Top Teachers in the Archdiocese of Boston Honored

BRAINTREE – Four teachers were recently honored by Superintendent of Catholic Schools Kathy Mears at the Pastoral Center in Braintree for their excellent work. Analysis of Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) assessment data indicates that their students’ scores placed them in the top five of their grade level for student achievement and growth in the Archdiocese. This is the second year in a row that these four teachers have achieved this high status.

The teachers honored were: Kasey Calabro from St. Augustine School in North Andover, Kathleen Cashman from St. Columbkille Partnership School in Brighton, Judy Covino from Ste Jeanne d'Arc School in Lowell, and Kim Palladino from St. Anthony School in Everett.

The NWEA MAP is comprised of a set of adaptive, online assessments in Reading, Language Usage, and Mathematics, with an optional assessment in Science. For the past two years, all students in elementary schools in grades 2-8 and some students in kindergarten and first grade were assessed in the fall and spring. In school year 2017-2018, the students will be assessed in fall, winter, and spring.

Superintendent Kathy Mears said, “I am certain that the students’ scores are directly correlated to the significant time that these teachers have spent preparing, working with individual students and most importantly, teaching their students how to know, love and serve God and others.”

She continued, “These teachers are a gift to their students, families and the entire Church. They are greatly appreciated and we are very grateful that they have decided to work in Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Boston.”

The teachers joined Kathy at the Pastoral Center in Braintree for lunch and a recording of the podcast, Saints and Scholars On-the-Go. During the podcast, Kathy and the teachers shared teaching tips and spoke about the benefits of teaching in a Catholic school. To listen to the podcast, search Saints and Scholars on iTunes or visit www.csoboston.com/podcasts.

Additionally, the teachers and Kathy discussed how to tell the world that Catholic education is a valuable investment. Kasey Calabro said, “I think it’s important to educate parents that at a Catholic school you’re educating the whole child. …We teach a student how to be a good person, how to live a good Catholic life, how to be strong in their faith and look out for other people.”

Kathleen Cashman, of St. Columbkille Partnership School, emphasized her wonderful school community. She said, “To me, my school feels like home. I love seeing my children – or my students – the kids, they’re family.”

To listen to the podcast, visit www.csoboston.com/podcasts.

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ABOUT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston educate 36,000 students in 116 schools. The schools offer a high-quality, rigorous education that is rooted in Catholic faith and values for students age 2.9 through grade 12. www.csoboston.com

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