Our progressive city boasts a celebrated tradition of leading social change, promoting diversity, and advocating for marginalized groups. The public schools sit at the heart of this and every community.
Northampton’s championed values are birthed and nurtured in the classrooms of our local schools. Every day, teachers model patience, kindness, compassion, activism, empathy, grit, and perseverance. Beyond the curriculum they are required to teach, there is a second set of lessons they teach this city. These lessons are of the heart, and will stay with our youth long after the facts and figures have been forgotten.
It is time for the leadership in the city of Northampton to mind these lessons of the heart. It is nearsighted to ignore the connection between this city’s heart and its overall health. Taking care of educators is taking care of the city at large.
Keddie Loughrey
Florence
The author is an educational team leader for the Northampton Public Schools.