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Editor’s Note: The East Hampton Schools Board is interviewing the Superintendent’s three finalists this week. Jonathan Bruno was the first to be interviewed.
EAST HAMPTON — In an extensive interview Tuesday night, Jonathan Bruno said school boards needed someone who values his skills, drive and fairness, and that the school sector could benefit from his experience. He said he could.
“I am an anti-racist educator. I am an anti-bias educator. Bruno, one of them, said. “This is where I can fit in, and while our philosophies may not always align exactly, we have similar goals for the community. As a former member of the community, I really appreciate it.” .”
After spending the day with potential new community members, Bruno, head of learning and education at Stockbridge’s Berkshire Hills Regional School District, attended a meeting with the school committee in the high school’s library. I answered two hours of questions in a face-to-face interview. .
Bruno, who holds a doctorate in education and a master’s degree in special education from Northeastern University, says the school is interested in the job, not just because his family is interested in living in the city. He told the commission that he applied for the superintendent position because of this. The District aligns with what he does in his own work regarding diversity, equity and inclusion.
He also advocated that all school districts conduct regular equity audits. Because the work should be continued, not “destination”.
Bruno, who grew up in Northampton, said he spent a lot of time in East Hampton because some of his relatives lived there.
Mayor Nicole LaChapelle asked if Bruno had addressed the polarizing issue.
Bruno pointed to an approach to literacy instruction called “The Science of Reading.” It helps students decipher words by breaking them down into parts on the page and making sense of the sounds the letters make. It is an embedded, evidence-based approach adopted by the East Hampton District during the pandemic.
For Bruno, the challenge in investigating the science of reading approaches was that the school district where he worked used an “all-languages” approach. Ministry of Education.
Bruno, who describes himself as dyslexic, said he understands the need for clearly targeted instruction such as the science of reading.
During the first year of integrating the science of teaching reading, he said there was much debate about the change. .
“I submitted my evidence and they accepted it,” he said.
Another question from school board member Megan Harvey was about how Bruno assesses the effectiveness of the district’s special education programs. Bruno, who has been a special education teacher for 17 years and continues to work in the field, said it is important to use several means to monitor progress and understand proficiency-based learning. I was.
Looking back at some East Hampton numbers, Bruno noted that the four-year graduation rate for most students is in their late 90s, while the percentage of special education students is in their late 70s.
“Why?
Bruno said he will also review the effectiveness of the program within established programs and will reach out to parents and staff of children with special needs.
If selected, Bruno said he would spend several months on a “learning tour” to understand the needs and priorities of the community and become a current member of the community.
“The superintendent’s role is not just to lead the school from above. Our goal is to help communities meet their needs through all our partners such as , cities … and school communities,” he said.
Other superintendent finalists include Erica Faginski-Stark, director of curriculum and education at Ludlow Public Schools, and former East Hampton High School principal Vito, who is currently the interim superintendent of West Springfield Public Schools.・Perone is included.
Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.
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