By Holly Camero — Correspondent
Like the students filling the classrooms and hallways, Shelly Chin starts this school year intent on learning.
In her new role as interim assistant superintendent of teaching and learning in the Concord-Carlisle Regional School District, Chin will focus on curriculum, ensuring students are learning material and receiving academic support as needed. She will also ensure that educators receive mentoring and professional development.
To that end, she plans to spend a lot of time in the schools and classrooms “listening and observing” and asking questions as she gets to know the district.
Shared philosophy
Chin grew up in Brookline and has spent her entire career working with children — most recently in the central office of Waltham Public Schools.
She said she jumped at the opportunity to work for the Concord-Carlisle school district because its vision of student learning matches her own philosophy.
She said district officials want students to “take ownership of their own learning” and to recognize its relevance to their future.
“It’s really about collaboration, where teachers are facilitators, but students really own that learning and can work with their peers to develop projects and do some high-level work,” Chin said.
“It’s especially important now during this high-technology social media boom that has influenced our young people in ways that we can’t imagine. So, we have to be just as nimble and adapt to that rapid change.” Chin said.
“This year is going to be a lot of learning … and I will not be the expert,” she said. “It will really be around assessing and observing and hopefully coming to some clear ideas of where the work needs to move with my colleagues for the next several years.”
Focusing on academic equity
An adjunct professor at Framingham State University, Chin recently taught an introductory class on equity in education.
“Equity is such a buzzword now,” she said, “but it’s something that has been a deep commitment of mine even if I didn’t have the words to articulate it.” Today’s culture and climate require re-examining traditional teaching methods to make information more accessible, she said. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.”
Concord-Carlisle has “great strengths [and a] high-achieving, really strong instructional approach,” and the director of equity and inclusion is a key leader districtwide, Chin said.
“I think it’s always about then digging a little deeper with the data to see how different student groups [are] performing,” she said. From there it’s about gauging a sense of belonging, as well as encouraging families “to ensure all students thrive and achieve,” she said.
She watched with interest the naming of the new middle school and the School Committee’s interaction with the community and reconsideration of its choice. “There is definitely openness and willingness to engage in difficult conversations,” Chin said.
An eye to the future
Chin succeeds Kristen Anderson, who announced her resignation in March after 10 years as Concord-Carlisle’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. Anderson accepted a similar position in the Nauset Public Schools on Cape Cod.
Chin said the Concord-Carlisle position will be reopened in the winter to allow for more community input, and she’ll definitely reapply for the job.
“I think I have a good broad overview as well as some deep experiences at different levels to support Concord moving to the next level of work,” she said.
In her spare time, the Sudbury resident enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her husband and two middle-school-age boys, including traveling and camping.
