Application materials of Maureen Binienda for the position of Worcester Public Schools Superintendent

8/20/2019 Application materials of Maureen Binienda for the position of Worcester Public Schools Superintendent

1/27

1 Letter

o

pplication

Mrs. Maureen Binienda


2/27

February 29, 2016

To Worcester School Committee,

Enclosed please find my resume for the position

of

Superintendent of Schools. I am a resident

of

the

City

of

Worcester and a past student of the Worcester Public Schools through grade 8. My academic

preparation has been extensive. In June 1992, I received my second Master's

of

Education with a

concentration in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University Graduate School

ofEducation as a Jacob Hiatt Scholar. While attending Harvard University, I participated in educational

courses which focused on school reform, curriculum design, school law, human relations, community

education, and the organizational characteristics of schools, and strategies for institutional change.

I have been the Principal at South High Community School for the last 8 years and was previously the

Assistant Principal for twelve years working with

an

urban school population of over 1300 students. In

these roles, I have demonstrated the ability to manage complex roles and responsibilities. I have been

responsible for the consistent and continual orientation of all South High personnel and students to the

school mission, learning expectations and standards, and school safety. Since South High

is

the

rd

most

diverse high school in MA, I have demonstrated experience in working with various cultural, ethnic and

racial backgrounds and appreciate the value of diversity. My writing skills, administrative and

organizational skills have been developed over the last 40 years I have worked in various roles in the

Worcester Public Schools: Principal, Assistant Principal and Dean

of

he Academy

of

Education,

Service and Government, Teacher of Moderate Special Needs, Workshop Coordinator, Job Placement

Specialist, Curriculum Coordinator, Site Administrator for Community School and Nite Life Programs,

and MCAS After School Administrator.

Even with budget cuts, I have been able to manage limited resources to support goal attainment. I have

demonstrated success leading school improvement initiatives that work to close student achievement

gaps as evidenced by South

High s

improvement in AP enrollment and scores for all students including

minority and low income groups. Under my leadership, South High is regularly featured in the

MA

Insight

AP

Presentation Program and is featured in several local newspaper articles and news features.

During the 2014-15 school year, South High AP students achieved the highest number of 4 and 5 s than

any of the other AP students in the Worcester Public Schools South High MCAS Accountability Score

has consistently increased over the past 3 years demonstrating we are closing the achievement gap.

I also currently serve on eight community boards

of

directors/ advisory councils and am often the "face

of

the Worcester Public Schools"

in

many community events. It is through

my

community contacts that

South High has received many resources including its corporate partnership with UNUM I have

established contacts with media, including print, radio and television.

I look forward to more communication with you about this position.

Sincerely,

~ r ~ l

Maureen Binienda


3/27

2 urrent Resume


4/27

Maureen F. Binienda

' utMYZMlfl IV M Eke

\Wt IDEI llf[M.119

1• 3& bi I I

hilll · ~ i Sl lllllUm

SUMMARY OF QU LIFIC TIONS

• 8 years experience as Principal at South High Community School

•

12

years experience as an Assistant Principal at South High Community School

• 40 years as an educator in the Wqrcester Public Schools

• Extensive experience as a director

or

advisor on community boards and councils

·

• Strong interpersonal skills with staff, students, parents and community

• Highly organized and efficient

at

grant writing and reporting.

• Strong advocate for community service learning in the Worcester Community.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2008-present Principal, South High Community School, Worcester, MA.

Responsible for exercising vision and providing leadership that appropriately involves staff,

parents, students, business partners and community in the identification and accomplishment of he

school s mission

and

goals; responsible for the knowledge

and

use of interpersonal skills such as

oral and written communication, public relations and group dynamics; for exploring, assessing and

implementing educational concepts that enhance teaching and learning under the framework of the

Massachusetts Common Core of Learning; for promoting a school climate that fosters high student

expectations

and

employs appropriate strategies that adclress multiple learning styles; for

coordinating the School Council and serving as Co-chair, including the development and

implementation

of

a School Accountability Plan, consistent with state law

and

School Committee

Policy. Responsible for developing and sustaining a building and grounds maintenance program;

with the Human Resource Office, responsible for developing and executing a system of personnel

selection, assignments, supervision, support and evaluation

which

encourage professional growth

in

staff performance; for developing a program for personal and professional growth

of

staff that

highlights cooperation and self-renewal with an emphasis on creativity and innovation; for

implementing and executing a system of budget planning, record keeping and report-making that

serves the needs of the school and community; for supervising the daily use of school facilities

in

the area

of both

academic and non-academic activities, including usage of school facilities by

community groups and for implementing supervising and evaluating

student standardized

testing

programs as prescribed.

