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Our Impact
Our Staff
Our History
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About Us
Our Ultimate goal is to support families in their educational journey. We make sure children are ready to succeed and parents learn enough English to succeed at work, school and in the community.
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Together We Read, We Learn, We Succeed
Our Impact
Children
Served/Yr
Adults
Served/Yr
Program
Length
65
40
2 Year
85%
Graduation
Rate
30
Yearly
Volunteers
Our Alumni
Increase their income or advance careers
Continue their education
Build long term stability for their families
“ Studying at the W.F.S has been a wonderful opportunity with my son. I have learned so many exceptional things about how to give the best education to our children and to guide them toward a successful future.”
- WFS 2024 Graduate
Dedication. Expertise. Passion
Our Staff
Our team is a diverse, consisting of educators who resonate with the heritage of our families to experts specialized in educational fields. We are a team of people passionate about teamwork and serving our community.
Jackie Herrera
Program Coordinator
As an immigrant from El Salvador and college graduate, Jackie brings deep personal knowledge of the experiences of Waltham Family School families, and a passion for serving the immigrant community. Her vision is to continue building the organization’s strong foundation, and expand its reach. Jackie's extensive experience in nurturing relationships and cultivating trust throughout the community directly benefits her role. She is dedicated to providing support for Waltham Family School children and families as they strive to achieve their educational, professional, and community aspirations.
Our History
Founded in 2003
The Waltham Family School was founded in 2003 by the Waltham Partnership for Youth through funding from the U.S. Department of Education Even Start initiative. These programs were created to strengthen family literacy through a four-part model: adult education, early childhood education, parenting education, and interactive parent-child learning. Serving low-income families with young children, the program also provided essential support such as childcare and staff training to ensure families could fully participate.
Building the Future
Britta McNemar was selected to lead the school, where she built the initial team, developed the curriculum, and recruited the first families, laying the groundwork for Waltham Family School is today.
Sustaining our Mission
In 2014, the Friends of the Waltham Family School, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was established by members of the WFS Advisory Council. This ensured continued support and sustainability for the school’s mission. Today, Waltham Family School continues to empower families through education, opportunity, and community.
Challenges
In the early 2000s, federal funding for Even Start programs was eliminated under George W. Bush. Programs across Massachusetts were forced to compete for limited state funding, reducing the number of programs significantly. Despite these challenges, Waltham Family School remained one of the few programs to continue, demonstrating its strength, impact, and commitment to the community.
510 Moody Street
Waltham, MA 02453
Phone: 781-314-5696
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