The METCO program, is a staple in the Marblehead Public School System, one that has lasted, as of this school calendar, for 50 years. Along with this momentous occasion comes a new director, Jessica Castro, a METCO parent who has served Boston neighborhoods for over ten years through various community outreach roles.
Castro has big ambitions for her work in Marblehead, including exposing Marblehead to the Boston side of the METCO program, fostering mentorships between the middle and high school METCO students, and breaking down the barriers between the commuting and noncommuting students of Marblehead. It is clear that although Castro just began her position, she is eager to create a positive impact.
Many students do not understand the daily routine of a METCO student. In order to get to school, commuting students will wake up before 5:00a.m. to get to the bus, then spending over an hour traveling to Marblehead. In fact, Marblehead is the furthest district for METCO. “The brunt of their day they’re in transportation,” tells Castro. With this in mind, she emphasizes the importance of being understanding. “Have some empathy,” she says.
Although new to the job, Castro already has immense respect for her students. “Their day is difficult, I guess the great thing about them is that they’re resilient. Not everyone can do that so I’m proud of them for being able to have that commitment.”
As for the potential mentor program, Castro explains the idea’s origin. “There seems to be a disconnect between the younger students and the older students…Why is that disconnect happening and how do we support them coming into the high school?” Castro attributes the idea to the METCO PCO, a group of METCO parents who collaborate to make the program’s events outside of school a success.
Castro admits that work that can be done to improve the relationship between Marblehead and the METCO program, “I want to see more of a partnership and things to just be more free-flowing,” she says. “We speak of them as METCO students but…how do (we), even myself, get away from just saying no they’re MHD students, but they’re commuting versus non-commuting.”
Along with this, Castro wants the Boston aspect of the program to be more visible to the Marblehead community. “I want bridges from Boston to Marblehead and Marblehead back to Boston,” she says. “It’s important for Marblehead to understand Boston families and… the city, just as it’s important for the METCO students to understand the Marblehead community.”
Despite these potential improvements, Castro stresses the significance of the Marblehead-Boston partnership. “I think without (it), it would be a disservice to both sides. One for Boston students coming in, it’s teaching them to be resilient at a very early age.” Castro also mentions the benefits for Marblehead, “It provides diversity… it provides a different way of seeing things,” she says. “Boston students and Marblehead students are two different students. What do we bring to each other so that we can be okay with each other?”
If students or community members ever have a question about the program, don’t be afraid to ask. “If people don’t know they just don’t know,” she says, “We have to be okay with that.” And although Castro is the METCO director, she emphasizes her role in educating the community. “I’m here to help educate parents, students, and faculty around everything that needs to happen,” she says.
The Marblehead community looks forward to seeing the positive impact of Jessica Castro, as well as to helping her to building bridges to Boston and back.