SESSION TYPE: Featured Speaker (Panel) SESSION TITLE: Transformed by Literacy STRANDS: Whole School Issues, Global Awareness DAY: Friday TIME: 2:30 - 3:45 pm LOCATION: Sutton Parlor Central, 2nd Floor

Brockton High School has transformed itself from a culture of low expectations to a school defying the demographics to become recognized for academic excellence. This session will describe the school wide literacy initiative that increased academic achievement for all students; the professional development model that requires all faculty to be teachers of reading, writing, speaking, and reasoning in all content areas; and a roadmap for adapting the model to any grade level. The impressive results on state and national assessments have brought this large urban high school numerous state and national awards. At Brockton, it’s cool to be smart.

BIOGRAPHY

Ronald Rix is the principal of South Middle School in Westfield, Massachusetts.  Prior to this appointment, Rix served as Principal of North Middle School for 10 years which was selected by the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations as a national demonstration site.  In addition to his building based leadership, Rix has held administrative positions at the state and federal level.  He was the Program Director for US Department of Education’s Northeast Regional Center for Safe and Drug Free Schools and the Director of Training and Interim Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s, National Volunteer Training Center in Arlington, Virginia.

Susan Szachowicz is the principal of Brockton (MA) High School, which has received national attention for its remarkable improvement achieved over the last decade through a teacher-administration partnership focusing on literacy. Before becoming principal, she was a history teacher at Brockton High School. She is also a graduate of the school.