School superintendent outlines her plans to move district forward

Waltham Superintendent of Schools Marisa Mendonsa shared thoughts about her first year in the district and outlined priorities for the upcoming academic year in a virtual forum for school families and city residents.

Mendonsa, who began her role last year, said she hosted community forums in the fall to present her entry plan and gather input from families, staff and community members. Now, at the end of her first year, she returned with findings and a vision informed by her time here.

“It’s been an absolutely awesome year, and I am so honored and privileged to serve as the superintendent and to be working with all of you, whether you’re a staff member, a family member, a community member,” she said at the start of Thursday’s forum.

A major focus of her entry findings centered on classroom instruction. After conducting 33 learning walks across the city’s schools, Mendonsa said she identified a need to strengthen tier one instruction, meaning the core teaching that all students receive. She said one of her goals is to shift classrooms from teacher-centered to more student-driven learning environments.

“We need to really differentiate the needs and the abilities of our students and think about what supports they do need during that whole group instruction,” said Mendonsa. “Students are really leaning into owning their learning, that their voices are heard and that we’re seeing them collaborate and interact with each other and their peers.”

Concerns around reading proficiency emerged as another priority. Mendonsa reported that only 28% of ninth-grade students are currently reading at grade level. She believes that this could be a result of the interruption of the COVID-19 pandemic during their critical reading instruction year. 

In response, the district plans to provide additional reading support, offer professional development to educators and possibly pursue a curriculum audit. The possibility of expanding prekindergarten programming is also being considered to support early literacy development. She also pointed to the addition of a general education reading teacher to support high school students who need extra reading help.

To strengthen ties between schools and the community, the district is creating a new position: chief officer for family and community engagement. The position was made possible by a grant to the district from Newton-Wellesley Hospital as part of its Community Impact Foundation. 

Mendonsa also pointed to efforts around equity and diversity. A district equity audit was recently completed, and work is underway to improve the recruitment and retention of a diverse staff. The district is developing a three-year equity plan to guide this work.

Facility improvements and digital access were additional priorities. The district is updating security systems and infrastructure while also addressing challenges related to student cell phone use and social media. Investments in classroom technology are planned to ensure students have the tools they need to succeed, she added.

Mendonsa said these efforts reflect a long-term commitment to equity, engagement and high-quality learning in Waltham. 

“These are the focus areas for next year and we’re really excited to start working on that,” she said.