1996-2008 Assistant Principal Dean of the Academy of Education, Service and Government,

South

High

Community School, Worcester, M .

Contribute to the optimum attendance of all students through c lose communications with parents,

teachers students

and

counselors; follow a sound discipline process

and

reinforce procedures


5/27


6/27

Continued- Resume Maureen F. Binienda

CERTIFICATIONS

Superintendent/ Assistant Superintendent

Assistant Principal/Principal

Special Education

Supervisor/Director- All Levels

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION

National Association

for

Supervision

and

Curriculum Development

Massachusetts Teacher s Association, Education Association of Worcester, NEA

Phi Delta

Kappa

CURRENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Committee

Member

of he DESE Civic Learning and Engagement Task Force, 2015-present

Presenter at the National Advance Placement Conference, Philadelphia, July 2014

Presenter at the National Advance Placement Conference, Las Vegas, July 2013

Presenter

at

the National Fulbright Conference, Cambridge, MA, October 2011

Presenter at First

MA

Civic Engagement Conference, DCU Center, Worcester, November 2007.

Presenter at MA Department ofEducation Annual State Conference, Holy Cross College, May 2007.

Presenter at ASCD Conference: Community Service Learning Chicago, April 2006.

Presenter /Showcase Academy CSL for MA, National Youth Conference, Philadelphia,

March

2006.

Presenter at the DOE Community Service eaming State Conference, Holy Cross, September 2005.

Presenter at

ASCD

Conference: Small earning Communities Orlando, March 2005.

Schools for a

New

Society Carnegie Foundation Conference, San Francisco, CA, March 2005

RELATED

EXPERIENCES(*

current

Webster Square Business Association Board

of

Directors, Vice President*

Seven Hills Foundation Board

of

Directors*

Audubon Society Broad Meadow Brook Advisory Council*

Girl s Inc Advisory Council*

Work 4 Worces ter Advisory Board*

Incorporator Worcester Art Museum*

lncorporator YWCA*

Hanover Theatre-

Head

Usher*

First

Night Worcester

Committee

NEASC Chairperson for 2000 Accreditation; Co-Chair 2010

Leadership

Team

for school reform and restructuring, Worcester Public Schools, Worcester,

MA


7/27

Continued- Resume Maureen F Binienda

AWARDS

MA Insight Partners in Excellence Principal Award 2015; Worcester State Community Service

Award 2015; Adventist Community Service Award 2015; Worcester Public Schools Female

Administrator

of

he Year Award 2014; Rotary Club Service Before SelfAward 2014;

Broadway League Educator of the Year Award 2014; Lois Greene Award United Way 2013;

Go

Local Worcester Woman

of

the Year

in

Central

MA

Award 2013; Central MA Housing

Alliance Janice Nadeau Memorial Award 2010; Katharine F. Erskine Award 2009; Thomas

S

Green Public Service Award 2008; UNU Starting Five Award 2008; Salsa

Of

Life Award

Latino Institute 2008; Worcester State University Community Service Award 2007; and the

Webster Square Business Association Educator of the Year Award 2006.

REFERENCES

See attached

letters

of recommendation and application fonn


8/27

4 Four Letters o Reference

(One

o

the four shall be written by

a former student o the applicant,

or o the applicant s school or

school district, as applicable)


9/27

Mass Insight

EDUC TION

February 23, 2016

To Whom It May Concern,

It

is

an honor to recommend Principal Maureen Binienda for the position

of

Superintendent

of

Worcester Public Schools. I have had the pleasure

of

working with Principal Binienda since 2009,

when Mass Insight Education launched a partnership with Worcester s South High Community

School to provide support to both teachers and students around Advanced Placement

courses.

Since day one, I have witnessed Principal Binienda s extraordinary leadership skills in action. Mass

Insight works with nearly 8 schools across Massachusetts, and I can say without reservation that

Principal Binienda is the best there is. She

s

South High. n fact, she seems to be everywhere at

once, supporting, nurturing, and coaching the entire community, especially her students.

Since

we

began our partnership in 2009, South High has excelled in our

AP

program largely due to

the high expectations Principal Binienda has set for teachers and students. South High has increased

enrollment in Math, Science and English AP classes from 166 to 397 students, and increased the

number ofqualifying scores on

AP

Math, Science and English exams from 68 to 135.

Thanks to Principal Binienda s innovative approach to expanding

AP

participation - one example is

through LEAP (Latinos Excelling in AP) - South High not only doubled its qualifying scores on the

AP Science exam

in

2015, but also earned the most scores

of

four or higher

in

all of Worcester.

