Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021 ASKS | FROM PAGE 4 sioner hasn’t released any information recently. Q: Have you heard from the commissioner since you’ve begun? Any pep talks or advice? A: Yes. He gave some wise advice and good wishes, so yes, he’s been very supportive. Q: And what’s the best thing you can take away, after having worked for the commissioner? A: That education is part of our overall system, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s really important to me that we bring the town into the work we do. Working for the commissioner, I really saw how our executive office of education worked together with the Department of Public Health and our other state agencies, so I think it’s really important that we think about education as being part of our community. Q: How many teachers are you going to be hiring before the beginning of the new year? A: That’s a great question. I would need to check on that. Feel free to follow up with an email and I can find the details. Q: What are your major goals and how long do you think it will take to achieve them as you look ahead to the new year? A: That’s a great question. I would say I’m working with the School Committee on our Saugus-wide goals. We essentially have two goals: One is centered around student achievement and the second is centered around effective instruction – what our goals are for this year in terms of making student progress and what might be effective instruction. So, it’s really in those two areas: student achievement and effective instruction. And then the wraparound support of that is how are we developing kids in terms of their sense of belonging and welcoming them back … and how are we welcoming back our teachers, our educators, our staff so that they really feel welcome, safe, supported and part of our schools – and really building that school community. So, I would say student achievement and effective instruction – those goals are ultimately set by the School Committee, and I work in support of them. Q: How long do you think it will be – how many years will it take before it’s noticeable that Saugus is a great place to work in the school system and to learn? And a school district that the town is proud of? A: That’s a great question. Research shows that school change tends to take three to five years and system change takes five to seven years. My goal is to do it on the shorter end of those time frames. We do have quite a bit of work to do, and I think we have the right team to do it, so I’m confident in our trajectory. Q: One thing I want to ask you about, because I understand you were big in soccer … something you can share about … kids might be impressed with that – “Hey, our superintendent was a soccer star in college.” A: I’d say I was short of saying I was a soccer star. I was recruited by Yale to play soccer. Actually, in my freshman year I fractured a vertebra in my back, so I spent the first year in rehab. And I came back and played my sophomore year, and we won the Ivy League Championship – and actually hung up my cleats after that. Q: So you haven’t done anything since in soccer? A: Oh no, I have continued to play. I actually started to play soccer at age five and have continued. I haven’t picked up a team around here in the area yet, but I understand that there’s indoor soccer in Danvers, so I’m going to look into that. Q: So, that’s been like your main physical fitness? Playing soccer? A: Soccer, running, hiking. Q: How long do you run? A: I’ve run three marathons in the last 10 to 15 years. Q: Boston [Marathon]? A: Nope – all three in New York. I love being outside. I love hiking. I like walking with others. Q: Outside of family and your career, what is your greatest passion or hobby? A: I love the symphony and the music theatre and hearing John Williams’ scores. I love the Boston Symphony Orchestra and I think it is inspiring; and I’m going to Tanglewood later this summer. And I think it’s exciting to watch the Olympics. I’m definitely a fan of that. I would say my faith is very important to me. Q: Are you an official in your church? A: No. I used to be an altar server, but I’ve really been a parishioner for the last 10 years. I was an altar server at my church when I was in New York City. They have a great Catholic community. My former church in Manhattan had online services for the last year and a half, so my friends and I have been a part of the Mass. Q: Anything else that you would like to mention? A: I’m very excited and love meeting the people of Saugus, and they have been so warm and welcoming. The School Committee has been excellent to work with, and I feel really lucky to be here. Q: Have you done some coffees or open houses in the community, or is that something you are going to do? A: Yes. I just sent out a parent letter this week. We have over 200 responses in English, Spanish and Portuguese. I’m really looking forward to reviewing that information. I have been meeting one-on-one with teachers. I sent out an educator survey in midJune, and so I have had about 25 one-on-one conversations with our Saugus educators. It’s been so interesting. Q: Do you plan to interview every one of them? A: I’ve made it optional. We have over 217 or slightly more educators and have received just over 100 responses, and individuals have set up interviews with me. Q: And you’re going to be doing meetings with the PTAs [Parent Teacher Associations]? A: What I’m planning right now is in-person meetings in each one of the schools, once school starts, and I’m also working on setting up a couple of introductory Zoom meetings, and I’m also forming a communications committee. And we have many parents interested, because what I’ve heard is that communication is very important to many parents. Q: You strike me as a person who … You really like mingling and talking with common folks. A: And I don’t really think there’s such a thing. They are good folks. Q: You know what I mean – average people. A: Yes I do. It’s really important. Every member of the Saugus community is part of my new family. Q: And you don’t seem to get stressed out? A: It’s not really in my nature. Q: Because of the exercise and all of the experiences you’ve had. A: I’ve been really fortunate. I’ve had great mentors, and again, this is a supportive community. Q: Anything else that you would like to share with folks? A: You and I have talked about things that are coming up and things that might be important for you to know about – so school begins on Sept. 8, and so what we’re working to do – we’re working to make sure that we are fully staffed and that we are ready for that first day. I’ll be addressing the teachers on Sept. 7, so if you’d like to come to that, you are welcome. Q: Anything else? A: Yes. I would like to show you the photo of my grandmother from 2003. It was taken at Cornell University. Q: And you have kept this photo of you and your grandmother in your office during most of your career? A: Yes. She was an incredible person and mentor. She is why I am an educator today.
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