Copyright MassLive
SPRINGFIELD — The District 3 race will pit two experienced educators who had long careers in Springfield Schools against each other. Rosa Valentin is running for the position, which covers Wards 6 and 7, against Christopher Collins, a long-term School Committee member. Ahead of Tuesday, The Republican reached out to all candidates for the opposed School Committee seats to answer a short questionnaire. Over the next several days, The Republican will be publishing the candidates’ answers to the questions in print. Find more candidates and responses at masslive.com/topic/election. Name: Rosa Valentin Age: 62 Address: 273 Arcadia Blvd. Profession: Educator Position running for: School Committee, Wards 6 and 7 Introductory statement: I am seeking election to the School Committee to bring over 35 years of educational leadership, including 31 years in Springfield Public Schools, to the service of our community. As a former classroom teacher, instructional leader, and director of multilingual learner programs, I understand how district policies directly shape student achievement, teacher capacity, and family engagement. My priorities are clear: strengthen academic outcomes, ensure equitable access to high-quality instruction, and support educators with the tools and resources they need to deliver rigorous, culturally responsive instruction. I am committed to responsible budgeting, strategic investments, and data-informed decisions that close opportunity gaps. Having worked within the system for decades, I bring firsthand knowledge of its strengths and areas for improvement. I will be a strong, informed voice for students, families, and educators, dedicated to ensuring that every child in Springfield receives the high-quality education they deserve. What letter grade would you give the school system? Why? Rather than assigning a letter grade, I believe it’s more important to assess our progress and identify areas for improvement. Springfield has made strides in early education, graduation rates and support for our learners. However, opportunity gaps, chronic absenteeism and achievement disparities remain. With decades of experience in the district, I am familiar with both its strengths and challenges. My focus is on building on what works and driving targeted, data-informed improvement. What is the biggest challenge the schools face? One of the biggest challenges our schools face is addressing persistent opportunity gaps that affect student achievement. These gaps are influenced by factors such as chronic absenteeism, inconsistent access to resources and varying levels of academic support. To overcome this, we need a strong focus on early intervention, targeted instruction, family engagement and data-driven decision-making. By aligning resources and supports, we can ensure every student has a fair chance to succeed. The school budget is roughly two-thirds of the city budget, and there are concerns about federal and state assistance dropping. How should the School Committee address any loss of funding? The School Committee must prioritize protecting core instructional programs and student services, while ensuring funds are used efficiently. We need to carefully evaluate our spending, align resources with student needs, and pursue grants, partnerships, and alternative funding sources to offset any reductions. Transparent, data-driven budgeting and community input will be essential to make strategic choices that minimize the impact on classrooms and maintain high-quality education for all students. With the MCAS no longer a condition of graduation what should the diploma requirements be? Diploma requirements should reflect a well-rounded education and prepare graduates for real-world readiness. Students should demonstrate mastery of academic standards through multiple measures, including course performance, capstone projects or alternative assessments. Emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, and career and college readiness ensures that a diploma reflects accurate preparation, not just test performance. Clear expectations, strong support systems, and equitable pathways will enable all students to meet rigorous and meaningful graduation standards.