Asa I

result, forty-one percent of Worcester s minority student STEM

AP

qualifying scores were earned at

South High, more than double any other Worcester high school. Due to these impressive resuhs,

-he

school has become a model for our program. When

we

were in the early stages of developing a

relationship with New Orleans Public Schools,

we

brought the superintendent to South High to learn

about best practices for the program s implementation, and we ve brought leaders from other

Massachusetts school districts to South High as well.

To acknowledge Principal Binienda s commitment to the AP program and honor her successes,

we

presented her with one of wo principal awards at our Partners in Excellence Award Celebration last

spring. feel fortunate to know an educator as skilled and passionate as Principal Binienda, and I m

confident she will continue

to

be a tremendous asset to Worcester Public Schools as Superintendent.

She receives

y

highest recommendation without reservation.

If you are in need of any further information, please

do

not hesitate to contact me.

u; k

\

William H Guenther : : :__)

1

President, CEO and Founder

Mass Insight Education

- H • . . t t QI U I

tr Of

la

1511

It l IC

JI.

• b

Ii

massinsight.org


10/27

The Selection Committee for Superintendent

Worcester Public Schools

February 22 2016

To

Whom

It

May Concern:

Letter of Recommendation

The

Worcester Public Schools deserve

the

best servant leader

as

Superintendent; Mrs. Maureen

Benienda embodies and exemplifies wha t

it

takes

to be that

leader.

In our

six years

of

being South High parents and knowing her, Mrs. Benienda

has

proven

time

and time

again not only to be a humble and tireless servant leader, but a humane administrator whose care goes

beyond the four walls

of

the school.

She not

only welcome students

of

diverse ethnicities

into

South

High community, she has helped them and their families to become a welcome and an intergra part

of

the larger Worcester community.

Mrs. Benienda's responsibility towards each child

we

discovered - is

not

constrained by

the

school

bells; hers goes beyond even

the

graduation day.

She

fights

for

each child in her care and she never

backs down. She does not believe any obstacle

is

unsurmountable even i f she has to rally the entire

community

for

the

sake of that

singular child.

Such is

the case

of

her rallying and raising college support

for

her brill iant and needy students. Our daughter, Elizabeth

at

Bryant University,

is

a practical example

of

her fight for each child in her care.

Now, that is the kind of Superintendent to move Worcester Public Schools forward and onto greater

heights

Mrs. Benienda's vision, hard work, tenacity, and care are evident in all her students' (both present and

past) achievements.

As

parents

of

two

alumnus and one current senior, we cannot

but nominate

and

recommend Mrs. Maureen Benienda

for

this honorable position.

She

will make

an

indelible

impact

and

difference (all positive) in not just the Worcester Public School system but also in the lives of

the

children and families

that

make up the entire Worcester community and New England at large

Thank you.

Yours

s n ~ · ly, c ?\.11

b d ~ v ~ V C D r t v J t

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Oluokun

Parents: Mary Oluokun '12 (Bucknell University '16)

Elizabeth Oluokun

14

(Bryant University '18)

Esther Oluokun '16 (Senior - South High Community School)


11/27

February 22, 2016

Worcester Public School Hiring Committee:

It is with

great pleasure and honor that I write a letter

of

recommendation on behalf of Mrs. Maureen

Binienda. I am wri ting this letter in the capacity of a colleague and a supervisee. I worked at South High

Community School from 2004 unt il last year after moving

to

another state. My last role

at the

school

was of

the Guidance Department Head and AP Coordinator.

Under her leadership, Mrs. Binienda supported important initiatives

that

addressed the needs

of

our

underrepresented youths, particularly the Latino populat ion. One

of

those initiatives was a parent

outreach program PODER- Parents Obtaining Direction, Education and Resources). PODER included

monthly school-based and community-based meetings

with

our Latino families.

Even

though the

meetings were always in Spanish, Mrs. Binienda always stopped by and would say a few words

to

the

families. It

is

important to her for the parents to not only

see

her, but to hear from her how important

their

student s education

is

and

that

she needs

their

help in

the

process. I also coordinated Saturday

parent outreaches and workshops with community organizations like the YMCA and Centro De Vida

Church. Mrs. Binienda not only funded these events, but also attended

every

one o them. She also

visited the Centro

De

Vida Church on her own, and spoke to the congregants during the homily about

the importance of education. What a way to send a loud message to the families by being visi le and

pr s nt t these events.

