Superintendent's Update - April 15, 2022

Dear Shrewsbury Families, Colleagues, & Community Members,

Some good news as we head into April Vacation:  

Shrewsbury Education Foundation award and grant recipients: First, today I had the pleasure of accompanying Kimberly Olsen, President of the Shrewsbury Education Foundation (SEF), and Melanie Petrucci, SEF Secretary, to present this year’s John P. Collins Awards for Excellence.  Volunteers from the SEF selected the faculty and staff (listed at the bottom of this message) from over 120 nominations, the most they have ever received.  There were many surprised faces and student cheers when these awards were presented to staff who received this significant honor.  Ms. Olsen, Ms. Petrucci, and I also recognized educators who were recipients of this year’s SEF grants.  I am very grateful to the SEF for sponsoring this important recognition of excellence among our staff and for their generosity in funding grants that provide resources for innovation and improvement.  

Next year's budget -- a very good news story: This past Wednesday, the School Committee approved the recommended budget for next year, which will now go to Town Meeting in May for final approval (where I am confident it will be supported).  Thanks to last year’s operational override and our current financial circumstances, I am very pleased to confirm that there will be no budget reductions, while we also will be able to restore three middle school allied arts teaching positions that were cut in previous years and add several critically important positions to support students’ mental and behavioral health.  You can find the details here.  It certainly feels good to be in a position of budget stability, compared to years past – this is a very good news story!

Thank you for your impact on our students: Today is Jackie Robinson Day and opening day at Fenway Park, a great day for baseball fans.  Jackie Robinson has been a hero of mine since I was a boy.  His quote, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives" applies to all of you for your support of our students, as anything you do to support our schools impacts students' lives for the better.  I continue to be enormously grateful for your support.

I hope you all have a wonderful vacation week with family and friends.  Happy Passover and happy Easter to all who are celebrating this weekend!

Respectfully,

Joe Sawyer
Superintendent of Schools

Shrewsbury Education Foundation
John P. Collins Awards for Excellence – 2022

Professional Educators (8)

Lisa Arteca, School Nurse, Oak Middle

Lesley Burnap, 2nd Grade Teacher, Coolidge

Loubaina Buxamusa, Occupational Therapist, Parker Road/Beal/Lead OT

Anne Egan, 6th Grade Math & Science Teacher, Sherwood Middle

Bethany Jones, 5th Grade Special Education Teacher, Sherwood Middle

Jason Ponticelli, 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Oak Middle

Denise Satterfield, Math Teacher, SHS

Meghan White, 1st Grade Teacher, Paton

Paraprofessionals (4)

Sujatha Deenadayalan, ABA Technician, Beal

Robin Grout, Instructional Aide, Coolidge

Jodi Morrocco, Sheltered English Tutor, Coolidge

Jean Waligora, Special Education Aide, SHS

Support Staff (4)

Toby Alvarez, Administrative Assistant, Oak Middle

Sarah Kane, Driver, Bus #1

Mindy LaPierre, Administrative Assistant, Paton

Sheryl Lesslie,  IT Support Specialist, Paton

Leadership (2)

Noelle Freeman, Director of School Nursing

Brian L'Heureux, Director of Information Technology

Unsung Heroes (2)

Ken Goodwin, Custodial Supervisor, Public Buildings Department

Marc Rischitelli, Head Coach, SHS Speech & Debate Team

 

Shrewsbury Education Foundation
2022 Grant Recipients

Sarah Williams & Kris Cobb – SHS, Visual Arts

Heather Thompson – SHS, World Languages

Heather Leger – SHS, World Languages

Paula Toti & Alesia Raczelowski – SHS, Physical Education

Shirley LeMay – SHS, Family Consumer Science

Beth Morin – SHS, Health

Alison McDonald – Sherwood, Health

Lauren DeSantis – Sherwood, Physical Education

Hilary Clegg & Andrea Collins – Sherwood, Media Center & Structured Reading

Jeff LaRose – Oak, Physical Education

Sophie Straubel – Oak, Science

Lisa Papazian – Beal, Instructional Coach/Curriculum Coordinator

Robert Parry-Cruwys – District, Clinical Coordinator

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