SCS Weekly Newsletter 12/1/23

Dear Salisbury Families:

Happy December!

Although December is not a month where new hires tend to make the news, in this case we have two exciting new hires to tell you about!

The first is the hiring of Dr. Wendy Baker, an experienced educator with lots of experience in rural areas of Vermont. There's a lot about her at the end of this newsletter, so there is no reason for me to say too much here, other than to say that I am excited about this hire. I was able to be part of a set of interviews with other administrators and I came way feeling really good about Dr. Baker's energy, her experience in areas that ACSD is beginning to focus on more and more, and her clear openness to new ideas and new approaches. I think she was a great choice. Dr. Baker does not start until July 1st, but I am sure there will plenty of chances for the community to meet her when springtime rolls around.

I am also excited to announce a new hire at Salisbury Community School: Jess Hurley. Jess comes to us after a decade working at Vermont State Parks, a time that included being Park Manager for spots like Halfmoon and DAR St. Parks. If you camp at state parks, you know that although they are beautiful, they can get rowdy, especially late on a Saturday night. Jess has a degree in Health Psychology, and is really interested in getting into education and learning more about both teaching and school psychology. Put those experiences together, along with her great references, and I think you have a pretty great combination for a new paraeducator!

Jess will primarily be working in our 5th grade, and working with our 1st grade classroom as well. There's more about her below. Please give Jess a warm Salisbury welcome when you see her!

Have a great week!

Bjarki

Important dates coming up:

• Wed, December 6th: Early Release Day: School ends at 1:00

• Fri, December 8th: Picture Re-take day!

• Fri: December 8th: FOSCS Spaghetti Dinner and Bingo Night- 5:30 PM in SCS gym.

Dinner Cost: Kids under 5 eat free, $5.00 suggested donation per person eating, but pay what you can. And of course: YOU MAY COME PLAY BINGO WITHOUT HAVING DINNER!

Hello Salisbury Families!

My Name is Jess Hurley. I am excited to begin at Salisbury Community School- it feels a lot like where I went to school! I grew up in the Northeast Kingdom, in the small town of South Ryegate, Vermont.

I have worked for Vermont State Parks since 2014, and that led me to being a park manager for several years. During my young adult life I have earned a BA in Health Psychology, and I my interest in expanding my career and knowledge in the area of school psychology led me to applying at SCS.

Fun facts: I have a 4 year old dog (Kallie) and a kitty named Vega.

I really look forward to working with students and families!

- Jess

During the Month of November grades 4-5 tested their strength in the fitnessgram. The fitnessgram consists of curl ups, push ups and the pacer test. These activities build students muscular strength and endurance and can enhance cardiovascular endurance if practiced regularly. We also learned the skill of cooperation while working with the parachute. All students enhanced their skills of communication and teamwork. Working with the parachute invites students to be communicators, thinkers and to be principled.

Dear ACSD Community,

The ACSD Board is thrilled to welcome Dr. Wendy Baker as the next Superintendent of Addison Central School District. Dr. Baker was selected from an extremely strong pool of candidates from across the country, with the assistance of the McPherson & Jacobson search firm. The Board would like to thank members of our administration, teachers, support staff, students, and community members who took time out of their busy schedules to participate in three days of stakeholder meetings. Their feedback on each of the three finalists was essential in helping the Board select the best candidate for ACSD.

Dr. Baker is looking forward to bringing her skills and experience to the benefit of ACSD students and educators. The Board will work with Dr. Baker to establish a transition plan over the next 6 months, including her contribution toward initial implementation of the ACSD’s Strategic Plan. She will officially begin the position July 1, 2024, pending contract execution and approval by the Vermont Agency of Education. You can read more about her background and experience below.

In the upcoming weeks we will share opportunities for our community to meet with Dr. Baker. I hope you will join me in welcoming Dr. Baker to the ACSD Community!

- Barbra Wilson, ACSD School Board Chairperson

Dr. Wendy Baker is a multigenerational Vermonter with thirty years of demonstrated success supporting students, teachers, schools, and leaders to achieve at high levels.

Dr. Baker spent the first twenty years of her career serving Vermont public education, including her work as a tutor within the Chittenden County Correctional Center, a Nationally Board-Certified Middle School Humanities teacher, a School Improvement Specialist within the Vermont Department of Education, a Middle School Principal, and a Superintendent of Schools in the Orange East Supervisory Union.

As a higher education administrator with Southern New Hampshire University, Dr. Baker led the development of non-traditional programming for support staff, teachers, and leaders across New England. She also managed strategic partnerships that brought transformative, place-based academic programs to students, teachers, and leaders across the country and in many countries throughout the world. Her team’s work was nominated for an EdTech Award in 2020 in recognition of its outstanding contribution to transforming education through technology to enrich the lives of learners everywhere.

Dr. Baker served as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Clinton Community College, which focused her attention toward community partnerships, philanthropy, and grant acquisitions. Currently, she collaborates with community organizations as a philanthropic developer and independent advisor for state, federal, and foundation grant opportunities.

Dr. Baker’s passion is deeply rooted in social justice and equity. Alongside her full-time roles, she has sought to gain perspective across cultural contexts as a consultant with more than fifty diverse organizations across the United States, in Liverpool, England, and in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since 2013, she has developed and taught graduate coursework and advised doctoral research in equitable teaching and leadership practices, socially just public policy, and positive organizational development.

Dr. Baker is excited for the opportunity to return to a leadership role within Vermont’s K12 educational community. She is particularly delighted to be able to serve students and families within Addison County, where her family originally settled in VT during the mid-1700s.

In her free time, you’ll find Dr. Baker on the basketball court officiating boys and girls varsity games on both sides of Lake Champlain, playing the imaginary game of the day with her granddaughter, or digging deep into the shelves of the secondhand bookshop she owns with her husband Rich in Plattsburgh, NY. She looks forward to getting to know the priorities, people, and communities of ACSD more deeply in the coming months.