Dr. Avalin Green to Retire at End of School Year

After 40 years of working in education, Dr. Avalin Green has decided to retire at the end of the school year. Green has left her mark in Westwood and will leave some big shoes to fill.

Green is currently the K-12 Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development for the Westwood School District. Her role has been to ensure that Westwood provides a high quality continuum of education programs for students ranging from preschool to kindergarten, all the way through high school.

She is also there to make sure that teachers have the knowledge and tools to make these programs available for students.

Green is constantly working with teachers and administrators to review and revise programs. She attends the School Committee meetings each month and often makes presentations regarding professional development and other aspects within the district.

“A major part of my job involves working with teachers and administrators to review and revise programs and to plan and provide professional development so that the delivery of instruction matches academic standards and students’ learning needs,” explained Green.

It is Green’s 12th year in the position, but she has been an educator for more than 40 years. She has worked in both independent and public schools.

Green has an undergraduate degree from Middlebury College with a major in political science, a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Virginia, and a Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

She began her career in education as a first-grade teacher in East Longmeadow. She explained that her husband’s business career in commercial real estate brought them to many locations along the east coast.

“Different locations provide me opportunities, and challenges, for working in different school systems and levels,” said Green. “I have taught at different levels and always hated to leave whatever age of students I was teaching.”

Green said that she has been working as an administrator for about 20 years, starting as an Elementary Literacy Coordinator which expanded to include literacy K-12. However, recent positions like the one in Westwood, have included all areas of the curriculum to go along with instruction and professional development.

Green grew up in Stowe, Vermont where she graduated high school. Her father trained Huskies for dog teams and she said that her family even had their own dog team. Green grew up skiing on Mount Mansfield on Friday afternoons and every weekend during the winter. She later married a skier who still teaches at Killington.

She and her husband have a daughter and two sons, who have been raised as avid skiers. Her six grandchildren are also into skiing, continuing the trend.

“All of us are pretty competent shovelers of snow, which has been useful this winter,” Green said jokingly.

Green enjoys vacationing in Chittenden, Vermont, because she said it is a great get-away spot for all seasons. She loves to read and hopes to do more reading and writing following her retirement.

Green said that her favorite part of being in the educational system is the personal connection to students, parents, colleagues and community members.

“I have taught many students, some academically talented, some witty, some empathic, some courageous, all interesting,” said Green. “The same can be said of the colleagues that I have worked with. Many of my connections to students and colleagues have survived job changes.”

As for her thoughts on Westwood, she called it a top-notch school system with talented teachers and administrators who are committed to growth and learning for both themselves and students. She said that likes that teachers and students are encouraged to take risks, work hard and collaborate and support each other.

One person she has worked closely with is Superintendent John Antonucci. He said that he hopes for the best for Green and that he has cherished the time that he has had working alongside her.

“There’s no doubt that she has left some big shoes to fill,” said Antonucci.

One favorite memory of Green’s time involved in education came just a few years ago, when her daughter was talking with a new acquaintance. Green said that while comparing their backgrounds, they discovered they lived in the same town when they were in elementary school and that he had Green as a teacher. Green said that he was a child with special needs before there were the services that exist today for these students.

She said that the young man said, “Tell your mother that I am a special education teacher today because of how she helped me when I was in Elementary school.”

“My tears were tears of gratitude,” said Green. “For a teacher, knowing that you made a positive difference for a student is the greatest reward.”

Now that she will have a bit more time, Green said that she hopes to spend more time with her grandchildren who live in the Boston area, as well as visit her daughter in Virginia. She also said that her husband has some travel ideas that he hopes she will agree to.

While she is officially retiring, Green said that she has had such wonderful experiences as an educator that she plans to stay involved in education.

“I plan to stay connected to education in ways that I am just beginning to explore,” said Green.