Another huge initiative Mrs. Binienda and I worked on, and in my opinion, the biggest intervention to

support our Latino students, was the LEAP initiative. LEAP stands for Latinos Excelling in Advanced

Placement. For an entire year we met with parents, teachers, and district administrators to strategize

on how

to

improve our Latino students academic performance and improve their college going rate. We

knew that i f we worked on addressing the needs

of

our biggest school group, the efforts would

permeate into the rest of the school population and impact

our

school culture

as

a whole. Mrs. Binienda

took immediate

action

on the recommendations that came out

of

those meetings. For example, she

created a new AP course,

AP

Spanish Literature to increase accessibility

to AP

courses.

She

also made

AP Spanish Language available to all students and not just

2th

graders as it was traditionally. She

provided additional support

to

the AP teachers that would allow them to work with underrepresented

youths in Advanced Placement courses. She also launched our first AP bootcamp to support

st

time AP

students. Within the year of the

LEAP

implementation, we doubled our

AP

participation among Latino

students and tripled the part icipation among English Language Learners from d ifferent ethnic groups,

not just Latino students. That year, South High became

1

in the state in AP Spanish scores and 3 in

the state in the Latino

AP

Participation and Performance

for

all the subjects, and 1 in minority

representation in many of the current

AP

courses. There was an immediate trickle effect that impacted

our whole school s culture

as

we had anticipated. Our growth in

AP

participation and performance

caught

the

attention of the Collegeboard and Mrs. Binienda had the opportunity to present twice at the

CollegeBoard National Conferences in Las Vegas and Texas.

In

addition, both Mrs. Binienda and I were

brought

as

consultants

to

districts in New York City and New Orleans

to

share our expertise in working

with non-traditional AP students.


12/27

As a Latina myself, I always admired Mrs. Binienda's efforts

to

be personable by speaking Spanish with

recently arrived Latino students and families, to ensuring our Latino students had

access

to the most

rigorous curriculum available to them. She is committed to creating a college going culture atmosphere

and inspiring our students

to

achieve success

In addition, Mrs. Binienda believes in the montra - it takes a village . She is at every award ceremony

and community event that supports our students. She is the only known principal

to

have attended and

financially supported the Worcester Latino Dollars for Scholars awards every single year. Her presence

in our community as an advocate for our student

is at

the heart

of

who Mrs. Binienda

is

as a leader. Her

passion is REAL and GENIUNE

It is

undeniable that Mrs. Binienda

is an

innovator, a risk-taker and a problem-solver. Undoubtedly,

Mrs. Binienda's strength is that she is a woman of actions not just words. She makes things happen

Her dynamic spirit and tremendous drive is admirable and worthy to be emulated. Not only does she

have a heart of gold

that

comes forth as she works with our student population, but she has a hand of

steel to make dif ficult decisions, keeping a steady pulse in the moments of crisis and will remain

calm under pressure.

In conclusion, Mrs. Binienda wil l

be

a tremendous asset

to

the Worcester Public Schools. I have seen

firsthand how she

has

unified South High's st ff and students and instilled a sense of belonging and

community from day one of her office as principal. Mrs. Binienda has the capacity to unify and gel

people with a wide range

of

experiences and backgrounds.

She has

a unique abili ty to tr nscend

b rriers our students face so no one would have an excuse

to

be educated. I truly admire that Mrs.

Binienda advocates for students of all diverse backgrounds and truly understands the struggles and

challenges of our community.

I know Mrs. Binienda wil l drive the Worcester Public Schools far and will bring about the change the

district so desperately needs. As superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools, Mrs. Binienda wi ll

ensure our children are safe, learn, achieve and succeed.

Please

do

not

hesitate to contact me if you have further questions. I may be reached by email at

emtlc::dt\ Bb •P i• npj

(II I

f

••18

Truly yours,

Carmen

J.

Melendez-Quintero


13/27

RUBBY AKUA WUABU

R I • h J U ell IJJ cttltlt

Mnt l a

an

101 n r o p w ~ J I M J l l t . u h t

LETTER IN SUPPORT

OF MAUREEN BINIENDA FOR

SUPERINTEN ENT

Dear School Committee,

I am writing to support Maureen Binienda as Superintendent of he Worcester Public Schools. I am

writing this letter because every student in the Worcester Public School system should

have

the

benefit of having her fight

in

their comer. You will not find a more dedicated and strong advocate for

students than Maureen Binienda. Her extensive experience and holistic approach to the wellbeing of

all her students, makes her the right candidate for this position. She is one

of

he most determined,

tenacious and inexhaustible force when it comes to supporting and pushing her students to aim

higher, dream bigger and achieve a lot more than we thought possible. She saw the potential in each

and every one of us and always went to bat for us. She was our biggest fan, supporter and motivator

in everything that we did,

in

and out of class.

