Students, teacher Thomas Thornton, and Lowell Police stand together following an Introduction to Criminal Justice Pathways class at Lowell High School. (Courtesy Lowell Police Department)
LOWELL — Lowell Police Superintendent Greg Hudon and Lowell Public Schools Superintendent Liam Skinner are pleased to report that the Lowell Police Department has partnered with Lowell Public Schools to create a class in Criminal Justice at Lowell High School.
The Introduction to Criminal Justice Pathways course at Lowell High School began on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The elective class will provide students with an overview of the Criminal Justice System and will focus in on the various career pathways that a background in Criminal Justice can lead to.
The class was developed as a result of a conversation between Superintendent Hudon and Superintendent of Schools Liam Skinner. Superintendent Hudon approached Superintendent Skinner about a possible class that would help increase student interest in possible careers in the criminal justice system, and Superintendent Skinner shared support.
Lowell High School Head of School Mike Fiato and Lowell Police Capt. Matthew Penrose were assigned to craft a course, and Principal Fiato created a team led by Social Studies Department Head Dr. Amy Gerade to assist.
Over the past two months, Capt. Penrose, Principal Fiato and Dr. Gerade worked with their team to perform extensive research on how to develop a Criminal Justice course and also visited other Criminal Justice classes in the area.
The Lowell Police Department has dedicated a School Resource Officer to assist Instructor Thomas Thornton with teaching the class. Organizers are also working with several other agencies so the class can hear from subject matter experts about their roles within specific criminal justice fields, such as law enforcement, corrections, prosecution, criminal defense, and more.
Agencies that will be sending representatives to the class include the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Department of Correction, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the Lowell Justice Center.
“I want to thank Superintendent Skinner for his openness to this innovative idea. Our partnership with Lowell Public Schools is invaluable, and this class is yet another way in which we’ve been able to work together,” said Superintendent Hudon. “We hope this class will help students identify career paths that they want to pursue, and that it will also drive up interest in potential careers in law enforcement.”
“The creation of this Criminal Justice course at Lowell High School is an incredible opportunity for our diverse student body to be exposed to and learn about the multitude of career pathways available to them in criminal justice,” said Superintendent of Schools Liam Skinner. “I am tremendously grateful for Lowell Public Schools’ strong partnership with the Lowell Police Department and for everything the officers do for our students each and every day. The creation of this course exemplifies what community partnership is all about.
