Being a new Superintendent is never easy, but conversation #73 with Marcus Ware, of Chicopee Public Schools shows how a vision and plan can set the bar for quality implementation.

"When I became Superintendent, one question became my driving focus: How do we create truly safe, supportive environments where every student and staff member can thrive? When we think about safety, we are planning out a comprehensive approach that spans traditional building safety measures, strengthening sense of belonging, integrating mental health and academics, and embracing deep culture and climate transformation.

With Collaborative for Educational Services, we built a Chicopee-driven strategic plan with clear 1, 3, and 5-year goals. Every principal's goals, each school committee plan, and my personal objectives as Superintendent all tie directly to our strategic priorities with measurable outcomes and regular progress checkpoints.

Our journey started with behavior supports. I watched our teachers navigate increasingly complex student needs without sufficient tools and resources. We invested heavily in professional learning around de-escalation strategies, sensory support techniques, and keeping students engaged in classrooms rather than removed from them. The goal wasn't just managing behavior, it was understanding that students come to us with varied needs that require sophisticated, compassionate responses.

From there, we started thinking about how to create more engaging learning and collaboration opportunities. We are exploring curriculum engagement strategies to improve student outcomes, tied to our third strategic priority: Academics that Inspire. We are centering student needs and voices now more than ever. We jumped at the chance to utilize state funding for appropriate student support spaces and we have strengthened Tier 1 supports for special education. Outside of the classroom, we launched middle school athletics with a grant to pilot new sports and abbreviated seasons, in direct response to students and parents asking for a pipeline into high school athletics.

The Barr Foundation recently awarded us a grant called Strengthening School Leadership, designed to fund two years of research-based supports that will allow us to strengthen our instructional leadership. Some of these best practices include looking at coaching models to support our principals. We are first conducting focus groups/surveys with principals, assistant principals, and curriculum specialists. Their voices will shape how we customize the work to meet Chicopee's specific context, rather than adopting an existing boxed approach.

We are also in the early stages of determining how to leverage AI to support our work district-wide. AI is here to stay so we’re reviewing policies and our Technology Director is networking with other districts to find exemplars from real classrooms. We will spend time this year thoughtfully examining how AI can enhance learning while maintaining our focus on human connection and authentic engagement."