Dear Colleagues,
This was certainly a busy week for Wellesley High School. First, the NEASC accreditation team arrived at WHS on Sunday to begin an intensive 3.5 day visit to examine our self-study and learn more about our work within the context of the accreditation standards. This is a huge process that we go through every ten years. Kudos to our WHS colleagues for their work over the past two years getting ready for this visit, preparing our self-study, and then managing the many details of the visit. Special thanks to Elisa Morris and John Burns who co-chaired this effort (again). (Thank you also to Babson College for providing lodging, meals, and work space for the visiting team at no charge to the district!) I think we were all impressed with the professionalism of the visiting team, and the brief summary of findings they shared with us on Wednesday seemed very much in alignment with our work underway.
This was also a week in which our students of color at WHS led us in much-needed soul searching during their sit-in/walkout on Wednesday. First, I am so proud of these students for their courage in challenging the inequities they have experienced in our district and community. Whether one is a student, teacher, or parent, the lived experience of a person of color in Wellesley can feel fundamentally different than for those in the majority. On Wednesday, we were reminded of how painful this can be as we listened to truths not easy to hear. On a practical level, these students are asking for many of the same items we are already working hard to address such as increasing the diversity of our staff; more professional development focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion; dedicated staff to maintain a focus on these issues; and inclusion of the student voice in hiring and training. On a larger level, these students want to be heard and seen by adults and their peers. With a chant of “Wake up Wellesley” these students challenged us not to be indifferent to how race plays out in our community. They certainly don’t have that luxury. As educators, we are typically expected to lead our students. This week, our students became our teachers and their message is one we must all hear.
Thanks for all that you do for our students and thank you to our many colleagues who are coming out tomorrow to support the STEM Expo. Have a great weekend!
Best regards,
David
Calendar
4/8 & 4/9/19 – Annual Town Meeting – Middle School Auditorium – 7 pm
4/15 – 4/19/19 – Spring Break (no school)
4/23/19 – School Committee Meeting – Town Hall – 6:30 pm
5/1/19 – Deadline for WPS Enrollment of Non-resident WTA members (see below)
Condolences to the family of Gerry Murphy (retired WHS History teacher) who passed away on April 2, 2019.
Special Education Summer Programming Positions Available
The WPS Special Education Department is looking for lead teachers, paraprofessionals, teaching assistants, and related service providers to teach during summer programming for all levels (Preschool, Elementary, Middle and High School). Teaching experience and license within content, or related service area required. Familiarity with WPS learning goals preferred. Applicants for positions within academic strands must state their preferred grade level and content area. Times and days may vary based on programming. Deadlines for applications are noted on each level’s posting page. Please click on the school level for which you wish to apply for information on positions and the application form.
Apply now to enroll children of non-resident WTA members in WPS
Children of teachers or nurses residing outside of Wellesley shall be entitled to attend Wellesley Public Schools without charge for tuition on a space-available basis (Article 12, WTA Unit A Contract). If you are interested in this benefit for the 2019-20 school year, please click here to access the form. Once completed, please return the form, along with a letter of intent, to District Registrar Nancy Costigliola in Central Office in person or by email at registrar@wellesleyps.org. The application and letter of intent deadline is May 1, 2019.
Graduate Course Reimbursement
Course reimbursement funding of $30,000 is available to distribute in FY20 among qualified teachers. This funding is for graduate course work done as part of a master’s degree program to fulfill a teacher’s obligations for the Massachusetts Educators Professional License and for course work required to achieve the next stage of licensure culminating in a professional license and/or when a specialist teacher’s immediate supervisor, subject to the approval of the Assistant Superintendent, verifies that there are no further in-district courses available for recertification in that specialist’s field, that specialist may apply for tuition reimbursement. Any Unit A member for whom no DESE license exists, including but not limited to occupational and physical therapists, so long as that member maintains appropriate certification and/or licensure required to perform his or her duties, shall be eligible to apply for tuition reimbursement. To apply for this course reimbursement, please send, by no later June 3, 2019, the completed reimbursement form, along with evidence of your enrollment in an applicable master/doctoral degree program, name and description of the course, evidence of course cost (a billing statement), proof of payment (i.e. credit card statement, canceled check or receipt of payment), and transcript to Valerie Spruill, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Human Resources, spruillv@wellesleyps.org. You will be notified of the amount awarded to you some time prior to the first paycheck in September 2019. Please note: all information must be received by June 3, 2019 or you will be disqualified for reimbursement. All courses must have occurred in the summer of 2018, fall of 2018 and spring of 2019 and have been completed by June 3, 2019. Any courses taken prior to the summer of 2018 will not count for reimbursement.
Renewing Your Educator’s License?
Information about requirements to renew your educator license is available on the WPS website. Click here to go to the HR Licensure tab. When you apply for your license on the DESE website under ELAR, the DESE will send you an electronic communication about what is missing from your licensure file in order to renew. The HR licensure tab and your ELAR account are two tools to assist you with information about licensure renewal.
Insurance Benefits Information
Health and Dental Insurance Benefits information is handled by the Town Hall Benefits Office. Inquiries should be directed to Joanne Liburd at JLiburd@wellesleyma.gov or by calling 781-431-1019 extension 2244.
WPS Internal Job Postings on District Website
For all Internal Job Postings, please go to “Internal Job Postings” under the Faculty tab of the District’s website.