Dr. Catalina Montes, Principal Boston Public Schools
By Dr. Catalina Montes, Principal on Assignment, Teaching and Learning, Boston Public Schools
In 1996 I experienced a memorable day, the worst in my decades of service in the Boston Public Schools. On that day I had to turn over six children to the Department of Social Services. I was heartbroken. Fortunately, it was also the day a professor from a nearby university came into my office to thank me for the opportunity to interview children for her book on the effect of homelessness on children. Through the tears I begged her to stay and help us. What happened was an odyssey every principal should have the opportunity to experience. It was the beginning of some extraordinary school/community partnerships that transformed my building from a one-dimensional enterprise into a comprehensive "village" school outfitted with a network of health, mental health and recreational programs that support the healthy development of children and families.