Robin Welch Named Passios Outstanding Principal and National Distinguished Principal from Massachusetts

Robin is described by the Executive Director of the Jewish Family Service of Metrowest as “a champion and advocate for children and families growing up in distress and poverty… (as having) created a school culture that enables each child to feel important and valued, and to imagine a world filled with opportunities and possibilities.” The principal of the Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Framingham, Robin is recognized by colleagues, staff, parents and community members as an educational leader with “integrity, compassion, and strength”.
Robin’s career as an educator began in 1977 as a classroom teacher in Brookline. In 1987 Robin became Vice Principal of the John D. Runkle Elementary School in Brookline, followed by elementary principalships in Milton and Wayland. In 1999, Robin was named principal of the Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Framingham.
The Woodrow Wilson Elementary School is an urban school located within a suburban school system. It is located in the most economically depressed and racially diverse community in Framingham. During Robin’s tenure at the school, it has gone through what is described as astronomical change, including a dramatic shift in the composition of the school population, the substantial increase in the academic performance of students, staffing changes, involvement in a number of academic and community building initiatives, and a rise from the worst performing school in the system to one of the best performing schools.
Upon his arrival at the school, Robin found three distinct staffs – the veteran staff of the school, as well as new staff members and bilingual staff members who had been hired after a renovation and enlargement of the school that resulted in an increase in non-English speaking learners. The process of building a unified team took over two years. To achieve his desired outcome of one school; one faculty; and all kids, Robin began “building the team” of educators. This required carefully orchestrated and frank conversations and a great deal of patience and understanding. The results include a professional learning community that learned to teach and address the students’ needs from culturally relevant vantage points.
As a choice school, the Woodrow Wilson Elementary School is theme-based and has chosen to be a “Global Studies Community School”. Programs at the school are
often connected culturally and academically to the global studies theme in celebration of the school community’s diversity. The Global Studies Center was
created and includes hundreds of books and reference materials about and from different cultures from around the world, all of which are aligned with the Framingham Public School’s curriculum and the Department of Education’s Curriculum Frameworks. This Center provides teachers with ready access to information regarding cultures, customs, and traditional clothing of almost all nationalities. Through the Center, teachers also have access to information on regions, cultural celebrations, myths and folklore, and famous mathematicians, scientists, poets, writers, and artists representing a vast array of different nationalities. Additionally, each classroom maintains a mini-Global Studies library, allowing teachers ready access to grade specific reference materials.
In support of the school theme, the school has focused on strong connections to parents and the community. The Parent Center is designed to be used by parents, providing a place to meet and hold discussions on topics of common interest. Computers are available and are used for a variety of purposes, including resume writing and connecting with family members and friends via e-mail. Many resources are available to parents in the Center and cover a broad range of topics including health care, child care, job opportunities, and evening and enrichment classes. These resources are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
The Health Center is staffed by a Nurse Practitioner and an on-call doctor. The Health Center currently serves approximately 320 students. Services provided include physical exams, illness assessments, education and treatment of upper respiratory infections, and asthma exacerbations. This initiative has assisted the school in keeping students healthy and in school.
Before and After-School Programs are offered to students and families at Woodrow Wilson. These programs wrap around the regular school day and students can avail themselves of enrichment activities, homework support and opportunities to further develop their socialization skills.
SAIL–HI is a special summer program created at the school to further ensure that students retain the skills and knowledge learned during the regular school year. This five-day a week, hands-on, activity-based program serves about 100 students each year. Programs offered are targeted to address 9 specific areas that include nutrition, personal hygiene, physical fitness, dental health, first aid and emergency procedures,
caring for younger siblings, increased self-esteem, anger management skills, and drug and alcohol abuse in families. SAIL-HI is supported by the generosity of Genzyme, TJX Corporation, and the Framingham Rotary Club and is a pilot site for a dental hygiene project with the Boston University School of Dentistry.
Academic excellence is celebrated at the Woodrow Wilson School. A balanced literacy program, an emphasis on a math-rich environment, and proven instructional and assessment practices coupled with in-house professional development opportunities for staff, have resulted in the school moving from a school in need of improvement to an invitation from the DOE to apply for Compass School status for two consecutive years. Many initiatives were undertaken in support of this achievement, all of which were supported by faculty, staff and the broader community.
Success is always celebrated at the school. Most notable are the Awards Assemblies and Global Gatherings. Robin believes that all students have intrinsic value and influence their surroundings. “Each student has unique strengths and areas of need”. Robin created the Awards Assemblies to honor that Every Child Is A Star. Each child is publicly recognized at least twice a year.
Global Gatherings occur once a month and allow each classroom to highlight their contributions to the school and related monthly themes. Fifth grade students serve as the Masters of Ceremony and provide a bilingual presentation in English and Portuguese. Every student in the school participates through song, dance, poetry, short stories, or performances of original musical compositions. This is a celebration that acknowledges all children “for the spirit each brings into the school”.
MESPA congratulates Robin Welch for his dedication and hard work, and on his selection as the Thomas C. Passios Outstanding Principal of the Year / 2005 National Distinguished Principal from Massachusetts.
Robin lives in Framingham with his wife, Karen, and their children, Jared, Kayla, and Ariel.

Past Passios Award Recipients