SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Committee selected Jenny Sullivan its next curriculum director this week.
Sullivan was among two finalists interviewed by the committee Tuesday.
For the past two years, Sullivan has served the district as the literacy coach, and prior to that taught at Powder Mill Middle School.
Although Sullivan has not been an administrator, she is currently an administrative apprentice and works closely with retiring Curriculum Director Maureen Wilson.
Sullivan offered insight into the district’s curriculum needs during the interview.
“Over all, we need to increase rigor,” she said. “And the level of questioning (students) is what I’d call a veneer. We’re not engaging them with deeper questioning and deeper thinking. And that’s not their fault – we have to train students in that kind of discourse.”
Sullivan also said the district “has a lot to do in terms of curriculum mapping.”
She told the committee that education was her second career and during the interview she drew upon her experience as an occupational therapist and corporate team leader managing 25 people.
Sullivan said she is favor of student centered classrooms and while she believes in standardized testing, there was “suddenly this immense pressure to teach to the test.”
Embracing and effecting change was something Sullivan cited as a strength, and for a weakness, she said providing more useful feedback was something she is working on.
Sullivan said she believes all teachers need to be accountable for all students, whether they are in special education classes or mainstream classes.
“We do a good job with inclusion in the lower grades, but I’d like to see more in the middle schools,” Sullivan said. “I see a break down.”
Sullivan was asked what she believes is good teaching, and what she does not want to see in a classroom.
“I don’t want to see a teacher standing in front of the room talking for more than 10 or 15 minutes,” she said. “I want teachers working hand-in-hand with students. Students are passive, and we’ve created that.”
Sullivan said she plans to remain a presence in the classroom in her new position.
“I want to get to know our teachers better so I can help them better,” she said.
