Sentinel and Enterprise - June 11, 2011

Pathways Program Helps Students Blaze Their Own Trails

by Marissa Donelan
mdonelan@sentinelandenterprise.com
published June 11, 2011

Members of the class of 2012 at the Pathways Early College Innovation School arrived from all backgrounds -- home-school programs, urban high schools and and private schools.

But when they graduate from the program, a trailblazing partnership between the Ralph C. Mahar school district and Mount Wachusett Community College, the 20 teens will already have their associate degrees, and they'll have at least one special designation in common: They'll be the first-ever round of alumni from the state's new Innovation Schools program.

On Thursday, Gov. Deval Patrick stopped by the campus to hear their stories, smiling when he heard students describe the class as a family. Patrick and state legislators last year passed an education-overhaul bill that made Innovation Schools possible.

Under the Innovation School program, any group of stakeholders in a community -- teachers, community groups, businesses or colleges, for example -- can partner with a local school district to tailor a plan designed to meet students' needs, whether through a theme, such as dual-language programs, or a different structure, like extended-day programs or longer calendars. Qualified proposals receive planning grants, and can move forward seeking local and state approval.

Pathways Principal Garo Papazian said the first class of students -- who used School Choice from 11 school districts -- are advanced learners who were ready for the challenge of college-level classes, mature enough to navigate more independent learning.

"When you know students, you see where they're going to go, you see what they can do," Papazian told Patrick. "With these kids, you see something in their eye and know they need more. One-size-fits-all education doesn't work for everybody."

Patrick agreed, saying: "That's the whole point of ... the bill, to meet kids where they are."

Twenty new students will enter the program in the fall, MWCC officials said. There are challenges -- students move from their comfort zone to a new program in their junior year, and they're responsible for their own transportation to school.

Mahar District Superintendent Michael Baldassarre said the idea for the program was developed even before legislation was passed to create Innovation Schools. The goal was to form an academically challenging program for motivated students who weren't thriving in a "four years, four walls" high school.

Ashley Williams, 17, of Leominster, said she looks forward to coming to school every day with students who choose to be there. There are no distractions from reluctant or disruptive classmates, and professors have high expectations, Williams said.

Pathways is only the second Innovation School in Massachusetts, and the first high school-level program, said Bridget Rodriguez, director of planning and collaboration for the Executive Office of Education. Nearly 30 Innovation Schools have since received approval for development across Massachusetts.

Fitchburg High School Principal Richard Masciarelli visited the school along with several state and MWCC officials, Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke and state Rep. Rich Bastien.

Masciarelli said he's encouraged by Pathways, and other partnership programs and alternatives, as signs students will continue to have increasing, worthwhile options for their education.

Patrick said he's excited about the success of the Pathways program and was impressed with the students' motivation in seeking a school program that would best suit them. The idea behind autonomous Innovation Schools is to create niche programs to help students excel.

He listened as Lynea German, 17, of Townsend, spoke about moving from home-schooling to a public charter school to a religious school before she found Pathways, which has had "a profoundly positive effect" on her life.

"What were you searching for?" Patrick asked German about her jump from school to school.
She looked at her classmates, then the governor, and responded: "This."