This is the time of year when plans for next year start to emerge, and I’d like to share some staffing updates with you.
As many of you know, Shirley Harvey, Cambridgeport’s first, current, and only Family Liaison, will be retiring at the end of this school year. It is hard to imagine a Cambridgeport without Shirley here. She has touched so many lives and made a difference for this school in so many ways. The job has been posted and we will be conducting interviews in early May. I am hopeful that there will be some time for Shirley to work with the new family liaison towards the end of this year and/or over the summer to support a successful transition.
Jim Miller, our speech and language therapist, who has been at Cambridgeport for many years, will also be retiring at the end of this school year. Jim has done phenomenal work with so many children over his years at Cambridgeport, and will be sorely missed.
Cambridgeport teachers are always interested in continuing their development as educators. One way teachers can do this is by working at different grade levels. Maisha and Diane are both very excited to be taking on new endeavors within Cambridgeport next year. Diane is going to be teaching Kindergarten, and is excited to join this team and share her expertise in literacy development. Maisha is going to move to the 1st/2nd grade team, and teach 1st grade next year. This is something Maisha has been hoping to do for some time, as this is the age and grade she feels most inspired to teach. While Suzie is on leave for the rest of the year (and she had her baby!!), she has day care lined up and will be back in the fall.
Another Cambridgeport teacher continuing her growth and development is Elizabeth Miller, who will be leaving at the end of this year to attend Harvard Graduate School of Education in their Mind, Brain, and Education program. We are all very excited for Elizabeth as she takes this next step in her career. This means that Anna Tarshish, who has been teaching 3rd grade this year as a one year leave replacement, will stay on with the 3rd/4th grade team. Anna and Katie Reed will be teaching 3rd grade next year, and Mrs. Lev and Jen will continue with their current classes, teaching 4th grade. Angie Uyham, our literacy coach, will be returning from her sabbatical year.
I am sure this brings up questions for you about the placement process for next year. I will be sending out a letter shortly explaining the process and asking for your input. This process is typically completed by early June, with a chance for children to visit with their teacher for next year during the last week of school.
If you are interested in being on the hiring committee for the family liaison position, please be in touch with me at
kcharnerlaird@cpsd.