LETTERS

School leadership is critical

Posted 9/1/15

To the Editor: 

As the machine of school consolidation has moved forward, we have been inundated with various statistics to support the decision to close schools. While the numbers focus on cost …

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LETTERS

School leadership is critical

Posted

To the Editor: 

As the machine of school consolidation has moved forward, we have been inundated with various statistics to support the decision to close schools. While the numbers focus on cost savings, which we optimistically assume will then be invested in improvements to academic programs, there is one major factor in school performance that is often undervalued; leadership.

As we have recently seen in our own school system, missteps by an executive team can lead to dire consequences. The situation surrounding Gorton teacher Mario Atoyan was exacerbated by a series of failures of leadership. The shenanigans surrounding annual school budgets (pleas for more funding / threatened program cuts / surpluses leading to spending sprees / repeat) represent an ongoing cry for leadership. However, there are examples of leadership in our schools that we should celebrate. One team with whom I am familiar has consistently provided outstanding leadership, which I hope won’t get lost in the turmoil of consolidation.

“If you weren’t here, I would not have sent my daughter to this school.” I made this statement to Gerry Habershaw, principal at Warwick Veterans, around the time of my daughter’s graduation. The interesting part was that I overheard multiple other parents make the same statement to Gerry at this same Honors Night. Mr. Habershaw’s leadership permeates every aspect of the school; from the secure environment he creates in what could be a challenging population of young people, to the Academy system that provides a sense of belonging to students of all abilities and interests. The fact that Gerry is popular among the student body while setting a tone of stern discipline is perhaps most amazing; how many school principals would find the students cheering for them while breaking up a fight? “Hab! Hab! Hab!” is heard not only when Gerry is using his imposing physique to separate combatants, but is also heard when he does his patented cartwheel at school pep rallies.

Without fanfare, I have seen the leadership team at Vets, Misters Habershaw, Bleczinski, and Kane, rally to console and truly take care of students in need; those who have been bullied, those who have had deaths in their families, and those who have had a range of physical and mental illnesses. Their leadership has set the tone in the building, which has a multitude of teachers with similar leadership qualities.

While the focus of consolidation will certainly continue to be numerical in nature, let’s not forget the human factors that are critical to student success. With great leadership being foremost among those human success factors, I am hopeful that the new superintendent will have leadership skills on a par with the team that Gerry Habershaw has assembled at Warwick Veterans Memorial High School.

Joseph Almonte

Warwick

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