Babz Rawls-Ivy interviewed principal Dr. Kelly O’Leary, parent Linda Pina, and grandparent Cynthia Texeira, about SMPA on the LoveBabz LoveTalk podcast on WNHH Community Radio.
“The support is tremendous there. Once you get into St. Martin’s, their aim is college; you get that from day one. You know you are going to college. The experience is wonderful. They are there to support you in any way possible.”
-Linda Pina, Parent
“It is fantastic …the encouragement … the community… the determination to make sure the children understand what their goals are, and what they want to do in life, and trying to help them reach those goals. The thing that I also love about St. Martins is going out of the classroom and into the community, going into the farms or going on a whale watches, they do other things besides just sit in the classroom.”
-Cynthia Teixeira, Great Grandparent
“The most important part of the interview process is helping families truly understand our partnership. When you walk in, it feels different. How we operate is differ. For example, all of the kids have my cell phone number. Why? Because that is important. All of the parents have my cell phone number. We don’t have a huge bureaucracy. I’m the principal and we have a president, Allison Rivera, and we’re the administrative team. It’s us. The same faces you see opening the school and greeting kids in the morning are the same faces you see if you have a problem. Very similar to a family.”
-Dr. Kelly O’Leary, Principal
“This ain’t your grandparents’ and your parents’ parochial school. This is a new way of doing things rooted in unconditional love. I think that’s pretty profound.”
-Babz Rawls-Ivy, Host
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