, and has served as the technology integration specialist in Westford for the past 11 years.