Interim Superintendent

Here Less Than a Year, Interim Superintendent Has Had a Profound Impact

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When John Brackett was appointed Watertown’s interim superintendent the town’s schools faces many issues – a leadership vacuum, schools needing modernizing and expanding and someone to oversee the finances. Last week, the School Committee said goodbye to Brackett, and lauded him for not just keeping the Watertown Public Schools in the same shape he found them but leaving them in a position to take the next step forward. Brackett was hired in late October 2016 following the sudden retirement of Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald in September and he will end his tenure on June 30, 2017. The Watertown Schools needed to hire not only a permanent superintendent but also a school business manager, prepare the district to renovate or rebuild all of its schools along with the business of running the schools each day. All of those have been accomplished or in the case of the school renovations, have made significant progress.

Entertainment

See Art Made by Watertown Students at the Watertown Mall

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The Watertown Mall announced it will host the Watertown Public Schools Annual Student Art Exhibit from March 14-28, 2017. Enjoy hundreds of fine art pieces crafted by Watertown Public School students in Kindergarten through grade 12. You will be amazed at the breadth and depth of artistic talent on display. Mediums showcased include, but are not limited to: watercolor, crayon, cray pas, pencil, photography, computer art, 3D, ceramics, and paper machè. The exhibit will run from Tuesday, March 14, to Wednesday, March 28.

Schools

Watertown Schools Release Statement on Respecting Diversity

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In light of recent discussions at the Federal level about travel bans from certain countries and immigrations, School Committee Chairman John Portz and Interim Superintendent John Brackett released a “Statement on Respecting Diversity.” The statement reads:
In Watertown, we celebrate our diversity. As a school system, we are committed to protecting the right of all students and educators to participate in our learning community. Recent events at the national level regarding travel restrictions and related actions prompt us to reiterate and reassure that Watertown Public Schools is an open, welcoming, and inclusive place to learn and work. Debates in national policy continue, but we are committed to providing a safe, learning environment for all students.

Schools

School Committee: Interim Superintendent Has Experience to Lead Watertown for the Year

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The Watertown School Committee appointed a former superintendent, principal and teacher to lead the town’s Public Schools through the year while a permanent replacement is found. 

On Tuesday night, the School Committee chose Dr. John Brackett to fill the interim superintendent role through the rest of the school year, or until a new superintendent is found. When Brackett was interviewed by the School Committee Monday night, he said that he researched the Watertown Schools and saw the challenges, such as crowding and lack of a school business manager, but he also saw some positives. “I also found a lot of things appealing about the district,” Brackett said. “There are a lot of exciting things, such as diversity is celebrated and a strong commitment to high achievement.” Communication is a challenge in many districts, and Brackett said he would communicate often with the School Committee.

Schools

Watertown Elementary Schools Host 3rd Annual Crazy Color Fun Run

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The third annual Crazy Color Fun Run is sponsored by the PTO organizations of the Hosmer, Cunniff and Lowell Schools in Watertown to raise money for our schools. All donations go toward academic and cultural enrichment activities at the elementary schools. This fun run features the addition of color four times throughout the race, with a color celebration at the finish line! All color is non-toxic and edible (although I wouldn’t recommend it!)

Participants will start at the Hosmer Elementary School at 1 Concord Road in Watertown. They’ll turn right onto Mt.

Schools

School Committee to Embark on 2 Superintendent Searches This School Year

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The Watertown Public Schools will go through two superintendent searches this school year – an interim and a permanent replacement – but the timeline for the searches remains up in the air. 

Monday night, the School Committee discussed their game plan for replacing Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald, who is retiring in the beginning of October. The search for an interim superintendent will start immediately, while process of finding a permanent replacement will begin in late November or early December, said School Committee Chairman John Portz. The School Committee came close to just having one search for the permanent superintendent. Member Eileen Hsu-Balzer said she would feel more comfortable focusing on that search and have the current administrators run the district rather than someone brought in for the school year. “I question the idea of even having an interim.”

Dr. Bernard Lafayette

Teachers, Students & Police Team Up to Teach Nonviolence to Watertown Staff

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Crammed into a small conference room at the Westin Hotel in Waltham Thursday, a group of teachers took part in the first of its kind professional training where students joined other teachers and police officers to demonstrate the principles of Martin Luther King Jr.’s non-violence approach to conflict resolution. The Kingian Nonviolence Training was one of the sessions teachers and staff of the Watertown Public Schools could select as part of their professional training during the first two days back at work this year. The first of three trainings on Thursday was attended by teachers from all levels, special education and English Language Learner (formerly ESL) teachers, a dean of students and a reading specialist. Many said they hoped to find ways to resolve conflicts in their classes, both between students and with themselves and students. When conflict arises sometimes people have to resist their first reaction, said Harold Physic, a Watertown Police officer who helped lead the professional training.