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CES Stories

Massachusetts DYS Students Win National BreakFree Competitions

Posted on Monday, November 28th, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Kathy Levesque, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: 11/28/22

Collaborative for Educational Services’ Woody Clift, Director of the DYS Education Initiative, announced that several of the students in the program had created winning entries in two national competitions sponsored by BreakFree Education. Said Clift, “It brings me great delight to join our colleagues from across the state in celebrating several of our students and… [Read More]

Comerford secures $1M for Franklin, Hampshire county projects

Posted on Monday, November 21st, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Mary Byrne, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: 11-20-2022
Link: Complete Article

A series of education, family medicine, food access and infrastructure projects across Franklin and Hampshire counties are among the local recipients included in a $3.76 billion spending package signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this month. “I’m delighted that the Senate included these regional education, food security and health care priorities in our… [Read More]

Safe and Healthy Schools Summit draws educators in discussion of how to manage race, polarizing conversations in schools

Posted on Friday, November 18th, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Emily Thurlow, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: 11/17/2022
Link: Complete Article

HOLYOKE — While the world has played a continual defense against the psychological, social and economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic amid a racial reckoning, teachers throughout the state and beyond have been grappling with how to manage polarizing conversations in their classrooms. But for many people, conversations involving race are something that has been… [Read More]

History’s Mysteries becomes iCivics Private i History Detectives

Posted on Monday, November 14th, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Martha Maloney, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: November 14, 2022

CES is happy to share that History’s Mysteries, originally developed by Laurie Risler and Kelley Brown with support from CES’s Emerging America, is now part of iCivics, which works to “ensure that every student in America receives a quality and engaging civic education and graduates from high school well prepared and enthusiastic for citizenship.  iCivics… [Read More]

Two members of DYS Education Initiative team receive 2022 DYS Commissioner’s Awards

Posted on Friday, October 14th, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Martha Maloney, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: October 14, 2022

Director of the DYS Education Initiative Woody Clift has announced that two of the DYS team are part of the annual DYS Commissioner’s Awards.   “Please join me in extending a huge shout out to our very own, talented, and distinguished colleagues Fiona Coker, Assistant Regional Education Coordinator in the Metro Region and Nicole Leontakianakos,… [Read More]

Salazar receives 2022 Latino Excellence Award

Posted on Friday, October 14th, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Martha Maloney, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: October 14, 2022

Rossana Salazar received a 2022 Latino Excellence Award in a virtual ceremony which took place Thursday, October 13, 2022. The awards, presented by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, honor Latino “leaders, trailblazers, and changemakers who contribute significantly to the commonwealth.” Salazar is a Community Engagement and Evaluation Specialist working with Latino families and… [Read More]

Easthampton puts call out for new sculpture celebrating volunteers in the arts scene

Posted on Friday, September 23rd, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Emily Thurlow, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: 9/22/2022
Link: Complete Article

EASTHAMPTON — What would volunteerism look like if it was depicted in the city? One artist will have the opportunity to present their perspective publicly. Easthampton City Arts and the Public Art Subcommittee is seeking proposals for its newest public art initiative, “Celebrating Service: Honoring Our Volunteers.” As part of that initiative, ECA will support… [Read More]

Raising MCAS bar was a move in the wrong direction

Posted on Friday, August 26th, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Todd Gazda, CommonWealth Magazine
Date: August 25, 2022
Link: Complete Article

Authentic learning, not test-driven compliance, is crucial as we emerge from the pandemic The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s recent decision to raise the score high school students must reach to pass the MCAS and graduate from high school is yet another slap in the face for public educators across the Commonwealth. Coming out… [Read More]

Gazda speaks about challenges facing public education and MCAS scores with Buz Eisenberg

Posted on Thursday, August 18th, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: WHMP
Date: August 18, 2022
Link: Complete Article

CES Executive Director Todd Gazda was a guest on WHMP’s The Afternoon Buzz show with Buz Eisenberg on August 17th. Gazda shared his thoughts about current challenges in public education as well as his displeasure at the decision by BESE to raise the state MCAS score required for graduation. Find the link to this interview… [Read More]

Excellence In Education: Living our Guiding Principles Awards – April and May winners announced

Posted on Thursday, July 14th, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Martha Maloney, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: July 14, 2022

The Collaborative for Educational Services is pleased to announce the April and May winners of our regional Excellence in Education:  Living our Guiding Principles Award!  We honor those educators across the DYS workforce who embody one or more of the Guiding Principles including: College, Career, and Civic Readiness; Culture and Purpose; and Social Justice and Equity, central… [Read More]