Lawrence gets new Curriculum Director

Lawrence Public Schools welcomed a new curriculum director for its English Language Arts (ELA), Reading and Social Studies this fall. Johane Ligondé, a native of Haiti, left her position as principal of the Teacher Gloria Omololu Institute, a pre-k to grade 6 international school on the island of Anguilla, to become part of District 15.

“I believe that literacy is the gateway to success.” said Ligondé, who has also worked as an English and literacy teacher in grades 6 through 12, a lead teacher of Humanities at FDNY High School in Brooklyn and administrative intern at Westbury Middle School. “As curriculum director for ELA, Reading and Social Studies, I look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders in the district to ensure that all of our middle and high school students excel and reach their individual summits.”

Ligondé took over for Rina Beach, who was promoted to Lower Middle School (grades 5 and 6) Housemaster. Beach said she is thrilled to be a part of Lawrence Middle School which welcomed in new fifth- and sixth-grade students, their families as well as 26 new staff members. “Together with our fine professional staff, we have been hard at work creating a warm, nurturing and rigorous academic environment,” Beach said. “The 2009-10 school year promises to be a new and exciting adventure for all of us.”

The new Curriculum Director said she understands that she has some big shoes to fill and simply wants to make a difference in the Lawrence School District. “I am really excited about joining the Lawrence Public Schools,” Ligondé said. “I think it’s a really unique community. The diversity in the community is really what drew me to it, so I am really excited about contributing my skills here.”

While growing up in Haiti, Ligondé said she witnessed injustice and a lack of equitable education. From her childhood experiences, she developed a great passion to help under-represented youth obtain not just an equitable education, but an excellent one.