Schools

State Education Secretary Impressed With Westborough Schools

Matt Malone says he saw "the implementation of reform policy" while visiting Westborough's Mill Pond School on Thursday.

State Education Secretary Matt Malone says he saw “the implementation of reform policy” while visiting Westborough’s Mill Pond School on Thursday. 

“The whole adoption of the Common Core. We saw differentiation in the classrooms. We saw additional supports using an RTI model. And I think you also see the use of technology to make the world smaller,” Malone said.

“I’m impressed by that. I think the teachers have got some good practices here in place. The kids were all engaged. It was the end of the day, everyone’s focused on learning. There’s no nonsense going on. Kids are happy. They get along. It’s a good place to raise your kids.” 

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Malone said he visited Westborough because he was in Worcester “and I wanted to visit a system that I’ve not been to.”

He spoke with Westborough School Superintendent Marianne O’Connor, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Daniel Mayer, teachers association President Bill Parsons, and Mill Pond Principal Suzanne Kenny, and visited some classrooms, during his time in town. 

Find out what's happening in Westboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Communities such as Westborough are dealing with issues of growth, and changing demographics, Malone said.

“I would surmise – I don’t know this yet – but I guarantee that parents who have kids who have special needs probably move to this town because they see that there’s great equality. If you had a child with special needs, wouldn’t you want to live in a place that’s going to value your child?” he said.

“I think all of those things make this an interesting system. I’m interested in the work that they’re doing. They’re at ground zero at the pace of reform.”



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