Attleboro High School Serves as ‘Launching Ground’ for Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate Framework

A group of students from Attleboro High School showed off the school’s mock courtroom while leading a tour for state education leaders, including Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, right, and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, left. The tour was part of a launch event for the state’s Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate framework on Wednesday, Sept. 24. (Photo Courtesy Attleboro Public Schools)

ATTLEBORO — Attleboro Public Schools was selected to host the statewide launch of the Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate initiative in recognition of the district’s leadership in advancing student-centered education through its Portrait of a Graduate framework.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration chose to launch its new Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate initiative at Attleboro High School on Wednesday, Sept. 24, highlighting the school’s efforts to provide career-connected courses, Early College, and graduation standards that help produce well-rounded students capable of reaching their full career, college and civic life potential.

The launch was attended by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, and Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, along with Attleboro Mayor Cathleen DeSimone, Attleboro Public Schools Superintendent David Sawyer, Attleboro High School Principal Craig Levis and many others from the district.

Gov. Maura Healey’s Statewide K-12 Graduation Council, tasked with spearheading the establishment of the Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate standards, said Attleboro Public Schools’ Portrait of a Graduate framework aligns closely with its goals and objectives.

Principal Levis said the Portrait of a Graduate program promotes students becoming self-directed lifelong learners who are responsible, involved citizens, guided by four student-centered learning priorities: communicate, collaborate, innovate, and balance.

“Here at Attleboro High School, our students have the opportunity to create a pathway that meets their own unique and individual needs,” Principal Levis said. “This is an environment where everyone can thrive. Our students are more than a test score. An Attleboro High School graduate will have the skills and the disposition necessary to be successful in life, on life’s terms.”

During the launch event, a group of four students took Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, state education leaders and other officials on a tour of Attleboro High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs, showing off the state-of-the-art school building that first opened in the fall of 2022. The CTE programs they visited included the Criminal Justice Program, providing an up-close look at its mock courtroom; the Medical Assisting Program, with its virtual dissection table and other hands-on learning tools; Early Education and Care, with all the little children; and the Culinary Arts Program, with its operational Blue Pride Bistro restaurant and cafe.

Superintendent Sawyer called it “an honor” to host the launch of the new Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate initiative.

“We were so enthusiastic to be able to show off what we do, and we agree that this is the perfect place for the state to launch this new initiative,” said Superintendent Sawyer. “But don’t be fooled by this beautiful building. Attleboro makes its distinctions by doing more with less. And one of the ways we accomplish such great things is we have a very strong vision for what it is we’re trying to accomplish. Our Portrait of a Graduate, which we are still developing and building up, is one of the ways that we understand what it is we’re here to do.”

The school district’s Portrait of a Graduate has become an important framework for how the school administration makes and explains its decisions.

“It is how we can explain to families what our priorities are,” Superintendent Sawyer said. “It is how we can explain to our staff why we choose the initiatives they need to do. And most importantly, it’s our answers to our students about why they need to learn what it is we want them to learn. It makes great sense to us that the state is going in this direction. we are very excited to learn more and be part of that work.”

Click here, for more information on the Portrait of a Graduate framework.

The Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate is considered an aspirational outline and the first step in creating a new statewide graduation standard to ensure students leave high school with all the skills necessary to succeed in careers, college and civic life. Following extensive efforts to gather feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders through surveys and listening sessions, the Graduation Council plans to unveil its initial findings for a statewide graduation standard this fall, with a final report and proposed roadmap expected next year.

Lt. Gov. Driscoll commended Attleboro High School and thanked the students for an “amazing tour,” noting how impressed she was by the new school building, calling it a great investment by the community. She also celebrated the culture, connection and identity of the Attleboro High School, its community and its programs.

“Congratulations on the work that you’re doing and continue to do, as we make sure to do everything we can to ensure young adults have successful outcomes and can really thrive in the Commonwealth,” said Lt. Gov. Driscoll.

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Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll takes a selfie together with students from Attleboro High School and state education officials. (Photo Courtesy Attleboro Public Schools)

Attleboro High School student Keira Wiley, left, shows off art in the school that celebrates the four student-centered learning priorities — communicate, collaborate, innovate, and balance — that are part of the district’s the Portrait of a Graduate framework. (Photo Courtesy Attleboro Public Schools)

Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll spoke to students in Attleboro High School’s medical assisting program as part of a tour of Attleboro High School during the launch of A Vision for a Massachusetts Graduate. (Photo Courtesy Attleboro Public Schools)

Students in Attleboro High School’s medical assisting program used the school’s virtual dissection table during a demonstration as part of the tour of Attleboro High School. (Photo Courtesy Attleboro High Schools)

Criminal Justice Teacher Tobey Reed spoke with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll during her tour of Attleboro High School during the launch of A Vision for a Massachusetts Graduate. (Photo Courtesy Attleboro Public Schools)

Attleboro High School students, from left to right, Destiny Cyrle, Justin Najera, Keira Wiley and Christie Luc listen to Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez. (Photo Courtesy Attleboro Public Schools)

Associate Principal Kevin Gorman and Criminal Justice Teacher Tobey Reed show off their blue jackets commemorating 25 years of employment. (Photo Courtesy Attleboro Public Schools)

Attleboro High School students, state officials and elected leaders finished their tour of the school at Blue Pride Bistro. (Photo Courtesy Attleboro Public Schools)

The launch of the administration’s Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate at Attleboro High School was attended by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Education Secretary and Statewide K-12 Graduation Council Co-Chair Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, and Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez. (Photo Courtesy Attleboro Public Schools)