Dear Colleagues,

Happy Friday! I hope you each had a productive week. On Monday, Greg Kulowiec joined our Academic Council team and continued to guide our district practice around the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). I recognize that each of us may be at a different starting point on this topic and Greg has been working with us to close this gap by building our understanding of both adult and student uses of AI in education. The Wellesley Education Foundation is sponsoring an evening session with Greg for parents and staff that I encourage you to attend on the evening of February 12th. Please use this link to register.  

On Monday, schools will be closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Given the current climate of divisiveness and turmoil throughout the country, re-reading Dr. Kings words today, I am reminded that his efforts to confront racial prejudice and challenge inequality still resonate. As colleagues who work in public schools, we each support the dream that Dr. King so eloquently framed more than sixty years ago.  

Thank you for what you do each day throughout the district in support of our students, our families, and each other. Have a great weekend! 

Best,  

David

January 19 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Schools & Offices Closed)

January 20 – School Committee Meeting

February 3 – School Committee Meeting

February 16-20 – February Break (Schools Closed)

Sharon Gray, Director of Communications and Community Engagement, on the passing of her father on December 4, 2025.

Margaret Flitsch, Fitness Teacher at Sprague, on the passing of her aunt Mary Fritsch on December 20, 2025. She was Margaret’s mother’s twin sister, and for whom she was also the primary caregiver.

WPS teachers and staff are invited to participate in an online focus group to share your insights on current website needs, including accessibility, resource organization, and communication efficiency. Your perspective as an educator, staff member, or administrator is essential to building a platform that better serves our staff and the broader community. The focus group will be held on Wednesday, January 21, from 3:15-4:15pm on Zoom. Register using this link. Feedback from the focus group will help us develop a survey that will be shared with the broader WPS community.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our district’s Core Values and for helping us innovate our digital tools to better support our students and families!

Master’s in Special Education & ABA: Lasell University and UMass Lowell are offering 36 full scholarships for Master’s students focusing on Autism Studies and Special Education. They are currently accepting applications for Fall 2026 admission. The application priority deadline is February 15. 

Format: 39-credit hybrid programs.

For details, visit the Lasell University’s Special Education: Moderate Disabilities and Teaching Bilingual Learners with Disabilities Program website and UMass Lowell Master of Science in ABA and Autism Studies Program website, or contact Dr. Elizabeth Hartmann (ehartmann@lasell.edu) or Dr. Rocío Rosales (rocio_rosales@uml.edu).

The Town of Wellesley offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support employees and their families.  Effective July 1, 2025, CMG Associates is the new EAP provider (see announcement). Employees may want to access the EAP because of emotional difficulties, life stress, family difficulties, concerns about substance abuse or other addictive behavior, legal or financial problems, or other personal issues. The EAP is completely free, confidential, and available at all times (day or night, weekdays, weekends, and holidays). Employees may call CMG Associates at 888-851-7032, or they may visit www.cmgassociates.com, click on the link entitled EAP Log-In, and use the User ID: WELL.

SMART Plan (457 Voluntary Retirement Savings) 

May make changes throughout the year through the company.

Work directly through US Omni and the SMART Plan.

Email AskHR@Wellesleyps.org. The Human Resources Department is happy to assist you.  

For all Internal Job Postings, please go to “Internal Job Postings” under the Faculty tab of the District’s website. How to Apply for WPS Internal Job Postings as a New Internal Applicant