Introduction

Dear Team,

My name is Jodi Fortuna and I am the Assistant Superintendent assigned to lead the Lee Academy Pilot School for the 2019-2020 school year. I am privileged to have been chosen for this important position.

My professional background is comprised of a variety of experiences. I have been an elementary special education teacher in both pull out and inclusionary settings. My administrative experience began with the opportunity to work as an elementary school assistant principal with approximately 800 students. I have had the privilege to be an elementary principal in rural and suburban schools. I have been the superintendent of a suburban school district, which taught me the importance of being close to and part of the work that happens schools. For the past two years, I have been in Boston serving as Director of the Academic Response Teams and Academic Superintendent overseeing 29 unique schools. Each of these experiences has taught me more about whom I am as a leader and the importance of education in helping to shape the future of a child.

I believe that an education is the greatest gift we can bestow on our children. Education will open doors for children that may have remained shut otherwise. With an exceptional education, children will be able to soar to heights previously unimagined and create a better future. Education is a great equalizer, knocking down barriers and crafting new vistas. I am thrilled that you and I will be teammates in providing an incomparable educational experience for our children.

I would like to get to know each of you better over the course of the summer. I want to know what your hopes, fears, and dreams are for your students. I want to ask you what is working well and where I need to focus my attention on for the upcoming year. I am hoping that you can find 45 minutes to stop by the school and chat.  Please feel free to select a time from this calendar to stop in. If you cannot come in before school starts, we will find a time shortly after the school year starts.

I am starting a staff blog called “The Hive” so that you will have up to date information about what is happening at school. I will update the Hive on most Sunday nights. I will be starting this practice over the summer with updates as they happen.

One of the things that excites me the most about this assignment is that I will be able to be in classrooms, with children, every day. I am looking forward to getting to know each of you over the course of the year. My door will always be open please be sure to stop by.  Let’s talk soon!