What makes Mrs. B., as we lovingly call her, well suited for this position is her unadulterated love

for her students. For it is only such love and devotion that explains the endless hours she spends in

and out

of

a school always working to improve the wellbeing

of

her students, physically

and

intellectually. She has been in the trenches as a teacher, academy director, and principal.

She

understands all aspects of education, and is well versed in the issues that students, teachers and

parents face. She has a broad perspective that takes into account the student, parents, and the

community at large. During her tenure, she has moldered South High School into one of he top high

schools in the state, and produced highly motivated, hardworking, community conscious graduates

who have gone on to achieve incredible things.

Mrs. B. is adept at cultivating relationships, uniting differing voices and creating solutions where

there are none. She never saw problems, only opportunities to turn those problems into more

opportunities for her students. She is optimistic, forward thinking and pragmatic in problem solving.

She brings to life her vision for her students, and her community, through hard work and cultivating

strong support systems made up

of

teachers, community members and community stakeholders. She

always knew exactly what was

at

stake for her students and never let her focus waiver. The worst

thing anyone could do around Mrs. B. was to have an idea. Because that meant she would support,

challenge and do everything in her power to provide resources that will help bring that idea to life.

During my tenure at

South High School and beyond, Mrs. B. was our principal, our mentor, our

greatest supporter and all round go to person. Her view of her

job

and responsibilities extended well

beyond the fine print of her employment contract. She taught us discipline and the value of hard

work through extensive community service. This gave us structure and cultivated n us a strong

sense

of

community. She not only opened our minds to a broader perspective, but also always

reminded us to think beyond our individual needs, to the wellbeing of our community as a whole.

The discipline that we learned through these experiences also made us better students, more

inquisitive and highly aware of the opportunities available to us ifwe were

willing to work

hard for

them.

She empowered us to see our own potential by giving us the skills, the resources and room to

try

our

best. For instance, we wrote grants for causes we believed in, developed youth run tour programs,

presented at national conferences, mentored fellow students, volunteered

at

soup kitchens, etc. We


14/27

RUDDY KU WU BU

JM

I

ElLZSC 2145

OH II

3j2

R Jt§b U itd

couldn t have

done

all those things and

so

much more if it wasn t for Mrs. B. s strong belief in us,

and her tireless efforts to get resources to South High School. I speak for those ofus who took

advantage

of

all these opportunities when I say, I left high school with a broader perspective, a strong

sense

of

self and community, and

an

awareness

of

my capabilities as an individual and as a student.

Of

all the accomplishments she has achieved,

Mrs B is

always thinking bigger and better things for

her students and the school. Mrs.

B is

willing to

go

above and beyond, to see the potential

in

every

situation, and to have the forethought and ability to cultivate relationships in order to bring those

dreams

into

reality.

t

takes such

an

individual to improve the Worcester Public Schools. I

wholeheartedly support any and every opportunity to give a broader range

of

student s exposure to

the force that is Mrs

B

Sincerely,

Rubby

Wuabu

2


15/27

5

Verification

of

Eligibility for

Certification as a Superintendent

of

Schools

in

Massachusetts if

any


16/27

UNOFFICI L

LICENSE

INFORM TION

Page 1of

l fJ ssachusetts

epartment o

lementary

Secondary

ducation

,

UNOFFICIAL LICENSE INFORMATION

Maureen

Binienda

l i · raJmWPnM1•:c

\lroJl@ll -YfJT}il

19Q.

Educator: Maureen F Binienda

MEPID: ii

U _lHl9

FIELD LEVEL

Elementary (K-8)

Elementary (K-6)

Middle School (5-9)

Special Needs (Level

depends on teaching

license)

*Principal/Assistant

Principal

(9-12)

Principal/Assistant Principa

I

(N-6)

Supervisor/Director (All

Levels)

Superintendent/Assistant

Superintendent (All Levels)

SEI-Admin (Level depends

on prereq license)

CATEGORY

ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

ACADEMIC

This license information was generated by

the educator from the Department's

electronic licensure file, ELAR

I t

should

not

be taken as proof

of

current licensure or as

an official record. The

Department

advises

that verification

of

this information via

ELAR is always necessary.

License :

****@257 TIO: - .

..

Original Certification Date:

06/23/1976

APPLICATION ISSUE EXPIRATION

TYPE DATE DATE

Professional

06/17/09

Professional

05/21/99

06/17/04

Professional

05/21/99

05/23/19

Professional

05/23/19

Professional

06/02/94 06/15/19

Professional

09/19/95

06/15/19

Professional

05/21/99

06/15/19

Professional

08/02/10

07/30/20

Endorsement

10/03/14

* Primary Area

***

Due to varying

requirements,

please

pay

attention to the specific

requirements

for the

potential

of

renewing an endorsement.

