By Seth Daniel
At her annual breakfast gathering on Monday, Aug. 28, Supt. Mary Bourque addressed faculty and staff from throughout the district, urging them to champion social justice among students, families and the broader Chelsea community.
“We are a district committed to ongoing improvement on behalf of our students and as such we have four schools implementing Turnaround Plans this year and five schools implementing Accelerated Improvement Plans,” she said. “We believe we can do better for our students and these plans are a reflection of where we will work to do a better job in the coming year. This is social justice… Our profession of education is one of leadership and service—service to young people and service to the next generation. Our work is about building the future. Our profession of ‘urban’ education is one of social justice. We open the doors of opportunity for our students.”
Twelve months prior, Bourque had introduced a five-year strategic plan at the same event. Her remarks on this occasion reflected on progress achieved since that unveiling.
The superintendent devoted considerable time to reviewing accomplishments tied to her strategic objectives.
Among the year’s major wins was the successful distribution of computers to students, enabling the district to pivot toward student-centered learning models. Bourque noted that one-to-one technology implementation—a cornerstone goal from last year’s announcement—had substantially come to fruition.
“We expanded our technology initiative and proudly boast that we now have one-to-one devices in grades 2-12,” said Bourque.
Additional gains outlined in the strategic plan framework included:
- We expanded our Caminos dual enrollment program at the ELC and will continue to expand annually.
- We continue to build the internal and external pipelines and career ladders for future teachers and administrators with our partnerships with Lesley, Endicott, and Harvard Colleges to name a few.
- At Chelsea High School (CHS) the district successfully initiated the biliteracy credential and 11 graduating seniors received the award upon graduation in June.
- At CHS, Advance Placement scores show a 4 percent increase in qualifying scores of 3, 4, or 5 from 32 percent last year to 36 percent of AP tests administered this year.
Dual enrollment expansion with Bunker Hill Community College represented yet another triumph for the district, Bourque highlighted.
During 2017, CHS graduates accumulated 1,162 college credits—equivalent to 385 courses—through dual enrollment while simultaneously completing their high school diplomas.
“That was a savings of over $200,000 on college tuition and fees and over $50,000 on books,” she said. “Does anyone doubt that we will be offering a pathway for students to complete their Associate’s Degree at the same time they are receiving their high school diploma from Chelsea High by June 30, 2021? Let us be the first high school in the State to offer this pathway.”
Returning to her core theme of social justice leadership, Bourque emphasized that current times present profound uncertainty. Through their commitment to advancing social justice, Chelsea Schools educators and staff simultaneously fulfill the district’s fundamental mission.
“Our foundational beliefs center around our mission statement: ‘We welcome and educate ALL students,’” she said. “This is social justice in action, to welcome and educate—inclusive of all—to seek equity in educational opportunities for career and college success for each and every student…
“As a school system, our goal remains to ensure all of our students graduate with the skills, confidence, and habits of mind they need to be successful in college, career, and life,” she continued. “We have no misplaced compassion for our students. We hold them to the same standards of excellence as all other students in our State of Massachusetts are held to. This is Chelsea Public Schools’ social justice.”