Meet Jennifer Fischer-Mueller of Canton Public Schools

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Fischer-Mueller.

Jennifer, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In the early spring of 2016, as I was the Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning in the Brookline Public Schools, a friend who was applying to multiple superintendent positions saw that Canton was hiring and encouraged me to look into it. I did. I became very interested in the Canton superintendent position and, therefore, applied. This was the only position for which I applied.

I was first introduced to the Canton community back in 2002 by a Brookline colleague and long-time resident of Canton. With great pride, she described a community steeped in tradition and supportive of their public schools. I feel strongly that to be a great town, you need great schools. The Canton community seemed to understand that. The community is rightfully proud of their great community and committed to the ongoing support and push for their schools to meet the same standard.

I came to Canton having never been a superintendent; now, I’m beginning my third year. I have been in education for over 30 years. Public education is truly my passion. My work as superintendent is informed most by my 13 years of teaching and 20-plus years of being a parent. Regularly, I see the importance of understanding the perspectives of multiple stakeholders – students, parents, teachers and administrators.

I remember my Canton interview well. That day I had planned to be in kindergarten classrooms in Brookline. I was dressed more casually that usual. As it turned out, due to a situation in the Brookline community, we had to go into a lockdown in one of the schools. Immediately, I went to the school to support the principal.

I stayed all day while she led her building-based team in the proper protocol and communicated well with everyone in the school and the families. After the lockdown was terminated and school ended, I stayed with the principal to debrief the day. We talked for a long time. I knew that I was jeopardizing my ability to go home after work and prepare for my Canton interview. I made the decision to stay at school with the principal and show up to a very important interview in casual clothes, not the outfit I picked out the night before. I thought, “Oh well. We’ll see.” That evening, I drove directly from Brookline to Canton.

The interview strengthened my belief that there was a potential match here. I grew to love Canton more and more as the process continued. The Canton School Committee, parents, administrators, teachers and students were all able to tell me how they loved the sense of community in the schools and, in different ways, how the schools could be even better.

The commitment to tradition and the desire to improve was the foundation upon which our Strategic Framework was built. Our Strategic Framework not only outlines ambitious long-term objectives, it also describes why these objectives are important, what we need to do and how we need to do it, in order to become the premier school district that the Canton community envisions.

I start my third year as the superintendent of the Canton Public Schools with great optimism and excitement. Canton is a great community with great schools!

Jennifer C. Fischer-Mueller joined the Canton Public Schools as Superintendent in July 2016. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning in the Public Schools of Brookline from 2002 to 2016. Her former administrative positions have included Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Professional Development, Amherst, NH and Dean of Faculty, Souhegan High School, Amherst, NH. For a total of thirteen years, Dr. Fischer-Mueller taught science at Souhegan High School, Hollis/Brookline High School, Hollis, NH, and Spaulding Junior High School, Rochester, NH. As a teacher, she received a variety of awards and achievements, including Tandy Technology Excellence in Science Teaching Award and the honor of CitiBank National Faculty. Dr. Fischer-Mueller holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of New Hampshire, along with a Doctorate of Education, from the University of Massachusetts/Lowell.

Has it been a smooth road?
I think the biggest obstacle for me in Canton is the time to build the necessary relationships. Every year I’m here is extremely valuable. More time gives me more opportunities to come to know the Canton community, both within the schools and beyond.

More time also gives me more experience. Another challenge my first year in Canton was that it was also my first year as superintendent. I have a lot of experience with “firsts” both professionally and personally. I’ve benefitted greatly from formal and informal mentors in my life.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Canton Public Schools story. Tell us more about the business.
The town of Canton is located in southeastern MA, approximately 15 miles south of Boston. Canton has a population of approximately 22,000 residents.

The Canton Public Schools includes three elementary schools: Dean S. Luce School (498 students), John F. Kennedy School (533 students) and the Lt. Peter F. Hansen School (475 students); one middle school, William H. Galvin Middle School (738 students); one high school, Canton High School (984 students); and a preschool program at the Marilyn G. Rodman Educational and Administrative Center (108 students). The school system is grounded in its vision, mission and core values, and driven by the strategic objectives and areas of focus within the Strategic Framework, with an operating budget of approximately $42 million.

Annually Canton High School enjoys awards in the performing and visual arts, sports, robotics and mathematics.

As reported in the Town of Canton 2017 Annual Report
Demographics 2012 and 2017
The chart below shows the race/ethnicity percentages of the Canton Public Schools student population in 2012 (total enrollment 3250) and 2017 (total enrollment 3325, not including ungraded students). Over this time, there has been an increase in the percentages of students who identify as African American/Black (1.9%), Asian (2.9%), Hispanic (1.4%) and multi-race non-Hispanic (1.1%). There has been a decrease in the percentages of students identifying as White (-7.5%).

Race/Ethnicity
% in 2012
% in 2017
Difference
African American/Black
8.8
10.7
+1.9
Asian
7.5
10.4
+2.9
Hispanic
3.2
4.6
+1.4
Native American
.1
0
-0.1
White
76.9
69.4
-7.5
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Island
0
.2
+0.2
Multi-race Non-Hispanic
3.6
4.7
+1.1
Total Enrollment
3250
3325
+75

Other Student Sub-Groups

% in 2012
% in 2017
Difference
Limited English Proficient
1.2
2.3
+1.1
Students with Disabilities
14.4
12.1
-2.3
Economically Disadvantaged
13.0
13.4
+0.4
Total Enrollment
3250
3325
+75

In September 2017, the School Committee approved the District’s 2017-2022 Strategic Framework, which outlines four Long-term Strategic Objectives:
• Achieving Educational Excellence and Ensuring Equity
• Cultivating School Climate and Culture
• Transforming Teaching and Learning
• Achieving District Excellence

The Long-term Strategic Objectives within the Strategic Framework represent a major advance in our efforts to provide the Canton community with a forward-thinking, well-managed, and responsive educational program for all students. The Strategic Framework is a foundational resource that guides conversations and decision-making related to all aspects of CPS work, including program, pedagogy, budget, human resources, and organizational structure.

The Core Values of the Canton Public Schools continue to stand as the district’s description of the climate and culture we aspire to create:
• Academic Excellence and Rigor
• Inclusive and Engaged Community
• Respectful and Responsible Relationships
• Continuous Reflection and Improvement

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Our Strategic Framework and Facilities Master Plan will serve as our guides in the future. Together these documents blend our vision of education with state-of-the-art facilities in order to serve Canton students and the community for decades to come.

Contact Info:

• Address: Canton Public Schools Office of the Superintendent
  960 Washington St. Canton MA 02021
• Website: http://www.cantonma.org/pages/CantonPublicSchools
• Phone: 781-821-5060
• Email: fischer-muellerj@cantonma.org

Image Credit:
Jennifer Fischer-Mueller
CHS Math Team and teachers
CHS Robotics Team
Strategic Framework (front and back)

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