Bold change in Dedham with a Teachers21 Blueprint When Michael Welch became superintendent of the Dedham, Massachusetts, school system four years ago, he couldn鈥檛 identify what was hampering district success in educating students, particularly in English-Language Arts (ELA): was it the curriculum, training, teacher belief systems or other factors? That鈥檚 when he called in Teachers21 to do a system- wide ELA audit. 鈥淲e knew they could develop a plan molded specifically to our school district.鈥� The Teachers21 team spent three and a half months assessing the ELA landscape from pre- school to high school. The result was a 45-page report on ELA, and much more, that became the blueprint for a district-wide restructuring. Superintendent Welch and his team converted $2 million worth of salaries and positions, eliminated 25 full-time positions, created 19 new ones, instituted free, full-day Kindergarten, went to an instructional coaching model for teachers, instituted new curriculum models, and made significant investments in professional development training鈥攁ll cost neutral. 鈥淲e are seeing tremendous gains in student learning already,鈥� Welch says. 鈥淲e want a culture where there is a real thirst to understand how kids learn and how to improve teaching. Teachers21 launched us on that path.鈥� school culture and climate. The ultimate goal is to improve child emotional and academic learning at a district and system level. The School Psychology Department also offers training and expertise needed by school psychologists to obtain their state license to practice. The MA/CAGS program in School Psychology grants a Master of Arts in Professional Psychology and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies degree in School Psychology. It also offers a doctoral level program, the PsyD in School Psychology and a MA in Applied Behavioral Analysis. Another example is the College鈥檚 PATHWAYS pro- gram, a unique campus-community collaboration that provides mental health services to urban students in the Boston Public Schools. It provides many services, including school-based, trauma-informed mental health services and clinical interventions to trauma- tized youth at risk of dropping out or failing to graduate. Together, Teachers21 and the vast expertise, passion and commitment of William James will be able to give educators the tools they need to develop mental, social and emotional wellness in every child. Superintendent, Michael Welch addresses his entire leadership team and educators new to the district at the Dedham Public School new teacher orientation. WILLIAM JAMES COLLEGE 13