When I was a child, I was told a story about a mystical place where people did not have hands.  Rather, they had forks.  These forks extended from the elbow and were approximately two feet in length.  Imagine how hard it must have been for them to eat.  With no wrists, and these long utensils for arms, it was impossible for these people to get their food to their mouths.  So, in this mystical place, many suffered hunger pangs and faced starvation as they continued to use their forks to throw food into the air and catch it in their mouths.  That was until they learned to feed one another. 

Prior to the pandemic the Uxbridge Public Schools engaged the community in a collaborative effort to set up a strategic plan that you can find on this website.  As you click through our web pages, you will note that we feature a compass in which North, East, West, and South are replaced with the words Responsibility, Respect, Collaboration, and Equity.  These are the core values of our educational community.  As your Superintendent for the 2022 – 2023 school year, I wonder what these four words mean to you?  If you could pick one word that is reflective of these core values, what would it be?

For me, the word is service.  Here is why:

Responsibility:  Serving our parents, our students, our faculty and staff, our leaders, and our community allows me to model actions that bring people together for the development of a strong educational system.  I am responsible for contributing to a culture of care and it is through my service and the service of many others that the African Proverb, “it takes a village” reigns true.

Respect: I have deep respect for those who constitute the backbone of the school community and those who serve our children.  Our bus drivers and crossing guards ensure the safe arrival and departure of our children each day while our food services staff provides nourishment with nutritious foods. Our maintenance and custodial personnel serve our students with clean, well maintained facilities.  We have assistants who among countless tasks welcome our children and their families while supporting every staff member in our offices and schools.  And with this our administrators, teachers, instructional and technology staff provides top tier instruction, safety and well-being.

Collaboration: By seeking opportunities to engage you in two-way communication to understand your hopes and dreams for our children, we can engage in actions that meet the needs of our students now.  Collaborating with our Community Based Organizations to find where and when we can work together to be better for our students, and serving our students together, will only increase the educational and life opportunities available to them.

Equity:  Providing our students and staff what they need, individually, to maximize their potential is so vital to their success.  We serve everyone by meeting them where they are, understanding their individual needs, and ensuring the availability of services and supports. 

As is the case in that mystical place where people are feeding one another, it is my sincerest hope that you will feel the impact of meaningful service here in Uxbridge, because we are here for you. 

Sincerely,

Michael R. Baldassarre, Ed.D.