Help shape the future of Salem Public Schools
What should learning in Salem look like in 2036 and beyond?
How should a typical “day at school” be redefined for students and teachers?
What experiences, skills, and opportunities should every Salem student have as they grow and prepare for their future?
These are just a few of the questions Salem is wrestling with now as we go through a community-wide effort to dream big and imagine the future of learning in Salem. Over the next several months, the District will work with students, families, educators, and community members to develop a bold 10-year Innovation Vision and Agenda that will guide the future of Salem’s schools and help inform the district’s next 2026–2029 strategic plan.
To learn more, contact:
- Chelsea Banks | cbanks@salemk12.org
- Heidi Guarino | heidi@edlabstrategies.com
Community Surveys
All members of the community are invited to share their ideas and perspectives through an upcoming community survey. Check back here soon for the link.
Focus Groups & Community Conversations
Small group discussions will be held throughout the spring to gather deeper input from families, educators, students, and community partners.
The Future of Salem Public Schools in one word:
Families, staff and students of Salem Public Schools were challenged to choose a one-word description of the future of the school district at its 2026 Design Day Saturday, Mar. 14.
Design Day is part of an ongoing effort to develop a 10-year Vision & Innovation Agenda alongside the district’s next three-year strategic plan. Designed by members of the district’s Innovation Advisory Committee, featured interactive activities and small-group conversations on topics such as:
- What “school” should look like in Salem in 2036 and beyond
- How AI and other new technology should be used in our schools
- How to recruit, train, and grow our best educators, and the roles they should play
- How to prepare our students for success after high school
Advisory Group
The Innovation Advisory Committee was formed in 2025 to inform the development of the district’s 10 year innovation vision and agenda, and to help guide the new three year strategic plan. This group includes Salem educators, parents, students, and community members.
| Principal | Bethann Jellison (Saltonstall School) |
| Elementary School Teachers | Kelly Quinn (Bentley Academy), Janet Garcia (Bentley Academy) |
| Middle School Teacher | Karen Tucker (Collins Middle School) |
| High School Teachers | Megan Murtagh (New Liberty), Tristan Brosnan (Salem High School) |
| Paraprofessional | Nasser Shams (Witchcraft Heights Elementary) |
| Central Office | Elizabeth Pauley, Deputy Superintendent; Carlos Arias Reyes, Director of IT Operations |
| Parents | Sarah Vozzo (Colins Middle School, Salem High School); Wilma Avila (Pre-K) |
| Students | Guywintz Jules (Senior), Kimberly Matul Macario (Grade 9) |
| School Committee | Veronica Miranda |
| Community | Linda Saris, Kayla Dorst (LEAP for Education) |
| Higher Education | Laurie McCarty (Salem State) |
Co-facilitators:
- Chelsea Banks, Dean of Innovation at Collins Middle School | cbanks@salemk12.org
- Heidi Guarino, Founder of EdLab Strategies | heidi@edlabstrategies.com
To share additional ideas or ask questions about the process, please complete this form and we will be back in touch with you soon.