Members of the School Committee gave the Superintendent high marks when they met on July 28, but added a few areas where they would like to see more work.
Superintendent Yearly Review: A Shining Endorsement
Superintendent Dede Galdston has delivered yet another strong school year at the helm of Watertown Public Schools, according to the positive annual review for the 2024-25 school year from members of the School Committee. Overall, five committee members – out of a total of seven – marked her performance as “Exemplary”, the highest mark possible, with the two others giving her the second highest mark of “Proficient.”
“Dr. Galdston continues to provide the blueprint for what a superintendent should be,” wrote committee member Lily Rayman-Read in her overall review, with School Committee Chair Kendra Foley adding that, “she is a tireless leader who is dedicated to the continual improvement of the district.”
Some highlights in the review included “Instructional Leadership” – with five marks of “Proficient” and two of “Exemplary” – and “Management and Operations”, which received four “Proficient” and three “Exemplary” marks. Her “Professional Practice” and “Professional Culture” also netted her four “Exemplary” marks each.
Multiple committee members touted the district’s successful implementation of the ParentSquare communication platform.
Committee member Lisa Capoccia wrote that she would like to see clear data on the success of ParentSqaure, and that more could be done to meet and program with, “community organizations (and their clients, customers, or members) that serve or represent student groups with the highest needs.” Still, she also praised many of Galdston’s efforts, adding that, “not highlighted in either Goal document include Superintendent Galdston’s ongoing commitment to offering monthly Coffee with the Superintendent sessions, her collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club of Watertown, and her visibility at community events both in and outside WPS.”
Galdston also received high marks for “Finance, Operation, and Human Resources”, with committee members Mark Sideris (who is also City Council President) and Rayman-Read both agreeing that she exceeded expectations.
Rayman-Read mentioned Director of Finance and Operations Lisa Gibbons and Director of Human Resources Amanda Owens – both brought on by Galdston – who she noted had done, “incredibly robust work.” Sideris similarly wrote that, “there has been a very robust push to make sure we are hiring a diverse staff to align with our diverse student population.”
“Student Learning” also netted positive marks from everyone, with Amy Donohue bringing up the successful K-5 literacy program Wit and Wisdom. She, and others on the committee, also generally praised the district’s ESL and other literacy programs for their impact on student learning. Capoccia additionally brought up the improvements in English Language Learner (ELL) instruction and curriculum.
One area that still required further implementation, as mentioned by almost all members of the committee, was the district’s fulfillment of Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals. IEPs are designed to support students with disabilities through individualized goals and services tailored to their specific needs.
Superintendents Yearly Review: A Few Shortcomings
“District Improvement,” which related to the narrowing of opportunity gaps for student groups, was the most widely criticized area of Galdston’s performance throughout the previous year. Here, four members marked that “Some Progress” had been made, with Capoccia being the only member to mark her goals as “Met”.
Despite this, members brought up the district’s improvements of student achievement data dashboards and implementation of the Social Emotional Behavioral Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. This has so far taken the form of What I Need Blocks and Student Intervention Teams (SIT), which both help to address students’ individual academic and behavioral needs through targeted instruction and early intervention strategies.
Committee member Rachel Kay remarked that, “while the structures for this have progressed in development, we are just beginning in implementation,” with committee member Jessica Middlebrook adding that significant steps had been taken, but that, “it is not clear whether there has been movement toward an actual reduction in the opportunity gaps for student groups.”
Kay was also the one School Committee member to mark Galdston’s “Family and Community Engagement” as “Needs Improvement,” though all other marks from the committee were either “Proficient” or “Exemplary.”