At annual convocation, Groton looks ahead to year of changes

Alliance District designation comes with set of challenges

“I spoke to folks around the district who were both excited and concerned about the initiatives we’re implementing this year.” MICHAEL GRANER, SUPERINTENDENT

Groton — Looking out into a sea of teachers and staff, Beth Horler noted that her audience collectively holds the keys to knowledge, safety, nutrition and health, and feeling loved. But she sees one key everyone holds that isn’t used as much as it should be: empathy.

“We can go out and get new programs, and we can train, train and train,” said Horler, president of the Groton Education Association. “But sometimes we have to look beyond the numbers.”

She was one of several people to address Groton Public Schools employees at this year’s convocation, held Wednesday morning at Fitch High School. Teachers are in professional development this week, ahead of the first day of classes on Tuesday.

Superintendent Michael Graner spoke about the changes coming to the district, from the conversion

of each middle school to a themed, intradistrict magnet school to the expansion of the International Baccalaureate program.

“I spoke to folks around the district who were both excited and concerned about the initiatives we’re implementing this year,” he said.

The superintendent went into the history of Groton 2020, the plan to construct a new middle school next to the high school and convert the existing middle schools into elementary schools.

It began in 2014 to address facility needs, the district’s racial imbalance and school choice.

Noting that Groton sends about 10 percent of students to magnet or charter schools, Graner “became convinced that Groton must be viewed as a competitive district.”

Kim Shepardson Watson, chairwoman of the Groton Board of Education, encouraged teachers to take a step back and look at the big picture, as they would at a museum or art gallery.

Along with the excitement, she also spoke to the challenges — financial, logistical and in messaging — Groton faces with its designation last year as an Alliance District.

Capt. Paul Whitescarver, commanding officer of the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, talked about how important the beginning of school is to Navy children who move around a lot.

The convocation also included a video introduction of the teachers who are new to Groton; Graner said the district hired 46 certified personnel.

Megan Kasparek, recognized as Groton’s teacher of the year in May, gave a presentation showing the work she does as a speech-language pathologist.