Excellence in the EPS: 2024-2025 » September 3, 2024

September 3, 2024

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

EPS Welcomes Dr. Adams
Veteran Educator is the District’s First-Ever Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, and Student Success

The Everett Public Schools (EPS) is excited to announce that veteran educator Dr. Margaret Adams has joined the district as its first-ever Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, and Student Success.

Formal head shot, woman in business attire; new EPS Assistant Superintendent“We have tremendous instructional leaders and an amazing faculty,” said Superintendent William Hart. “Dr. Adams will play a pivotal role in marshaling this talent to the greatest possible benefit for our students. She is already hard at work, visiting schools, meeting teachers and building leaders, and sitting in on professional development sessions. I look forward to seeing the integral role Dr. Adams will have across the EPS in 2024-2025.”

Joining the EPS Central Administration represents a homecoming of sorts. Dr. Adams began her education career as a student-teacher at the former Centre School in Everett (Sumner Whittier).
 

"I am honored and humbled to return to a community of educators who gave me such a warm welcome and an amazing start to my career 30 years ago,” said Dr. Adams, who addressed faculty and educators during the Back-to-School Convocation on Monday, August 26, 2024. “I am excited to start this new role and serve the students, families and staff of the Everett Public Schools." 

Dr. Adams started her career as an elementary teacher in second and fourth grade in Framingham. She has served as an elementary principal, a department leader for bilingual and ESL programming, a curriculum leader for literacy, and as an assistant superintendent, and superintendent. Her background spans both urban and suburban districts.
 

Most recently, she served as the Department Head for Bilingual/ESL Programs in Brockton, Director of Literacy, Title I, ELL in Malden, Assistant Superintendent in Melrose, and Superintendent in Hingham.

Dr. Adams holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, a master’s degree in special education from Lesley University, a Master’s Degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education in Educational Administration, and a Bachelor of Science degree from UMASS/Boston in Mathematics and Elementary Education.
EPS Scenes
Opening Week of the 2024-25 School Year
 
Superintendent Hart standing with EPS staff members, posed photos
 
Superintendent of Schools William Hart is pictured with Keverian School administrative assistant Gail Mastrocola (left), and Everett High School guidance counselors Maureen Kacvinsky and Fernanda Andrade on the first day of school on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
 
Four adults standing, smiling

Long-term substitute teacher Carmen Falzone, EPS Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, and Student Success Dr. Margaret Adams, STEM teacher Glen Arruda, and Superintendent William Hart are pictured on the first day of school at the Keverian.
 
 
Three adults standing and smiling

Superintendent Hart and Dr. Adams are pictured with Keverian School art teacher Alana Russell.
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Five adults standing, smiling, in front of an auditorium curtain

From left: Madeline English School Head Teacher Joe Marchese, Assistant Principal Anastasia Kolokithas, Ron Clark Academy (RCA) teacher Susan Barnes, Assistant Principal Tiffany Boyake, and RCA administrator Junior Bernadin.
 
Making a House Call
Madeline English School Professional Development Session Focus on Belonging and Acceptance
 
Two educators from the Ron Clark Academy (RCA), a highly acclaimed nonprofit academy in Atlanta, led a professional development session at the Madeline English School on Monday, August 26, 2024.  Mr. Junior Bernadin, Ron Clark Academy’s Dean of Students, and creative writing teacher Susan Barnes led the discussion, which will help Madeline English School teachers and leaders implement a House System that fosters support and teamwork among students. This school-wide initiative is being supported by Everett Public Schools (EPS) Equity Consultant Victoria Privott.

Schools around the world have implemented the RCA House System as a dynamic way to create a powerful and positive school climate. Students are celebrated for their efforts through a process that builds character, empowers academic excellence, fosters school spirit, enhances relationships, and promotes a culture of belonging for all.  

