Lynn Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Evonne Alvarez, presented a comprehensive overview of her achievements since taking office in 2023 during a recent School Committee meeting. This presentation comes as she prepares for her upcoming evaluation, scheduled for October 3, 2024. Under her leadership, the district has undertaken significant initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes and addressing challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the notable accomplishments highlighted by Dr. Alvarez is the establishment of a new Early Childhood Center on Bennett Street. Additionally, the opening of the City Arts and Sciences Academy (CASA) marks a pivotal moment in expanding educational options for students. Dr. Alvarez also announced the reinstatement of the PSAT exam, which had been on hiatus for four years, and shared efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism within the district.
In her presentation, Dr. Alvarez outlined the district’s core goals for the 2024-2025 school year, emphasizing the importance of fostering literary proficiency among multilingual learners, enhancing support for students with disabilities, and creating an inclusive environment for both educators and students. She stated, “We wanted to implement turnaround strategies to mitigate the learning loss from COVID. Based on our assessments, we noticed a trend in many of our secondary students where they were either two or three years below grade level, so there were a number of strategies we implemented.”
The measures of success presented by Dr. Alvarez reflect notable progress in several key areas. For instance, the percentage of students achieving progress toward language proficiency increased by 8.9%. Furthermore, compliance with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) improved by 20%, while chronic absenteeism saw a reduction of 2.1%. In terms of academic performance, student growth percentiles in mathematics increased by 3.3%.
The reintroduction of the PSAT in 2024 has proven beneficial, with participation rising by 15%. Additionally, access to Advanced Placement (AP) classes grew by 5%, while early college dual enrollment increased by 3%. Dr. Alvarez’s leadership also led to the hiring of 234 new teachers, a significant step toward enhancing educational quality. Moreover, expulsion hearings decreased by 41% due to improved communication regarding student behavioral expectations. The district also achieved an impressive 175% increase in Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) Accountability Rankings.
As part of the evaluation process, the School Committee will assess Dr. Alvarez’s performance in areas including instructional leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture. The results of this evaluation will be made public, with Mayor Jared Nicholson tasked with compiling the evaluations and presenting them during the upcoming School Committee meeting on October 9, 2024.
Dr. Alvarez’s accomplishments reflect a commitment to fostering an equitable and effective educational environment in Lynn, positioning the district for future success as it navigates ongoing challenges in education.
