jackiedoherty.org

Yesterday’s Lowell Sun published a Republican rant against Dr. Baehr’s appointment as new Deputy Commissioner of Education. From my perspective, it’s good news that Dr. Karla Brooks Baehr, Lowell’s former superintendent, will continue to play a leadership role in our public schools. First, accountability in the schools is important, and in terms of the Board of Education, the state needs to improve its role so that it does more than simply oversee, but actually helps districts close the achievement gap. (Yes, overall Massachusetts has the best public schools in the nation, but the gap between rich and poor student achievement has seen little improvement under education reform.) Currently, the state board plays watchdog, making periodic visits to Commonwealth Priority Schools—those schools whose students have not made adequate yearly progress (AYP)—checking that they are implementing their plans to improve student achievement, and conducting walkthroughs to observe teachers and administrators. In terms of providing real-world solutions and advice to districts, the state’s role has been limited. Better state collaboration and leadership for sharing best practices would help as all districts struggle with improving student achievement amid declining resources, specifically for services to support English Language Learners, special education and economically disadvantaged students. Dr. Baehr has been implementing improvement plans as several of Lowell schools currently are or have been designated on “watch” or “priority” status. She has been in the trenches with local administrators and teachers developing programs and interventions to promote student learning, and under her guidance, Lowell schools have made significant progress, but not nearly enough. Dr. Baehr’s experience with the current limits of the state’s role in helping districts, as well as her knowledge of what real school systems need, make her an invaluable asset at the state level. And despite the concern of some charter-school proponents, such as the GOP source of the Sun’s quotes, Dr. Baehr’s commitment to high-quality education for all students supersedes any notion of charter-school partisanship.