Each House has unique properties such as its own color, symbols, nation of heritage, history, and more. Over time, each House also starts to take on its own values and personality driven by the culture of the students and staff within it. Under the house model, when one of us wins we all win. The initiative aligns with the district’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) goals, which is central to the work Ms. Privott is leading throughout the district.
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Backpacks and books, three images
The Assessment? Awesome!
More than 500 Students Take Advantage of District-Wide Initiative

The Everett Public Schools (EPS) held successful assessment days for students entering kindergarten and first and second grades on August 20-21, 2024, at every elementary school in the district. The math and literacy assessments are required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and they provide teachers with a deeper understanding of a student’s learning profile.

More than 500 students took advantage of the early assessment period, which saves valuable time when the school year begins. Every student who attended received a backpack, school supplies, and a book. Thanks to Tier II Math and Literacy Directors, Jaqueline Fallon and Audra Lessard, for coordinating the assessment days and to the EPS educators who staffed the events.
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Adults standing, smiling, holding backpacks
 
Now, The Local News …
Teamsters Makes a Generous Donation to the Everett Public Schools
 
A team of community-minded representatives from Teamsters Local 25 visited the Central Administration Building on Thursday, August 29, 2024, to donate 250 backpacks filled with school supplies (inset) to our students. The backpacks, which came in a wide variety of colors and styles, were distributed to schools by Everett Public Schools (EPS) custodial staff. On behalf of the EPS, Superintendent William Hart thanks the Teamsters for their dedication to the community and our students. From left: EPS custodian David Oliveri, Kelly Glynn and Melissa Hurley from the Teamsters Local 25, Superintendent William Hart, and Teamsters Brian Hatch (Business Agent), Gina Buckley, Kimberly Cavanaugh, and Bill Grubbs.
 
Two women standing on a staircase, holding backpacks

Saugus-Everett Lodge of Elks
Organization Donates Backpacks and School Supplies

The Everett Public Schools (EPS) extends its sincerest gratitude to the Saugus-Everett Lodge of Elks for making a very generous donation to our students at the outset of the 2024-2025 school year. The Elks delivered 150 backpacks filled with school supplies (inset) to the Central Administration Building on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, which were distributed to EPS schools by custodial staff for the first day of school on August 28th. Elks House Committee Chairman Linda Fuller (left) made the delivery, and Interim Assistant Superintendent Gretchen Manning was on hand to offer thanks on behalf of the EPS.  
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Students engaged in STEM activities on the floor inside a classroom

Programmed for Success
Everett High Students Volunteer for Summer Program
 
Is there a way to improve a free summer robotics club for middle school students that is led by an Everett High School (EHS) teacher? 

Absolutely. Add EHS student volunteers to the equation. 

The members of the EHS First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics Team lent their time and passion to this summer’s Middle School Robotics Club, which was supervised by STEM teacher Adam Kvietkauskas. It was one of 22 different free programs operated by the Everett Public Schools (EPS) during the summer of 2024. 

EHS students Kenton Tran, Ali Raza, Lucas Martins, Ateeq Rahman, Ritchy Samedy, Neya Maharjan, Elvis Nguyun, Yoni Hernandez Valle, Gabriel Portillo, Avner Do Nascimento, and Thomas Heng supported rising sixth and seventh graders during the week of July 8th and rising eighth and ninth graders during the week of July 29th. The high schoolers designed lesson plans, facilitated fun activities, created team building activities, and generated enthusiasm for our growing middle school robotics programs.  
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The Driving Force: Our Students
 
Students and teachers gathered at the entrance to Everett High; ballon arch, musicians
Above, members of the Marching Band greet teachers and guests as they arrive for the Back-to-School Convocation on Monday, August 26, 2024. Below, Student Ambassadors hand out school supplies at the Parlin School Back to School Celebration on Friday, August 24, 2024. Thanks to our students for their eager willingness to help the Everett Public Schools (EPS) host Grade A events and programs.
 
Students standing and smiling, in front of a table with backpacks