AGAWAM – After a great deal of collaborative work on the document, Agawam Public Schools has finalized the school system’s strategic plan. The Agawam Public Schools strategic plan focuses on three objectives: Cognitive Engagement, Student Supports and Integrating Technology. Under each objective are several priorities that will be the focus of staff involved in the schools.

To learn more about the three objectives and their priorities, Reminder Publishing met with Agawam Public Schools Superintendent Steven Lemanski for a breakdown of each. The following is a summarized version of the first objective (Cognitive Engagement) and half of the second objective (Student Supports.) The second half of Student Supports and Integrating Technology will be released next week as the second part of this two-part series.

“I was holding meetings at every school during the 2017-2018 school year to talk about strengths and threats. I met with students, the [City] Council, PTO parents, administrators and the School Committee. It’s a collaborative plan for stakeholders,” Lemanski explained.

The strategic plan was finalized in April 2019, but Lemanski shared that the document is tentative. “Everyone has been kept abreast for the entire process. This is something that’s not ever going to be completed,” Lemanski shared.

Objective 1: Cognitive Engagement: Create a learning community that stimulates and promotes cognitive engagement at all times for all students.

The priorities under Cognitive Engagement are as follows:

• Complete a structured investigation of two literacy resources in grades 3-6 to ensure all students have access to curricular materials that are engaging.
• Incorporate accountable student talk across disciplines and grade levels so that norms are taught, learned and established and further built upon.
• Provide opportunities for teachers to visit other classrooms, and/or other buildings using the “Pineapple Practice,” thus encouraging teachers to share and adapt best practices.
• Implement Add+Vantage Math Recovery teaching practices both in and out of the classroom, to close the math achievement gap in grades K-6.
• Provide physical classroom environments with dynamic seating to provide opportunities for movement within whole group, small group, partner and independent work that encourages interactive classroom discussion and learning experiences.
• Inclusive practices will ensure all students have access to collaborative, challenging and engaging educational experiences focused on individual student growth.
• Vertical Alignment between grades and schools will ensure consistency that will enhance the student experience.

The primary goal of this objective and its priorities is to create a stronger learning environment for students. With more inclusive practices and alterations to classroom setup and teaching style, students will be given the tools to learn in their own unique style. Lemanski explained to Reminder Publishing some of the tools that will be used to fit into this objective.

“It’s changing the setting within the classroom to not be rows of desks. When we were working on the strategic plan, we all sat around a table. That’s what we’re trying to replicate,” Lemanski said.

In addition to a different classroom setting, Cognitive Engagement also means new education practices in subjects such as math.

For example, Agawam Public Schools will utilize the “Add+Vantage method, a form of math education that helps students to break down mathematic concepts. According to Lemanski, the learning method breaks the mold of “math problem drills” and promotes a different kind of learning on the subject based on the needs of each type of learner.

“I can really appreciate the different approach. When people see math, they freeze. We’re all different. It’s like when someone reads the newspaper. Some read every paragraph, some scan it and some read just the headlines. Everyone is different in how they best take in information,” Lemanski said.

The “Add+Vantage Math Recovery” method is a part of inclusive practices, or different forms of teaching. “Inclusive practices is utilizing different means of teaching so all students can achieve. You may have a learner who prefers to watch a video or is hands-on. It’s about understanding not every student learns the same way. We have a real focus on that,” Lemanski said.

Cognitive Engagement includes the “Pineapple Practice,” a learning method for faculty that promotes learning from one another and seeing what best works from classroom to classroom. “Pineapple Practice means that teachers are willing to share what’s going on in the classroom and learn best practices,” Lemanski shared.

Lemanski said he believes utilizing these practices will promote better learning and comprehension in the classroom. “Students may sit in the desk and pay attention, but are they learning? They’ll take it in better than grinding facts. I think it’s about educating the community. We have to teach kids differently than before,” Lemanski said.

Objective 2: Student Supports: Build and maintain a safe and secure community to promote social, emotional and physical well-being of all students and staff.

The first half of the priorities under Student Supports are as follows:

• Pursue the construction of a new Early Childhood Center to support the growing needs of students with and without disabilities at the Pre-Kindergarten level while expanding service hours and programming options
• Create a Family Resource Center to provide a centralized space to allow families to connect with and identify community resources for children from birth on.
• Develop a redistricting plan for grades K-4.

Lemanski explained that he feels it’s important to provide student supports as soon as possible in the school system. “The earlier you can provide supports, the less intervention they will need. The earlier students can overcome challenges, the better off kids will be,” Lemanski said.

To help support young students, Lemanski explained that the town of Agawam is hoping to construct a new Early Childhood Center that would fulfill the needs of Agawam families.

Lemanski explained that the current Early Childhood Center was constructed during the 1990’s and that there needs to be an update to adapt to the needs of families. “Our current center was put in during the 1990’s. They have a two-day program and a four-day program, all half-day classes. It’s hard for parents who have to pick up kids,” Lemanski explained.

Implementing a full-day program at the Early Childhood Center would allow for more learning opportunities for students.

Lemanski shared that the Agawam Public School district is also hoping to create a Family Resource Center as part of the Early Childhood Center, where parents could obtain all information that they need and where the student enrollment process could be more streamlined.

“If a family with four kids moves to Agawam, the current procedure is that they need to go to each school to register. We are hoping with a Family Resource Center, there will be one place to get registered and get all of the information you need,” Lemanski explained.

Reminder Publishing will release a follow-up story next week highlighting the remaining priorities under “Student Supports” and “Integrating Technology.”