It was wonderful to enjoy the performance of Freaky Friday by the MERHS Performing Arts group this weekend. Congratulations on this achievement!

This year, we are engaging in a curriculum review process for grades K-12 in History/Social Sciences.  The purpose of a curriculum review allows us to take a deep examination of DESE Frameworks/Standards and research from the field to evaluate our MERSD curriculum.  The team will then engage in analysis of needs and make recommendations for next steps with our curriculum.  Finally, the curriculum review process may result in actionable steps that then will require ongoing support for implementation of any changes.  

Please VIEW HERE to learn more about our MERSD Curriculum Review Process.

This year, our school will be using Investigating History, a new history curriculum developed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in collaboration with Primary Source, a global education nonprofit based in Watertown. MERSD received a DESE grant which allows us to fund a field test and all associated Professional Development for our teachers. We chose to field test these resources because, with the updated History/Social Science standards in recent years, this resource allows us to engage in rich learning experiences while exploring potential curriculum materials. This tool will be an evaluated component during our K-12 History/Social Science Curriculum Review Process.

What is MTSS? Multi-Tiered System of Support is a framework that provides data-informed decision-making processes to implement evidence-based instructional supports and strategies to ensure each of our students receive a high-quality educational experience. Please visit our Curriculum & Instructional Technology website to read more about our MERSD MTSS framework and approach. As a district, we have started building our MTSS framework at the elementary level with a focus on academics. As we move forward, we will continue to expand our development into secondary levels and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) areas.

Curious to learn more?  Check out these resources from MA DESE:

• MA DESE Systems for Student Success Office: MTSS
• MA DESE MTSS Blueprint 

I am excited to be joining MERSD as the Director of Curriculum and Instructional Technology. I will be working through the steps of my ENTRY PLAN as I get to know the school district, Essex, and Manchester communities. The community survey is still open, and I am happy to set up meetings to hear more from you in-person.

What does the Director of Curriculum do anyway?

When we use the word “curriculum” we mean far more than just textbooks. Curriculum includes all aspects of student learning experiences. Curriculum in schools includes pacing, assessment, curricular materials, and instructional methodology, all of which align to our MA State Frameworks. The work supported by the Curriculum office will ensure vertical and horizontal alignment, provide high quality professional learning opportunities, and facilitate collaborative teams that are responsive to our student needs and research in the field.