News & Media

Culturally Responsive Teaching -- One Unit at a Time
Wendy Soref Wendy Soref

Culturally Responsive Teaching -- One Unit at a Time

Thanks to their initiative, our Curriculum Audit Team was born. Together they devised a plan for a thorough audit of the curriculum that would give teachers an entry point for making meaningful changes-- helping to remove the stumbling block so many feel in the face of a large challenge-- figuring out where to start.

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“A Clear Path For Growth”: A View Into The Associate Teacher Program
Teachers Nancy Abramowitz Teachers Nancy Abramowitz

“A Clear Path For Growth”: A View Into The Associate Teacher Program

“Arianna Romero joined Springfield Prep for the 2019-2020 school year as an Associate Teacher (AT). The AT program allows those who are new to teaching to get extra support and coaching, practice their teaching moves, and test out a few teaching roles before becoming a lead teacher the following year. As she puts it, ‘The AT role is a great foundational position that takes the stress away from the first year.’”

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Scholar Spotlight: Jarien, Fourth Grade Phenom
Melanie Maggi Melanie Maggi

Scholar Spotlight: Jarien, Fourth Grade Phenom

“We recently sat down with Jarien, a football-loving fourth grader who always has a smile on his face. Jarien’s teacher, Ms. McGregor describes him as a polite and motivated scholar who is a great friend to his classmates. He is also one of Springfield Prep’s Student Ambassadors. The school’s Student Ambassadors develop new leadership, communication, and presentation skills, in part by leading school tours to visitors.”

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Melissa Vazquez, Operations All-Star
Ashley Marshall Ashley Marshall

Melissa Vazquez, Operations All-Star

“Ms. Vazquez has been with Springfield Prep from the very beginning, and that's no exaggeration! She was the first employee hired by Mr. Spirer - back when Springfield Prep was just a collection of cubicles, and not yet a school! We sat down with Ms. Vazquez to get her thoughts on Springfield Prep's growth over the years. Here's what she had to say.”

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Braving the Cold for our Community
Ashley Marshall Ashley Marshall

Braving the Cold for our Community

“On Saturday, February 3rd, a group of Springfield Prep staff members joined nearly 200 runners and walkers in the Coldest Day 5K. The race, which benefits the Springfield Rescue Mission, is an annual event that seeks to bring attention to the realities homeless individuals face during the winter. ‘Our school is right down the street from the Rescue Mission, and it's important to us that we do what we can to give back to the community and show our support for the organizations serving our neighborhood’ said Ms. Wagner, Director of Finance and Operations (Ms. Wagner also came in 2nd place for the female runners!).“

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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Ashley Marshall Ashley Marshall

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

“On Friday, December 22nd, Springfield Prep held its third annual Winter Concert at the St. John's Congregational Church. It was an exciting event - all students performed and more than 500 family members and friends were in attendance. Under Mr. Naylor's leadership and direction, our students put on quite a show! A show like this doesn't come together overnight. Under the direction and leadership of Mr. Naylor, students worked for over three months, rehearsing until they had their songs and choreography just right. (They even practiced in their pajamas during Spirit Week!) Our scholars hard work paid off, and they performed a mix of seasonal and hit songs for a full house of family and friends.”

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Teacher Spotlight: Shawna Mitchell, Kindergarten Teacher
Ashley Marshall Ashley Marshall

Teacher Spotlight: Shawna Mitchell, Kindergarten Teacher

“When Mrs. Mitchell first interviewed to be a teacher at Springfield Prep, everyone who met her said, ‘Wow, she has such incredible positive energy - let's hire her!’ And that first impression hasn't changed. Step inside Mrs. Mitchell's (and Ms. Shaw's) UMass classroom and you can't help but notice a calm-but-purposeful, positive-but-no-nonsense vibe.”

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Family Spotlight: The Suliveres Family
Ashley Marshall Ashley Marshall

Family Spotlight: The Suliveres Family

“We first got to know Kerriann Suliveres three years ago when she enrolled her son Alex as a kindergartner. You could tell right away that she had big aspirations for her sons - she was always helping them do their best and made it clear to them that excellence in school was her priority. As Alex grew with us, we got to know his little brother Jerry and were thrilled when he joined us as a kindergartner this year. True to form, Kerri Ann had Jerry practicing his sight words all summer and he was ready to go when school started. “

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Student Spotlight: Jaeda, Third Grader Expert
Ashley Marshall Ashley Marshall

Student Spotlight: Jaeda, Third Grader Expert

“We sat down recently with Jaeda, a third grader who started Springfield Prep as a "founding" first grader three years ago. Jaeda brings a big smile and a positive outlook to school everyday, and is an amazing teammate to her friends. You'll see Jaeda's picture on our Scholar of the Week board and might find her sitting at her class's "VIP" table, reserved for scholars who embody the school's core values. We wanted to learn more about what makes life special as a Springfield Prep scholar and here's what she shared with us. And even though she may not be famous at this point (see her comment below), we're confident that it's only a matter of time!”

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