Johnson Public Schools administrators, teachers, and even students liked what they heard and saw last Wednesday morning during a visit from Dr. Ken Wagner, Rhode Island’s new commissioner for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Perhaps Dr. Arthur-Paul Petrosinelli, assistant superintendent of schools in Johnston, said it best about Wagner’s daylong visit, which included stops at Thornton Elementary, Johnston High, and Nicholas Ferri Middle schools.
“I felt the commissioner was thoughtful, open, and honest,” Petrosinelli said. “He has a plan for the state and will visit all 36 districts. I think that spending the day in Johnston proves he wants to really see what we’re doing here and in other districts as well.”
Petrosinelli, who accompanied Wagner throughout the day, also added: “It’s a good way to start off as a new commissioner. It’s important to reach out to students, teachers, administrators, and parents, which he is doing. He was very well received here, and everyone I talked to said he was very approachable and listened to all their comments and questions.”
Wagner began the day at Thornton, where he was greeted with “Panda Pride.”
“Commissioner Wagner was greeted with great enthusiasm,” Thornton Principal Louise Denham said. “Our students, faculty, and staff exhibited their ‘Panda Pride’ by wearing Panda buttons, and the school was decorated in school colors of black and white and with balloons, as well.”
Johnston School Committee member Robert LaFazia even came dressed in a special Panda necktie, and later noted how impressed he was the way Wagner conducted his meetings with students, parents, teachers, and staff.
Thornton also received special honors from state Rep. Stephen Ucci, who presented a citation recognizing it for being the only public school in the state where fourth-grade students exceeded state math and reading scores on the 2015 PARCC exam.
At one point during Wagner’s visit at Thornton, fifth-grade students shared comments about their success at the school and asked the commissioner what Denham called “intuitive questions about the future of education and his role in helping them succeed in high school and college.”
Wagner seemed genuinely impressed with students who shared their thoughts in English, and impressed the day’s attendees – which included School Superintendent Dr. Bernard DiLullo and School Committee Chair Janice Mele – by also translating their comments and questions in Chinese and Spanish.
“That gave even greater credibility to the remarkable success of Thornton School’s ability to exceed state averages in math and reading on the PARCC exam,” Denham said. “Teachers were given accolades as the core of the students’ success.”
Wagner’s visit to Johnston High was equally impressive in several areas.
“We had a great visit with Commissioner Wagner,” Principal Zachary S. Farrell said. “He has some wonderful new and progressive ides that will aid our school improvement efforts. He is a thinker, he has a vision, and we are excited to help him shepherd it into fruition.”
Farrell and Petrosinelli showed Wagner around the high school during lunchtime, and then took the commissioner to the art department, engineering technology center, and chemistry lab.
Wagner even took in the Chemistry Club’s project of maintaining a greenhouse, which included growing plants and vegetables that visiting chef Heidi Carla later turned into a meal. He learned that the greenhouse project was under the direction of teachers Jen Sousa and Steve Picken.
“We were pleased to have Commissioner Wagner visit Johnston,” DiLullo offered after the day concluded with an open forum at Ferri Middle School that included school committee members, teachers, administrators, and parents. “The forum was very forthcoming with his ideas and his vision for Rhode Island public school education. It was a very informative day and I thank Commissioner Wagner taking the time to learn about our school district.”
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