MTA Today - Fall 2015

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By Bob Duffy

F ifteen years after he became a spokesperson for the MTA Red Sox Reading Game, pitcher Pedro Martinez was back this year — this time as the subject of the book featured in reading game materials.

To honor Martinez, who was recently inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, New England native and author/illustrator Matt Tavares wrote “Growing Up Pedro.” The book tells the story of Martinez growing up in the Dominican Republic and falling in love with the game of baseball, then realizing his dream to become a Major League player.

Another Red Sox pitcher, Craig Breslow, was the team’s spokesman for the MTA Red Sox Reading Game this year, as he was in 2014.

Breslow, who is also the team’s representative to the Major League Baseball Players Association, took a brief paternity leave last June to celebrate the birth of twins.

The reading game got underway in
the spring, with students in kindergarten
through eighth grade each pledging to
read nine books over the summer.

The pledge cards of 100 students were drawn randomly from among the thousands submitted, and those students and their teachers received two tickets each to a Sox game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 5. Five grand prize winners were also selected to join Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster and MTA President Barbara Madeloni on the field for a special ceremony prior to the game.

Another annual MTA-Red Sox partnership, the Most Valuable Educator program, recognizes great educators and staff at public schools throughout Massachusetts. Those chosen are also invited onto the field for a pregame celebration.

Sarah McKeon, co-president of the Framingham Teachers Association, was one of those chosen this season.

“I was honored to be chosen as a Red Sox Most Valuable Educator,” McKeon said. “It was a dream come true to be on the field at Fenway Park

Grand prize winners of the 2015 Red Sox Reading Game joined Wally the Green Monster, MTA President Barbara Madeloni and University of Massachusetts Lowell mascot Rowdy the River Hawk at a Red Sox game on Sept. 5. Left to right are winners Aubrey Legrow of Beverly, Connor Rheaume of West Springfield, Ethan Warhaftig of Hingham and Lilah Michaud of Shrewsbury. Winner Quintin Furtado of Westport is not pictured.

Photo courtesy of Boston Red Sox

Educators seek legislative support for early education

Somerville Teachers Association, were on a panel supporting the bill.

“In Fall River, 55 percent of our children entering kindergarten have had no preschool experience as compared to 28 percent statewide. This means that many of our children enter the classroom for the first time with limited social experiences and greater academic needs,” Cusick said.

Lawrence spoke about the successes she has seen in her district as preK and kindergarten programs have expanded.

“I believe this should serve
as a model for all of our cities and
towns,” she said. “In high-quality
prekindergarten and kindergarten
classrooms, students learn to be
learners, explorers and citizens.”
MTA President Barbara Madeloni,
who also testified in support of the
bill, cautioned against any approach
that would over-regulate the education
process by requiring constant data
collection on the Commonwealth’s
youngest students.