“Some of us were concerned that it was a big leap for Aketa to move from her work in MTEL (educator licensure) prep to managing the entire Office of English Learners,” said Mudd, the member of the school committee’s English learner task force. When her appointment was announced in October by Deputy Superintendent of Academics Drew Echelson, he touted Kapur’s experience teaching in a school where students learn in two languages and her philosophy that students’ native languages should be valued rather than seen as a liability.įurthermore, Kapur’s resume didn’t include experience managing a school or large department. Cassellius’ senior adviser, Megan Costello, said the “district doesn’t comment on personnel matters” when asked to explain the turnover in the office. According to city payroll documents, she was still collecting her biweekly paycheck of more than $6,000 as of last month. The district’s difficulty retaining leadership to head the Office of English Learners also points to philosophical differences over the best way to teach immigrants and other students learning English.īoston Public Schools representatives confirmed Kapur is not currently working as the assistant superintendent of the Office of English Learners, but refused to answer questions about her absence or whether she is on official leave. The turnstile of directors underscores the persistent turnover within Cassellius’ leadership team, which she has reshuffled multiple times, including one in February days before Mayor Michelle Wu announced the “mutual” decision that Cassellius would step down at the end of the school year. The district has made little progress meeting parent demand for more services in a student’s native language and English learners are more likely than any other BPS demographic group to drop out of school. The turnover has had real consequences for students, say parents and advocates. The district’s failure to meet the needs of English learners is one of the key issues behind the threat of a state takeover of Boston Public Schools by Massachusetts education officials. And during this period, the district has struggled to provide all of the services to immigrant students stipulated under an agreement with the Department of Justice. Under Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, six people have been in charge of education for English learners in less than three years.
“Leadership instability is a big challenge to meeting the needs of English learners.” “I’ve lost count of the number of directors we’ve had recently,” said Rosann Tung, an independent researcher who’s focused on Boston’s English learners and immigrant students.