Please contact the Departmentof Elementary and Secondary Education customer service at 781-338-6600

i f

your license information above is incorrect

or

incomplete.

https://gateway.edu.state.ma.us/elar/viewlicenseNiewLicensePageControl.ser

2/16/2016


17/27

6 A Completed Application form

with typed responses to a c


18/27

APPLICATION FORM FOR

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

Please

read

before completing the following application: The Worcester Public Schools does not

discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religious creed, national origin, gender,

sexual orientation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, military status or status as a disabled

Vietnam era veteran, except where age or sex is a bona fide occupational qualification as allowed by the

Civil Rights Act

of

1964. No question on this employment application is intended to secure information

to be used for such discrimination. This employment application will be given every consideration, but its

receipt does not imply that the applicant will be employed.

PERSONAL

DATA

Date ofApplication 02 29 16

Binienda

Maureen

Frances

Last Name First Name Middle Name

· Iii· · I t•a••r•tnn•g. •

ee e se

Present Home Address (street, city, state & zip) Telephone

M

0

1 moat; ' r uM: J

~ l l B e L B ~ · ~ · ~ m ~

n ~ R • ~ i z ; J l l ~ ~ ~ . - ~ l ~ l i ~ & B ~ i M ~ i '

Present Business Address (street, city, state & zip) Telephone Fax

Regarding current position:

Number

of

employees district/school

' 7-'3

istrict/school enrollment 1310

students

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

(beginning with present)

Title

From/To Dates

District/State

PrinciQal

2008-Qresent

Worcester Public Schools- South High

Assistant Principal 1996-2008


SQecial Ed. Curriculu 1994-1996


Site Administrator for

C

1994-2008

Worcester Public School- South High

S 2ecial Education Tea

1978-1994


SQecial Education Tea 1976-1978

Worcester Public Schools- Bloomingdale School

PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION

(beginning with earliest degree)

Institution

Concentration

Fitchburg State University Special Education (3-21 )/ Elementary Education

Fitchburg State University

Special Education

Harvard Graduate School of Ed.

Administration. Planning and Social Policy

Enrollment

1310

1310

260-300

varied

90'-125

18-20

Degree

B.S. in Educatic

MA in Educatio

MA in Educatio


19/27

RELATED CERTIFICATION

Field State

Superintendent/ Assistant Superintendent MA

Principal/ Assistant Principal MA

REFERENCES

Certificate Number

207269

207269

Please list three people whom we might call who are knowledgeable about your professional competence and

who have OT written letters

of

reference for your file.

Name

Position Address Telephone

Elizabeth Bacon

Deb Carey

: Community Coordinator, Tt 64

ir I .1 9

·

PO 1 Ff

I

@ -•

Director of Central Sanctuari

41

I ftbss JJll R

BrM•DlSf• -fMt

0 6

I

A

Diane Lynch Assistant Principal

W ioal:atw2w•W

E•J '8'1584

11

I

7

5

s

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

From/To Dates Position

1980-1993 Field Hockey and Cheerleading

1979-1984 Nightlife Instructor

APPLICATION PROCESS

Employer

Worcester

Public Schools


The following material should be submitted by FEBRUARY 29 2016.

1 A letter

of

application indicating suitability for the position.

2. A current resume.

3

College/university placement papers and academic transcripts indicating degrees.

Location

South High

South High

4

Four letters

of

reference, one

of

which shall be written by a former student

of

the applicant, or

of

the

applicant s school or school district, as applicable.

5 Verification of eligibility for certification as a Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts (if any).

6

A completed application form with a typed response to each

of

the following:

a

How do your experiences and education best qualify you to serve as Superintendent of the

Worcester Public Schools?

b What is your philosophy of education, and how do you envision carrying out that philosophy

as Superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools?

c What do you anticipate your preliminary or initial goals will be as Superintendent of the


PLEASE NOTE: Candidates are advised not to contact individual School Committee members unless

requested to do so.

Materials should

e

mailed to: Helen A. Friel, Ed.D.

Assistant to the Superintendent/

Clerk of the School Committee


2 Irving Street - Room 108

Worcester,

MA

01609-2467

508 799 3032

TELEPHONE;

508 799 3190

FAX

[email protected]


20/27

s

a candidate,

J

understand that at some point in

th

seJection process the law m y require that

the

information contained

in

this application be made available to the public, and that the facts set forth

herein will be subject to verification.

