A panel of local leaders, including PPS Superintendent Carol Kelley, came together last week for a conversation about education, development, and affordable housing. The discussion was  part of the week-long Joint Effort/Safe Streets series of events.

Mayor Mark Freda, Dr. Kelley, Council members Leighton Newlin and Mia Sacks, as well as other community leaders, spoke about issues facing the community such as the challenge of creating affordable housing and the impact of growth in Princeton.

“We have our eyes on the future in terms of the growth in town,” said Dr. Kelley, noting that Princeton High School will open a new wing in the fall with new classrooms and new collaborative spaces.

Dr. Kelley said that last year, her first year in Princeton and her tenth year as a superintendent, her goals included building on successful academic practices already in place. “When I arrived in Princeton, I wanted to get to know the community as quickly as I possibly could,” she said.

As she begins her second year as superintendent, her goals include helping all students attain academic success. For the youngest pupils, she described new methods to quickly identify students who need help with reading. “We know that reading is foundational for our students’ success,” she said.

In the new school year, the district will use an expanded multi-tiered system of support that proactively identifies students who need help, using assessments and early interventions.

The Joint Effort/Safe Streets events are organized by John Bailey and the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Association.