VIEW GALLERY | Inaugural Pathways to Teaching Community Summit Inspires Next Generation of Salem Educators
The power of a pathway is to give someone the opportunity to thrive.
Salem Public Schools welcomed more than 50 future educators, community members and District and community leadership to its inaugural Pathways to Teaching Community Summit Wednesday, Aug. 26 to cultivate the next generation of teachers.
The purpose of the Summit is to shape the future of education in Salem: to create accessible, equitable pathways to support and empower our local students, staff, and neighbors interested in becoming the District’s next generation of teachers.
“We wanted to create more coherent, accessible and equitable pipelines to teaching,” said Stephanie Santarpio, Pathways to Teaching Coordinator at SPS. “We were super happy with the attendance, and thrilled with the honest and transparent engagement and community input we received so that guests could see where they are in the pipeline. That honesty is going to help us strengthen the pathways we currently have.
“Research has shown that student outcomes improve when they have educators with similar backgrounds,” Ms. Santarpio added. “We are always looking to ensure our educator backgrounds reflect the backgrounds of our students.”
The Summit was hosted by Ms. Santarpio and Dr. Jill Conrad, Executive Director of Human Resources, and featured several speakers including Massachusetts Secretary of Education Dr. Stephen Zrike, former Salem Superintendent, who delivered the keynote speech.
Additionally, Dr. Laura McCarty, Dean of Salem State University’s McKeown School of Education, presented on the ‘Evolution of Teacher Preparation,’ while State Representative Manny Cruz (7th Essex District) presented on the ‘Educator Diversity Act,’ which he helped pass into legislation in 2024.
Also offering key insight were Dr. Tommy Welch, Salem Superintendent, and Elizabeth Pauley, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations.
The Summit also included current staff already in the Pathway pipeline to discuss their experience, including:
- Irma Salcedo, a paraprofessional enrolled in the Learn-Earn-Teach Program at Middlesex Community College, and working in a sub-separate classroom at Collins Middle School
- Sandra Castillo, a Math Teacher at Collins Middle School and a former Salem High School Graduate
- Isabella Ortiz Cruz, a recent Salem High Graduate who served as an intern in our 21C Out-of-School-Time (OST) Program
- Valeria Almeida Oliveira Cysne, a paraprofessional interested in becoming a licensed teacher
To inquire about Salem’s Pathways to Teaching program, contact Ms. Santarpio by e-mail or (978) 740-1115.
