Webb takes on new role with WACTC
Longtime administrator to head new ‘Pathways’ college credit program
WOONSOCKET — After 17 years as a program instructor and administrator at the Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center, William Webb is about to move on to a new role that won’t involve moving his office very far.
Webb, a high school assistant principal who heads the Career Center’s operations, was picked by the School Committee this week to take on the challenge of running the school department’s new alternative high school diploma and college degree initiative – the Pathways in Technology Early College High School, or P-Tech. P-Tech will be run out of the
“Mr. Webb brings a wealth of know-how.” —Woonsocket Superintendent of Schools Patrick McGee
Career and Technical Center which is now a high schooloperated program under a take over agreement worked out with the state last year.
The P-Tech program is a nationwide effort to give select students the opportunity to earn college credit even as they take their high school courses and leave the program, not only with a high school diploma, but also an associates college degree.
Woonsocket is partnering with the Community College of Rhode Island to gain its PTech students an associate’s degree and has also lined up a work place partner, CVS Health, to provide students with mentoring and internship opportunities.
School Superintendent Patrick J. McGee pointed to Webb’s experience both in the classroom and as an administrator as making him “uniquely qualified to assume this important position,” while recommending him for appointment by the school committee.
“His combination of experience in leadership positions, strong education background and affiliations with the Woonsocket Education Department provides us with a director who needs no on-thejob training, but who can hit the ground running as he assumes this position of responsibility,” McGee said.
As the assistant principal in charge of the Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center (WACTC), Webb compiled an “admirable record of establishing, improving and maintaining administrative and educational procedures” necessary for the successful operation of the career and technical school, McGee noted.
“Additionally, Mr. Webb has continuously involved himself in district and school initiatives by taking leadership positions such as the development of the District Strategic Plan guiding all ten programs through the Program of Study accreditation process required by RIDE (the Rhode Island Department of Education),” McGee said.
Webb was the high school facilitator in 2013, co-chair of the School Improvement Team in 2013, chair of the Formative Assessment PD Team in 2013 and School Data team leader in 2013, McGee said.
He was a graphic design and arts instructor/building leader for 14 years at WACTC before assuming his position as the school’s director.
“The impressive experience and commitment that Mr. Webb brings to the P-Tech position will ensure a dedicated leader who is familiar with the programmatic essentials and is not afraid to roll his sleeves up and get the job done,” McGee said while recommending Webb for the new role. “Mr. Webb brings a wealth of know-how gained through vital hands-on experience over many dedicated years in the Woonsocket Education Department,” McGee said.
School Committeeman Paul Bourget noted McGee’s reference to Webb’s experience while offering his own support for the appointment.
“He knows the Career and Technical Center and who better to take over the Career and Technical Center than Mr. Webb,” he said.
“We are very excited to have Mr. Webb,” McGee said in agreement.
School Committeeman Donald Burke commended Webb for his “dedication and enthusiasm” for the Career Center’s programs before joining the rest of the members present in approving his appointment unanimously. Webb will earn $96,000 in his new role as P-Tech Director.
Attending the committee’s meeting with other local administrators, Webb addressed the committee briefly after being named to his new post.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone for the vote of confidence. It is a great day for P-Tech in Woonsocket,” he said.
When asked about the new program later, Webb said PTech will serve students in grade 9 through the second year of college and help provide them with a college experience in keeping with Gov. Gina Raimondo’s proposals to provide Rhode Island students with up to two years of college at no cost if they meet certain require- ments.
“Students will graduate from high school and also earn an associates college degree at the same time,” he noted.
The local P-Tech program will focus on computer science and CVS will help train participating students in the skills they will need to take on a job with the company when they graduate, Webb noted.
“We are going to have space for 50 students the first year,” Webb said. Each of those students will be paired with a CVS mentor while participating in the program and also qualify for an internship as they progress through their course work.
“I think it is an awesome opportunity for our kids in Woonsocket who are going to have a chance to get a college education without incurring any debt,” he said.
The mentoring program that is included in the new technical and career education offering will also benefit a student’s career options.
The students will have a mentor from the job training portion of the program who will also be a reference they can tap when they are looking for employment, Webb noted.
“When you knock on door of a company for the first time, you are going to have a reference on your resume who has worked with you for 3 to 5 years. And that will separate our students from many other applicants when they look for a job,” Webb said.