There's Been a Whole Lotta Good News Going On

This PTO Mom sees reason to celebrate Waltham High School's 5th place ranking in the boston.com list of best high schools overall and the Fitzgerald Elementary School's 15th place ranking of elementary schools. http://www.boston.com/yourtown/2013/10/12/dreamschool-top-high-schools-massachusetts-overall/gnPZP70...
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/2013/10/14/dreamschool-the-top-schools-massachusetts-overall-top-high...

What should we celebrate, though?  At the Fitzgerald, we certainly can't attribute the ranking to administration, since the administration has seen so many changes in the last five years.  As much as I am impressed with Dave Castelline, our current interim principal, he had nothing to do with this.

Superintendent Nicholson has been with the district for three years.  Her tenure has been marred by the turnover of administrators at the director, principal, and assistant principal levels.  So, I don't believe that the credit goes there, either.

Our School Committee?  Please.  Don't get me started.

At the Fitzgerald, the reason for this success is our teachers and our intrepid support staff.  They are the Little Engine That Can, managing with changes in student needs, space constraints, and frequent shifts in leaders and leadership styles.  

I suspect that the reason is similar at the High School, where teachers meet a wide array of student needs and address a diverse and changing student body.  

I applaud boston.com for the objectives that they used in their rankings.  It's so refreshing to see a label like 'diversity' mean something good and to see communities with working people, as opposed to hedge fund managers, represented.  Yes, I'm looking at you, Boston Magazine.

Let's take a minute to recognize our educators, who get it done in spite of what's being thrown at them.  This is one PTO Mom who is eternally grateful.