A Letter from the Superintendent
Dr. Judith L. Klimkiewicz
The District has changed immensely over the past decade, as has the needs and focus of our country's future workforce. Capacity, technology, and knowledge has doubled just in the past ten years and, as an institution whose main mission is to educate America's future labor force, we have changed as well. As a model technology school we have structured our classrooms and our career labs to meet the technology needs of the 21st century learner. Each classroom and lab is outfitted with smart boards, LCD players, closed circuit television and computer and wireless capacity. Our technical areas are equipped with state of the art equipment to meet every national standard and certification. For example, our TV Media/Theatre Arts Program is equipped with a computer lab using AVID technology software, the same software used by movie makers in Hollywood, as well as a state of the art auditorium, television and radio studio. Our Pre-Engineering Program has two robotic arms, CNC machining devices, a seismograph that is connected to Weston Observatory and serves as an off-site registering device, as well as the latest version of AutoCAD, Arc Map and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
As the needs of society changed so did our focus on career pathways. Gone are the sheet metal/welding shop, painting & decorating, horticulture, and data processing. Instead we added Dental Assistants/Early Childhood Education, Robotics, Pre-Engineering Technologies, Banking/Marketing & Retail, Cosmetology, and TV Media/Theatre Arts to meet the future needs noted by both regional and national future job growth expectations.
We have also maintained our focus on being fiscally and environmentally responsible by installing our second 100 kw solar voltaic unit on our roof to reduce the cost of our electricity in a "green" way. Additionally, we installed on our new student constructed concession stand a solar voltaic unit to provide all heat and electricity. We have sought out multi-year contracts for major utilities, and have enacted facility wide temperature controls. We have also implemented networked copiers operated by user ID, thereby conserving on paper.
To also meet the needs of the future we changed our curriculum to focus on college and career exploration. To accomplish that goal we expanded our foreign language program, required PSAT testing of all of our sophomores, and added Advanced Placement classes in all core areas. Additionally, we continue to support dual enrollment and Virtual High School opportunities for all qualified students. Over 80% of our students go on to post-secondary education and have been placed in such distinguished institutions as MIT, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, UMass, Bentley, Nichols, Boston University, and many others.
Students at Nashoba Valley, like all schools, must prepare themselves to be life-long learners. This change has required our technical students, as was noted in the "Pioneer Institute White Paper on Education in the Commonwealth", (October 2008), "Massachusetts Education Reform at 15", by Mass Inc. (2009), and the most recent testimonial to technical education, "Pathways to Prosperity", (Harvard 2011), possess superior job skills, are team oriented, disciplined, and are more job ready than college graduates. In a tight economic environment, results like these are hard to ignore.
I have been most fortunate to be the Superintendent of Nashoba Valley Technical School District for the past fifteen years and guided the district, with the school committee, administration, and staff to achieve the changes and success we are now most fortunate to be experiencing. As is the case in any other district regardless of size, numbers of buildings, or staff, an educator's responsibility is to serve the district, the students, and the community.
Best regards,
Dr. Judith L. Klimkiewicz
Superintendent
