Paul Winspeare, a junior at the High School of Commerce, tells a community forum about the importance of keeping high school students engaged in school.
Education is everybody’s responsibility, and everyone has a role to play: teachers, parents, elected officials, and school leaders.
In Springfield, Mass., today, Secretary Arne Duncan heard of the collaborative efforts of communities across the state and the city to reform their schools. By engaging educators and members of communities, the state strengthened its Race to the Top application. Last week, Massachusetts won a $250 million grant in the second phase of the competition, scoring higher than any other applicant.
“All the stakeholders worked together on the final application to make sure it was centered on helping students succeed,” Tim Sullivan, the vice president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, said at a meeting at the High School of Commerce in Springfield.
Students at the event reminded Secretary Duncan and others that providing them a world-class education is the ultimate goal of Race to the Top and other reforms.
Students need to be engaged in academics, sports, or other activities, Paul Winspeare responded when Secretary Duncan asked what schools need to do to keep students from dropping out.
“That motivation keeps them coming to school every day,” said Winspeare, a junior who says the Junior Reserve Officer Training program is a program that keeps him engaged at the High School of Commerce.
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