Teachers Union President Cites Salem High As National Success Story

SALEM, MA — The president of the American Federation of Teachers toured Salem High School with city and school officials and proclaimed the school as a leader in educational and career and technical education on Friday.

AFT President Randi Weingarten joined SalemMayor Dominick Pangallo, AFT Massachusetts President Beth Kontos, Salem Teachers Union President Ann Berman, and others for the tour.

Weingarten praised Salem High School for offering students a wide variety of CTE programs, including automotive technology, building and property maintenance, carpentry, culinary arts, programming and web design, electrical technology, medical assistance, and early education
and care.

Weingarten said in her recent national address "In Defense of Public Education" that CTE programs are key components of a national model to strengthen public schools and help students recover and thrive in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The American Federation of Teachers said in a statement that Salem High "showcases how hands-on, experiential learning can capture students' imaginations, provide them with paid work experience during their high school years and forge pathways to lasting high-quality careers."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)