ABOUT THE EVENT
This year, Worcester Education Collaborative (WEC) is honored to welcome Ralph Smith, Managing Director of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, as our keynote speaker for the 2nd Annual John E. Bassett Symposium. Mr. Smith brings decades of experience in advancing literacy and educational equity and will share his insights on the critical role of community collaboration in driving systemic change.
Following his keynote remarks, Mr. Smith will be joined for a fireside chat by Patrick Proctor, Associate Professor at the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. Dr. Proctor investigates the intricacies of bilingualism and literacy, focusing on learners from Spanish-speaking homes. His theoretical research focuses on models of bilingualism, language development, and reading comprehension, and the intersections between them. The discussion will be moderated by Jason Homer, Executive Director of the Worcester Public Library.
In addition, WEC will provide updates on our Raising Readers Together initiative—a city-wide effort aimed at increasing children’s literacy achievement and fostering a culture of literacy throughout Worcester. This initiative addresses the concerning decline in reading scores and the widening achievement gap exacerbated by the pandemic. In a city where only one in four 3rd graders met proficiency standards on the 2024 English Language Arts MCAS Assessment, collective action is urgently needed. Join us to learn more about how we, as a community, can empower every child in Worcester through literacy.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
RALPH SMITH (KEYNOTE SPEAKER)
Ralph Smith is the managing director of The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, an effort to increase rates of third-grade reading proficiency for children from low-income families, including a network of more than 390 communities — with 4,100 local organizations and more than 520 state and local funders.
Previously, as senior vice president for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Smith led initiatives to help communities improve child outcomes by strengthening families and neighborhoods. Smith taught Corporations and Securities Law and Education Law and Policy as a member of the law faculty at the University of Pennsylvania for two decades. During that time, he also served as chief of staff and special counsel for the School District of Philadelphia and as a senior advisor to Philadelphia’s mayor. Smith led efforts to design and implement the school district’s landmark voluntary desegregation plan, negotiate some of the nation’s first education reform-driven teacher contracts, and develop Children Achieving, a district-wide blueprint supported by the Annenberg Challenge.
Over the last three decades, Smith has served on major philanthropic associations and a dozen-plus social sector organizations. His private sector board service includes Leapfrog Enterprises, Nobel Learning, Book Nook, Stride K-12, and Geisel-Seuss Enterprises.
Patrick Proctor (SPEAKER)
Patrick Proctor is Professor and Chair of the Teaching, Curriculum, and Society department at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development.
As an educator, he is primarily focused on the literacy development of multilingual children and youth in U.S. schools. His research explores students' language and literacy development and how teachers' instruction affects that development. His partnership and advocacy work include school districts from across the Commonwealth, and centers on curriculum adoption and creation, effective K - 12 multilingual literacy practices, and state-level bilingual education endorsement for teachers. He is a longtime partner of the Worcester Public Schools.
Jason Homer (Moderator)
As Executive Director of the Worcester Public Library, Jason Homer holds a vital responsibility for fostering positive community growth.
Through collaborating with colleagues and community members, Homer strives to broaden perspectives, challenge norms and empower people to reach their fullest potential. His primary objective is to actively engage with the Worcester community and demonstrate how important the library is to people’s lives.
WATCH LAST YEAR’S EVENT
The inaugural John E. Bassett Symposium featured a fireside chat with Dr. Rachel Monárrez, Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools, and Dr. Gisele Shorter, President & CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, who discussed their lessons learned as leaders in education. Paul Reville, Professor of Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and former Secretary of Education served as the moderator for this timely discussion.
Recorded on November 13, 2023
