'Hardest Time To Be A Teacher': MA Education Chief Visits Danvers High School

DANVERS, MA — State Commissioner Pedro Martinez acknowledged "this is the hardest time to be a teacher" as he praised the sense of community being built in Danvers Public Schools during a visit to Danvers High School on Friday.

The commissioner's listening tour included an hour-long roundtable discussion with teachers, students and administrators.

"My first impression is the sense of community that is here," Martinez told DPS. "I'm very impressed by the environment and the culture. The students are very genuine about how much they feel supported."

Superintendent of Schools Dan Bauer welcomed Martinez, Fabrice Kandjanga, a math support specialist with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and DESE Senior Advisor Anne Marie Stronach.

Also attending were State Rep. Sally Kerans, Town Manager Jill Cahill, School Committee members Eric Crane and Sean Doherty, Assistant Superintendent Kristen Anderson and Principal Alan Strauss.

Bauer highlighted the school's attempts to enhance college and career readiness, including Early College, Pathways and Project Lead the Way programs.

"We have great ideas and appreciate your vision to help support us," he told the commissioner.

Students Lydia Hawes, Evan Roach and Kylee Collins represented the students at the roundtable.

Both students and teachers talked up the sense of community in the building, calling it a "family atmosphere".

Bauer said he was happy to have the commissioner see all that DHS has to offer.

"I think it was a great opportunity," the superintendent said. "We know the vision for schools has changed and we know that we need support at the upper levels to bring substantive change to provide opportunities for all students.

"When you're preparing someone for real life, the foundational academic base is always important, but it's those experiences you can pull from that really help future success."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)