LAST CALL
Julia Kilgore Deputy Director of the Worcester Education Collaborative J DYLAN AZARI
ulia Kilgore joined the staff of the Worcester Education Collaborative as deputy director at the end of October. WEC is a nonprofit, non-partisan privately funded research and policy organization dedicated to empowering every Worcester Public School graduate.
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Where did it go from there? What has your career trajectory looked like to lead you to the
Worcester Education Collaborative? I worked with the ACE program for just under six years. I was program director, so I was doing a lot of different things in that role of managing some of the operations and engaging with the youth and the families. I was involved with human resources and finances. I did lots of grant writing. I was wearing many different hats in that role. Being able to experience all the different aspects of nonprofit was something I really enjoyed. But, at the same time, there were a lot of different challenges that we were facing beyond the control of our organization. Systemic issues related to funding, from the state, for instance. I decided to get my master’s in Public Administration, to deepen my skill set around some of those program management
How does WEC historically partner with Worcester’s schools? In 2018, WEC co-drafted a Strategic Plan with the Worcester Public Schools, which outlined strategic What is the plan for your first goals for the district focused on 100 days at WEC? First up is areas of culture of innovation, planning for our annual meeting, academic excellence, welcoming which is taking place on Decemschools, investing in educators, ber 9, and we are thrilled to welcome Joseph South as our keynote. and technology & operations. We Joseph South is the Chief Learning have been running our Reading Together program with the disOfficer with the International trict for seven years. This is a beSociety for Technology in Educaloved and very successful program tion, and formerly served as the director of the Office of Education- that focuses on family literacy for K-3rd graders at seven elemenal Technology at the U.S. Departtary schools. WEC distributes ment of Education. South develhigh-quality books to children oped our national educational technology policy and worked on a & families, engages classrooms cross-governmental team to bring in a read-along with community high-speed broadband, interactive volunteers, and shares activities devices, professional development for their parents and caregivers to support them as they learn to read for educators and leaders, and at home. We love this program high-quality affordable digital because its supporting literacy content to classrooms across during those critical years when the U.S. Tech access and equity children are learning to read, so is, of course, a salient issue with students learning remotely due to that when they need to be able to read to learn--they are ready. For the COVID-19 pandemic; it’s also five years now, we’ve also been the True North for the Worcester pieces, but also to get a better idea running Worcester HEARS, which Education Equity Roundtable of policy and systems-level work. stands for Healthy Environments — which a group of passionate Since then, I have been working at and Resilience in Schools. This education and youth developthe systems level with organizainitiative is funded by The Health ment professionals convened by tions like Boston Afterschool & Foundation of Central MassaWEC. This coalition is working Beyond, a nonprofit intermediary. chusetts and offers training for to align key programs, outreach, They provide capacity building and advocacy with an unwavering educators on trauma-sensitive to nonprofit organizations and commitment to equity for histori- practice. In all this work, we serve educational institutions, as well as cally marginalized students in the as a critical friend to the district. work closely with the City and the When we see a concern, we raise Worcester Public Schools. Out of school district to support access that concern but we also bring this Roundtable came WooLabs, to resources and align programsolutions to the table and work which is my second major focus ming to make sure that nonprofhand-in-hand with the district for the first 100 days. WooLabs is its and educators are equipped and the community to find the a subcommittee that aims to reiwith the tools and resources they magine and amplify teaching and solutions and implement them. require to offer the highest quality learning in Worcester, particularly Regardless of what issue we are programming that they can. in response to the dual pandemics tackling or where we are working, we always keep the students at the of COVID-19 and system racHow did you decide to join center. The deciding factor is alism. WooLabs hopes to align outWorcester Education Collabof-school learning around project- ways what is best for the students orative? WEC has a very similar in Worcester Public Schools. based, student-centered learning mission, supporting Worcester and create a robust community Public Schools and ensuring excel– Sarah Connell Sanders of practice for continual, shared lence in terms of the opportunities learning and resource-sharing
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What were some of the first organizations or projects you worked on that really drew you to public service? When I was a senior at Assumption, I started volunteering with African Community Education, which is wonderful. They do youth development and educational programming with African youth across the city. They offer math classes, English classes, tutoring, and they even have an outreach department. They do a lot of really fun activities with drumming and dance. It’s a great celebration of culture in their community. When I was graduating, they actually had a job opening. I felt very fortunate to join their team. And that is what really kicked off my career in public service.
across our partners. My charge is to bring in funding so that we can launch our reimagination projects with this group by early 2021.
N O V E M B E R 12 - 18, 2020
How did you end up in Worcester? I am from north of Worcester and I attended undergrad at Assumption College. I studied sociology, social policy and community service learning there. Through those programs, I did a lot of volunteering around the city, got to know more about the community. I also did a lot of work with local nonprofits and cultural institutions and started to really experience the charm of Worcester and to know more about the restaurants and parks. I loved all of the different places to experience art and music and all of the enriching diversity that the city has to offer. Since then, I’ve started to consider Worcester my home, even though I’m not originally from the city itself.
that students have in the district, both during the school day and outside of the school day as well. I am really excited to be transitioning into a support role where I can help to address some of those challenges that I faced early in my career with ACE.