I certify under the pains

and

penalty o perjury that all statements made by me

on

this application

and

accompanying resume,

and

other documents,

i

any are true and complete to the best

o

my knowledge

and

that I have withheld nothing, which,

i

disclosed, would affect application unfavorably. I understand that any

false statements or material omission of fact on the application

and

accompanying resume and other

documents, i any shall be grounds for rejection o this application or for immediate discharge i I

am

employed, regardless

o

the

time elapsed before discovery.

/hu fLJ

Signature

Date

Equal Opportunity Employer.


21/27

6a How do your experiences and

education best qualify you to

serve as Superintendent o the



22/27

A. How do your experiences and education best qualify you to serve as Superintendent of the


My

experiences and education best qualify me to serve as Superintendent of he Worcester Public

Schools. I have worked 40 years in the Worcester Public Schools, beginning as a Special

Education Teacher in 1976 and rising to Special Education Department Head (1994) to Assistant

Principal (1996) and Principal (2008). I have a Bachelor of Science, Summa Cum Laude, from

Fitchburg State University in Elementary Education and Special Education (1976); a Masters of

Education from Fitchburg State University (1981) and a Masters ofEducation from Harvard

Graduate School ofEducation ( 1992 ). The focus

of

my training at Harvard University was

Administration, Planning and Social Policy.

As Assistant Principal, I received extensive training on the Gates- Carnegie Small Schools

Initiative. I served as the Dean

of

the Academy ofEducation, Service and Government (ESG),

one

of

the three small learning communities at South High. My work focused on creating

community service learning opportunities, and whole school learning initiatives with a focus on

civic learning. The ESG teachers and I presented this work at several local, state and national

conferences. I presently serve on the Department ofElementary and Secondary Education Civic

Learning and Engagement Task Force where I am working with other invited members to

develop the civic objectives for MA.

I have supervised and managed the daily operations

of

South High in my roles as an Assistant

Principal for 2 years and as Principal for the last 8 years. I have provided a safe learning

environment for the students and st ffat South High by orienting staff and students to the rules

and policies of he Worcester Public Schools. As Assistant Principal and Principal, I have

followed a sound discipline process and reinforced procedures defined by the policy of he WPS

to

work with students and parents to create a positive learning environment.

South High is the third most diverse high school in Massachusetts. The current student population

of 1318 students consists

of

630 males, and 688 females, 15.3 Asian, 18.9 African American,

41.1 Hispanic, and 24.4 White students. 26 of the students are English Language Learners,

and 25 are Special Education students. Under my team's leadership, South High has become a

community of educators who set high expectations for all students and provides differentiated

learning experiences that allow all students to be successful to achieve their goals. In partnership

with South High staffand community agencies such as Mass Insight, student enrollment in AP

STEM classes increased from 166

to

397. 41 ofWorcester minority student STEM AP

qualifying scores were earned

at

South High, more than double th n any of the other Worcester

High Schools. South High MCAS scores in ELA and Math have continued to a steady increase

resulting in a closing of he achievement gap.

I have supported two initiatives that addressed the needs

of

the Latino population. One of these

initiatives is PODER (Parents Obtaining Directions, Education and Resources). PODER included

monthly school based and community based meetings with Latino families. The second initiative

is LEAP (Latinos Excelling In Advanced Placement). In LEAP, the head guidance counselor and

I met with parents and teachers to develop plans to improve Latinos student academic

performance. I have been recognized for my work with the Latino population by the awarding of

the Latino Institute Educator of he Year 2008 and the Adventist Community Service Award 2015.

I am trained in the M Teacher Evaluation System and have effectively used these procedures to

evaluate

95

South High staff. I have used observations and detailed feedback to improve teaching

and learning at South High. I have worked with the administrative team to deliver effective


23/27


24/27

6b. What is your philosophy of

education and how do you

envision carrying out that

philosophy as Superintendent o

the Worcester Public Schools?


25/27

B. What is your philosophy

of

education, and how do you envision canying out that philosophy

as Superintendent of he Worcester Public Schools?

I am referred by some partnering community agencies as an urban warrior. My philosophy is to

inspire every student to believe they are important and that they can make a positive contribution

in this world. I believe that poverty- looked at by some as a barrier to achievement- can become a

driving force

to

student success.

n

order

to

wrap services around students, I leave

no

stone

unturned in order to help students actualize their potential.

