SUPERINTENDENT'S PAGE

“The price of greatness is responsibility”
- Winston Churchill
Our Springfield Schools can be as great as we want them to be IF we all take responsibility for achieving that greatness.

I am Alan Ingram and it is a tremendous honor for me to serve as Superintendent of the Springfield Public Schools. This city is more than 350 years old and its rich traditions have not only given the world Dr. Seuss and basketball, but also produced generations who fought and died for their country, parents who worked hard so their children could have a better life, and young people with hopes and dreams as big as those of the Pilgrims who came to Massachusetts to settle this great land of ours.

I am truly humbled by the opportunity to lead the city’s school system, and I promise you with all of my heart that I will do my best to honor your children and this community – our home.

I firmly believe that we are staring in the face of great challenges and opportunities in our Springfield Public Schools. But as Churchill said, there is a price to be paid to achieve that greatness and that price is responsibility.

Academic progress has been made here in our schools. Teachers have done good work. Community members have offered the kind of support that the founders of this great nation envisioned when they declared that “we the people” must work together to form a “more perfect union.”

But much remains to be done. Let’s face it – our schools have helped our children to learn but we have far to go to reach the levels of academic achievement our children deserve. We cannot allow our children to fall victim to the soft bigotry of low expectations. Every child can learn. Every child should learn. We must not be satisfied with simply helping some children to succeed – we must strive to have every child learn to their highest potential. If we settle for anything less than success, then that is what we’ll get in Springfield Public Schools: something less than success.

It was a pleasure getting to meet you during my first year as superintendent. I spent a great deal of time listening to you and learning what you expect of your schools, where you think we need to improve and what you think we do well. Together, we crafted a strategic plan that will make our public schools second to none.

We have dedicated ourselves to these core values:
   • Our students will always come first
   • Teamwork, trust and mutual respect are expected
   • Everyone will share in accountability
   • Our core business is teaching and learning
   • Parents and community are our partners.

We have established new goals and expectations of ourselves as administrators, teachers, students, parents and concerned citizens. Already, we have begun to see signs of improvement in our attendance rate, student achievement and community involvement. WE are moving in the right direction but WE must do more. And we will.

There is room for everyone to help Springfield create a culture of educational excellence for our children.

Alan Ingram, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Click Here for Profile of Dr. Alan J. Ingram

Key Documents:

Dr. Ingram's “Superintendent’s Plan of Entry": Superintendent’s Plan of Entry (PDF)

Superintendent's report calls for renaissance. Click here to view Dr. Ingram's Entry Plan Summary Report (PDF)

"Dear Colleagues" Letter to all Employees: Dear Colleagues Letter (PDF)

Dr. Ingram's Letter to Parents: Dear Parents Letter (PDF)

Mission, Vision & Theory of Action - SPS Mission, Vision, Values & Theory of Action (PDF)

A Mandate for Change - A Mandate for Change (PDF)

2009-2012 District Strategic Plan - 2009-2012 District Strategic Plan (PDF)

To View PDF Files

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