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4 • THE WEBSTER TIMES • Friday, March 18, 2011
www.webstertimes.net
‘Appealing attitude’ of students drew superintendent to Webster
BY JOY RICHARD
TIMES STAFF WRITER
WEBSTER — Over the course of
eight years, Webster School District
Superintendent Dr. Gregory Ciardi
has seen many changes throughout
the district, one of the most recent
being the construction of the new
Webster Middle School.
The Webster Times recently had
the opportunity to sit and speak
with Ciardi about these changes,
along with the ones to come in the
future.
Where do you hail from originally?
“I was born and bred in the Hyde
Park section of Boston. I stayed
there pretty much until I got married.
I [attended] Boston College,
and was an English major, and I
graduated in 1968. It was an exciting
time to go to college, it was
great.
“We moved around a bit, and I
was married right before I left for
the military. I was in the Army. We
ended up raising our kids in
Concord.
“After I got back from the military,
I got my master’s degree from
Boston State College in education. I
started working in Catholic
schools. My first teaching job was
at a Catholic school in Dedham, and
then at Malden Catholic High
School as an English teacher. I then
shifted over to Norwell High
School.
“I then ended up in school administration
in Auburn for a very short
period of time, from 1979 and 1980,
then for a long time in Concord.
“I have done my superintendent
work a little inside out. Most superintendents
do all of their [superintendent
work] and then they do consulting
work maybe after that.
I had a superintendence in
Lincoln, and in Maynard in the late
1980s and early 1990s. Then I had
consultant work around the county
for about 10 years.”
What is a consultant, and how
has that position shaped you as a
superintendent?
“I was working in school systems,
and in many ways I was affiliated
with Research for Better Teaching.
That is a national consulting firm
that does professional development.
I was mostly working with the big
urban school districts around the
county. I was working with the
schools in the urban cores of the
bigger cities. I liked it a lot. I was
working, mostly training principals
in some of the toughest neighborhoods
in the country. I got to
work with some people who were
really rolling up their sleeves and
were trying to provide good schools
for kids under very challenging circumstances.
I learned a lot from
that.
“I did that for around 10 years,
and I kind of missed being grounded.
I was on a plane three times a
week, every week. I decided that I
wanted to settle back into a superintendent
[position].
“I interviewed here, and I liked
the people, and the challenges here,
and I was happy to come. One of the
things that you learn when you
work with those schools in the
urban cores, is that the distinction
between the schools that
work, and those that don’t, and
it is not the kids. It is that the
adults that work together, and
have a common mission, and a
common commitment, who are
passionate enough to roll up
their sleeves and get the work
done can provide really good
schools for kids who are going
to school under very challenging
circumstances. What that
tells me is that great schools are
possible. That is how it has
helped me in my work.”
Overall, what are some of
the challenges that the
Webster School District currently
faces?
“Well, there are a number.
Our student population defines
some of it. We have many kids
who move around, and that
presents its own challenges.
There is accommodating the
kids who are coming in from
different places, and getting
them onto the same page — that
is one [challenge.]
There is the fact that this is
frankly a somewhat under-funded
school system. Our per-pupil costs
are not at the state average. We have
to do a lot with limited resources. I
think that we are good at that, at
getting the most possible bang for
the buck.
What it is does translate to is
fewer staff positions, which means
everyone has to do a little more.”
Last Green Valley seeking new ‘Walktober’ ideas
BY CLARE HOPKINS
STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER
LGV BRAINSTORMS NEW WALKS FOR ANNUAL EVENT
Joy Richard photo
Webster School District Superintendent Dr. Gregory Ciardi
What makes Webster stand out
as a district?
“When superintendent [candidates]
are interviewing for jobs,
and the school committees are
deciding whether or not they want
to hire you, superintendent candidates
are also interviewing communities
to decided whether or not
they would like to work there.
The thing that stood out for me in
Webster was the kids, the students.
As I met them and was visiting
the schools on interviews, they just
seemed to have a spirit that was a
little bit unique. I don’t even know
how to describe it, it is an appealing
attitude. You say these are great
kids, and I would be happy to work
in a school system for them.”
Joy Richard may be reached at
508-909-4129 or by e-mail at
jrichard@stonebridgepress.com.
The Last Green Valley (TLGV) is in
the final stages of preparing the 21st
Annual Walktober schedule and
looking to add some more walks
before the schedule is finalized.
Walktober is a collection of hikes,
walks, strolls, bikes and hikes
throughout the entire month of
October, which TLGV has organized
for the past 20 years.