I live the whole child philosophy- Eachchild deserves to

e

healthy, safe, engaged, supported

and challenged. I believe it is important to preserve the dignity of every student and their family

by taking care of heir most basic needs- food, clothing, and shelter. I recognize that the

most

effective work happens when teams

of

caring and intelligent people come together

to

work for

common goals. Students need fair and consistent rules, support to take risks and confidence to

share their ideas with others. Students should take active participation in their learning and

receive constant feedback on their progress. I believe that education gives power to all individuals

to make a positive change in their life and their families.

I envision carrying out my philosophy

of

education through dynamic and robust communication

to

all stakeholders through my conversations and actions. I will prioritize on the ground floor

visits to each school in the district and together with the help

of

my administrative team

work

to

provide the resources necessary for the staff, students and families to feel valued and supported.

This is work I can not do alone. As such, I will provide professional development to principals

and st ffthat focuses on working as effective teams to provide continuous cycles

of

curriculum.

instruction and assessment. The starting point will be to have a clear set

of

standards and

expectations for what students should learn and a viable curriculum with appropriate resources

that teachers can implement. Staff development will familiarize school staff with the standards

and effective instructional strategies. Instruction and assessment will determine how well students

are meeting the standards so that necessary adjustments can take place. The cycle of teaching and

learning will ensure that all students will make continuous progress. This will be strengthened by

providing ample opportunities for teachers to analyze student data, to look at student work, to

collaborate on school improvement initiatives, and to celebrate positive growth.

Finally, I will empower stakeholders throughout the City ofWorcester to contribute their

resources to the Worcester Public Schools. Specifically, I will establish strong connections with

colleges, universities and businesses to provide additional opportunities for Worcester Public

School students. It will be through identifying common ground with the Worcester School

Committee and developing and implementing essential policies that the Worcester Public School

will receive recognition as a model school system. As an urban warrior , I will reinforce

my

commitment

to

community organizational boards and will create further opportunities for our

students and staff. Through a continued outreach to media sources and public leaders, I will

positively brand the Worcester Public Schools so that the public a t large will echo the pride of

each child and faculty member.

Thus, by working together as a cohesive team, we will be able to craft a future full

of

diverse opportunity, thorough innovation and dynamic leadership.


26/27

6c What do you anticipate your

preliminary or initial goals

will be

as Superintendent

o

the



27/27

C. What do you anticipate your preliminary or initial goals will be as Superintendent of he


The overarching goal as Worcester Public Schools Superintendent is to make sure every chi ld is

healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged.

I anticipate my preliminary goals as Superintendent

of

he Worcester Public Schools

will

focus

on

providing a safe learning environment, improving communication to

ll

stakeholders, provide

professional development

to

WPS Principals and staff. These goals will first ensure that every

child has a rigorous education instructed through high quality teaching and learning strategies.

Additionally, each child's education will be enhanced through maintaining and expanding

partnerships with community resources and families.

My action plan to achieve these initial goals are as follows:

1 Conduct on the ground floor visits to every school n the district and together with

the

help

of my administrative team work

to

evaluate implementation of a continuous cycle of curriculum,

instruction and assessment. This cycle will be documented and pointed, specific and thorough

professional development will be offered to combat struggles. In addition, successes will

be

highlighted and effective pedagogy will be modeled district-wide. My team will also identify the

resources necessary for the staff, students and families to feel valued and supported.

2. Meet with

ll

WPS Principals, and the WPS Liaison

to

review the Safety Audit and implement

recommendations.

3. Develop and implement strong interagency coordination between the WPS and community

resources. This will include, but is not limited to: courts, immigration service agencies, health

agencies, community support groups, police, elected representatives. This coordination will

be

transparent and fluid so that resources can be equally and thoughtfully allocated to the areas who

need them the most. As such, our students will

be

well-equipped to handle the rigors demands

of

a 21

81

century career.

4. Expand academic opportunities for WPS students and staff through strengthened partnerships

with colleges, universities and community agencies. It is through exposing our students

to

the

opportunities that colleges and universities offer that they will take greater stake in their personal

education.

5. Collaborate with WPS Principals to create opportunities to increase family engagement

in

every Worcester Public School.

6. Partner with the Worcester School Committee to develop and implement essential policies that

will support high quality teaching and learning, a safe learning environment, and expanded

community partnerships.

I have selected these initial goals as a starting point. Included in these goals are strategies to

increase language proficiency for ELL students, increase academic performance

of

special

education students, provide 21st Century skills for all students, and to improve reading

performance by Grade 3. I will continually monitor and communicate the progress towards these

goals to all stakeholders. Through this team-centered effort, our children will not only be college

and career ready, but will become model citizens for others to emulate.

Documents

Application materials of Maureen Binienda for the position of Worcester Public Schools Superintendent