Page 4 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, December 6, 2019 AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Get Your Vehicle Winter Ready! OIL CHANGE SPECIAL Up to 5 Quarts of Oil (Most Vehicles) Includes FREE Brake Inspection & Safety Check Only $24.95 DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! 2011 FORD F-150 CREW CAB Platinum Package, 4X4, Loaded, Every Option, Clean Title, Only 99K Miles, Trades Welcome! WORKING LUXURY $18,900 Easy Financing Available! 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT 4X4, All Wheel Drive for the Winter, Only 43K Original Miles, Excellent Condition, Clean Title! BEAUTIFUL BLUE $4,900 781-321-8841 1236 Eastern Ave • Malden EddiesAutotech.com We Pay Cash For Your Vehicle! dine drink gather Friday, December 6 at 9 PM STOMPIN' MELVIN Saturday, December 7 at 8:30 PM The Exclusive Return Engagement of... JOHN CAFFERTY & THE BEAVER BROWN BAND enjoy School Committee begins Q&A sessions for superintendent finalists By Christopher Roberson S tarting on December 2, the School Committee began hosting question and answer sessions for each of the four superintendent finalists. The sessions were recommended by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and are different from the interviews with the School Committee, which will be held at later dates. The week-long symposium led off with Todd Stewart, a Superintendent Fellow at Harvard University Graduate School of Education/Worcester Public Schools. “At this moment, Everett may benefit from someone with my collaborative experience,” he said. “This could possibly be a great match.” Stewart said a superintendent needs to have a fluent understanding of the school budget. “Parents shouldn’t be expected to have a 12-page spreadsheet,” he said. “There needs to be someone who knows the budget in the weeds.” Speaking about his leadership style, Stewart said his practice has been to remain transparent while, at the same time, not being swayed by outside opinions. “When it’s time to cancel school, that’s a decision for the mayor, the DPW chief and myself – not for everyone on Twitter,” he said. Regarding the recent pasFriday, December 13 at 9 PM The Ultimate Party Band WILDFIRE Thursday, December 19 at 8 PM Full Scale Holiday Rock Orchestra TWELVE-TWENTY FOUR INTERNATIONAL CHRISTMAS Saturday, December 14 at 9 PM The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience KASHMIR Friday, December 27 at 9 PM Back by Popular Demand! VINYL GROOVE sage of the $1.5 billion Student Opportunity Act, Stewart said those funds should be used for social-emotional learning, the academies at Everett High School, maintaining low class sizes and the preschool program. “Every dollar we invest in preschool comes back 10-fold later in a child’s life,” he said. In addition, Stewart said the school districts need to ensure that the money from the Student Opportunity Act is paid out during the next seven years. “We, as districts, need to hold the Legislature’s feet to the fire,” he said. In response to a question about English Language (EL) students, Stewart said those students need to be in mainstream Tuesday, December 31 Rock in the New Year with the #1 AC/DC Tribute Band! Sunday, Dec. 15 10 AM-1:30 PM DIRTY DEEDS SANTA BRUNCH Priya Tahiliani Todd Stewart classes with their peers. “What we can’t do is stick them in remedial classes,” he said. However, he was unable to elaborate any further on the EL curriculum. “This is not my area of expertise,” said Stewart. Before taking on his current role as a superintendent fellow, Stewart taught history for eight years at Quabbin Regional Middle School and was also the school’s assistant principal for five years. After leaving Quabbin in June 2014, Stewart was the principal of Central Tree Middle School for three years. Stewart holds a bachelor’s degree in history and education from Clark University and a Master of Education in school leadership from Worcester State University and is pursuing a doctorate in education leadership at Harvard University Graduate School of Education. During her question and answer session on December 4, Priya Tahiliani, assistant superintendent of English Language Learners for the Boston Public Schools, said her initial priorities would include addressing the district’s attendance problem as well as continuing to bolster the science curriculum. Tahiliani also spoke about her current position, which she has held since July 2017. “It has been a great joy to run this department; it’s a district within a district,” she said, adding that she was also an English Language Learner. In addition, Tahiliani emphasized the importance of how curriculum is presented to students. “I can put together an amazing plan on paper that’s going to fall flat in the classroom,” she said. Tahiliani also described how she would be able to be superintendent while continuing to pursue her online doctorate in education and urban education leadership from the University of Phoenix. “I do believe that I balance it very well,” she said, adding that she is halfway through the program. “It enhances my ability to be a good educator.” However, Tahiliani said that if necessary, she would take time off from her doctoral studies to focus exclusively on being Everett’s superintendent. “It would be my unbelievable honor and privilege to come here,” she said. In addition, Tahiliani said she recently experienced a significant change in Boston when Brenda Cassellius was chosen to lead that district in May of this year. “I understand the fear, but I’ve always valued commitment, that is a treasure,” she said, adding that she would have no intention of making any “sweeping changes” to the School Department. Prior to her current position, Tahiliani taught English Language Arts at Edwards Middle School and at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, where she was also the assessment and accountability coordinator for five months in 2016. She holds two bachelor’s degrees in English and English Education from Boston University and a master’s degree in creative writing and literature from Harvard University. 221 Newbury Street, Danvers For Tickets call (978) 774-7270 or www.breakawaydanvers.com
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