In Massachusetts, Education Innovation is in Full Force
By Brenda Álvarez
The final leg of NEA’s 2013 Back-to-School tour came to a close in Massachusetts, where NEA President Dennis Van Roekel received a healthy dose of student-centered, union-led change at Winter Hill Innovation School in Somerville.Winter Hill Principal Chad Mazza led the tour, which included Massachusetts Teachers Association President Paul Toner, Somerville Teachers Association (STA) Jackie Lawrence, Somerville Public Schools (SPS) Superintendent Anthony Pierontazzi, and SPS Assistant Superintendent Vincent McKay.
The tour showcased various classrooms, including Maureen Conin’s second-grade class. Mazza praised her teaching strategies and organizational skills of staying on task and keeping students focused.
Five groups of students were peppered throughout the classroom. Conin was working with four students on how to enunciate the word “shut.” Conin could be heard saying, “sh-sh-sh-u-t.” The reading specialist in the room was working on phonetics, and three other small groups of students were working independently at learning stations.
The work around the room is based on what’s called, “X-Block,” which is a daily 40-minute intervention and