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