Plymouth School Committee Honors Retiring Member After 35 Years of Service
Dr. James Sorensen receives recognition from state representative and colleagues as elementary schools present improvement plans
PLYMOUTH - May 5 - The Plymouth School Committee honors Dr. James Sorensen for his 35 years of dedicated service at its May 5, 2025 meeting, with both state and local officials presenting citations and plaques to commemorate his contributions to education in the district.
State Representative Michelle Badger presents a citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, highlighting Sorensen's "deep commitment to equity and access that leaves a lasting impact on generations of students."
"You've really helped to uplift our community," Badger tells Sorensen during the presentation.
School Committee Chair Luis Pizano follows with a plaque recognizing Sorensen's "exceptional service" and "visionary leadership," noting his many years as committee chair.
"It's not very often we have someone retire, so it's worth taking the extra time," Pizano says.
The meeting continues with presentations from two elementary schools sharing their improvement plans and achievements. Cold Spring Elementary Principal Stephanie Van Winkle and Nathaniel Morton Elementary Principal Kristine Chase, both in their first year as principals, detail their schools' progress and initiatives.
Van Winkle highlights Cold Spring's unique demographics, with 109 economically disadvantaged students and seven different languages spoken in the building.
"We are a very diverse group, and that's one of the reasons I enjoy working there," Van Winkle says.
She emphasizes the school's focus on creating a welcoming environment where students feel valued and safe. A key component is the daily "morning mantra" where students affirm they are "strong" and "important."
"I think every student needs to know that they're loved, and sometimes their parents are just really busy, and they might forget, but every day, Monday through Friday, they hear at least once that they are loved, and that somebody is very proud of them," Van Winkle explains.
Cold Spring also addresses the needs of its immigrant families by hosting a safety presentation in Portuguese to address deportation fears.
"Our families were very much afraid to send their kids to school, so we did a presentation that told them that they were safe," Van Winkle says.
Nathaniel Morton Principal Kristine Chase and Assistant Principal Taylor Soell present their school's improvement plan, highlighting academic growth and social-emotional learning initiatives.
Chase shares data showing significant improvement in student performance between fall and winter assessments, with most grade levels achieving the target of 40 to 60 percent growth.
"This just shows our teachers really are working and our students really are working and they are growing," Chase says.
The school also celebrates success with its English language learners, with 65 percent of students meeting or exceeding benchmarks, up from 51 percent the previous year.
Soell details the school's social-emotional learning initiatives, including community meetings tailored to address specific grade-level needs.
"Looking at what our students need and how can we address it there, what resources can we give teachers, and then what resources can we give parents," Soell explains.
Chase also highlights the school's efforts to combat excessive screen time among students, including a "National Day to Unplug" challenge and "Screen Free Fridays" throughout March.
"Kids right now have a phone-based childhood versus a play-based childhood from a generation ago," Chase notes. "The phone-based childhood kids are sedentary, they are isolated. A play-based childhood they were active and social."
Committee members express appreciation for both schools' focus on student well-being and inclusive environments.
"It's really crystal clear that you all care for kids," Sorensen tells the principals. "You go the extra mile, and I think that's what our children need today."
Superintendent Chris Campbell provides updates on recent district events, including the fourth annual Health and Safety Fair, which featured 40 local organizations and nonprofits.
Campbell also announces the installation of cooling stations at several elementary schools, including Nathaniel Morton, Cold Spring, Hedge, and Manomet.
"This is really providing those non-HVAC schools with some cooling and dehumidification to help with that," Campbell explains.
School Business Administrator Adam Blaisdell reports on potential changes to federal education funding, noting that Title 1, Title 4, and IDEA funding are expected to remain level for the next fiscal year, while Title 2 and McKinney-Vento funding could see major changes.
Blaisdell also mentions that the president's budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 includes a potential $12 billion cut to the U.S. Department of Education, which could affect funding in fiscal year 2027.
"Nothing's finalized at this point in time, but those are just some of the key highlights at this moment," Blaisdell says.
Other items addressed at the meeting include:
* Recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week and upcoming National School Nurses Day
* Announcement of senior showcases for Career and Technical Education programs at North and South High Schools
* Retirement of David Crawford, a custodian at West Elementary School, after 27 years of service
* Approval of a home schooling plan and accounts payable warrants
The meeting concludes with Sorensen adjourning his final meeting after what he notes is "over 1,500 school committee meetings" during his tenure.