Vincent J. Gallagher Middle School To Host Visit

By Smithfield Public Schools

SMITHFIELD, RI Vincent J. Gallagher Middle School, in Smithfield, will be hosting a visit from Commissioner Ken Wagner and Deputy Commissioner Mary Ann Snider on Monday, November 6, 2017, from 10 a..m to noon. The state education leaders expressed an interest in visiting the middle school in Smithfield, which has experienced steady increases in state assessment results.

Visits to local schools provide an opportunity to share initiatives that are occurring both at the state level and locally. This year, Wagner and Snider are hoping that school visits will be an opportunity to better understand the work being done in early literacy (PK-3) and in middle school math.

The district and school administrators in Smithfield are planning to share the school’s curriculum and core instructional approaches, materials being used to implement the curriculum, how professional learning and collaboration supports teachers’ content knowledge and pedagogy, and how progress is monitored.

According to Judy Paolucci, Superintendent of Smithfield Public Schools, the school’s gains may be attributable to a clear learning focus, robust classroom routines and instructional practices, and a strong school culture.

“Teachers here work well together to develop lessons, devise and analyze common assessments, and identify students in need of further support.”

Laurie Beauvais, who has been at the helm of Gallagher Middle School for over 10 years, ensures that schedules include time for instructional planning and the development of common units of study, lessons, resources, and activities. She also advocated for the addition of a math interventionist, who serves students who are not succeeding, despite the school’s best efforts.

Kristen Biafore, member of the state education department's Learning Champions initiative, and Dan Kelley, Smithfield High School’s principal who is on leave serving as the President of the National Association of Secondary School
Principals, will join the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner at their visit to Gallagher Middle School.

Image via Shutterstock