“Walktober is a fantastic event that
pulls together all the great things
about The Last Green Valley into
experiences that residents and visitors
can enjoy,” said Executive
Director and CEO Charlene Perkins
Cutler.
Last year’s events attracted more
than 21,000 participants to walks,
bikes, paddles and events throughout
the National Heritage Corridor.
TLGV is seeking to make this year’s
series even more impressive and is
hopes to add brand new experiences,
as well as updated versions of walks
held in previous years.
“Most of these opportunities are
special for this promotion — areas
that are not normally accessible or
walk leaders with special expertise
who only offer a program for this
event. It’s a wonderful way to promote
our communities and organizations,”
said Cutler.
TGLV is asking people to consider
offering a walk, bike, paddle or event,
denoted with a catchy title, during
the week as well as on weekends in
October. All walks, bikes and paddles
must be free, guided, and open to the
public. There may be an admission
fee charged for events. Proposals
should be pertinent to the mission of
TLGV, which works to enhance the
region’s significant natural
resources in the context of a vital
economy and regional cultural identity.
“It would be great to have walks
that deal with a newly revealed story
File photo
The Last Green Valley is looking for fresh ideas to add to its upcoming Walktober series
in October.
of history, a tour of something like
an egg farm — a chance to tour a
local manufacturer to see how a product
is made. There are lots of great
ideas out there,” said Cutler.
The seasonal festivities will be
extended into November with an
expanded calendar of events. The
Walktober umbrella promotion will
also feature the abundant farms
found throughout The Last Green
Valley, where residents and visitors
alike can pick-your-own seasonal
produce, tag a Christmas tree or
select a farm-fresh turkey in time for
the holidays.
Cutler said that participation in
Walktober is a great way to feature
local organizations and their work,
and to provide opportunities to publicize
their income-producing events.
The Last Green Valley, Inc., is the
nonprofit management entity for the
Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers
Valley National Heritage Corridor.
The region includes 35 towns in
northeastern Connecticut and southcentral
Massachusetts (Brimfield,
Charlton, Dudley, East Brookfield,
Holland, Oxford, Southbridge,
Sturbridge, and Webster). The organization
works locally to preserve the
land, water, and cultural resources of
the region.
Interested individuals and organizations
are invited to submit a
Walktober proposal form on or before
the deadline of April 1, 2011. Please
visit the website, www.thelastgreenvalley.org
to download the Walktober
form or call the office at 860-774-3300
for additional information.
Clare Hopkins may be reached at
(860) 928-1818, ext. 112, or by e-mail at
clare@villagernewspapers.com.
READY FOR
THE POLLS
WEBSTER — The town is
preparing for the special election
Monday, March 21. On
Monday, March 7, the town
voted overwhelmingly in
favor (241-22) at a special town
meeting to move forward with
the construction of a brand
new police station on Main
Street, and to renovate the
existing building as a fire/rescue
facility.
This project has been made
possible by the very generous
donation of $6 million by the
Fels Family Foundation. Here
in the photo is James
Chauvin, who is assembling
the voting booth equipment in
the Town Hall Auditorium.
Kevin Kuros
Kuros announces committee appointments
BOSTON — Saying he is energized and looking forward to
working for his constituents, Rep. Kevin Kuros today announced
the committees he will be serving on for the 2011-2012
Legislative Session.
The Uxbridge Republican was appointed to three committees:
the Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging
Technologies, the Joint Committee on Municipalities and
Regional Government and the House Committee on Post Audit
and Oversight.
House Minority Leader Brad Jones said, “Representative
Kuros’ private sector background combined with his extensive
municipal experience make him ideally suited to serve on these
committees.”
Kuros said, “I am very excited about my committee appointments.
Prior to being elected to represent the people of the district,
I spent nearly two decades in business development in the
information technology and management consulting industries.
I hope to bring a new perspective and some fresh ideas to
the Economic Development committee.”
Kuros is a freshman member of the Massachusetts House of
Representatives and represents the people of the 8th Worcester
District, consisting of the towns of Douglas, Dudley, Oxford
(Precinct 4 only), Uxbridge (Precinct 3 only) and Webster. He
defeated an incumbent this election cycle.
“One of the key points I repeatedly heard on the campaign
trail,” said Kuros, who is the ranking Republican on the
Municipalities committee, “was that there was a disconnect
between the State House and the cities and towns. As a former
selectman, I asked to be appointed to the Municipalities committee
so that the voices of selectmen everywhere can be heard on
Beacon Hill.”
Our local news coverage is
Gripping!
Courtesy photo
The Webster
Times