Grammar school leadership teams
are re-designed
By Darrell Halen
MethuenLife Writer
Due to budget shortfalls, administrative teams at the city’s four elementary schools have been revamped. Two schools, Marsh Grammar and Comprehensive Grammar, have one less administrator on site, while the other two schools are sharing the same supervising principal.
Both Marsh and CGS have one supervising principal and an associate principal. This is a change from a three-principal model, which included a supervising principal, a lower school associate principal for pre-kindergarten through Grade 4 and an upper school associate principal for grades 5 through 8.
At CGS, Brandi Kwong serves as the supervising principal while Chris Reeve serves as associate principal.
At Marsh, Rick Beshara, the former lower school principal, is now the supervising principal. He replaces Tim Lannan who took a job outside the school district. JoAnn Lakow is the associate principal.
Each school has one full-time special education administrator.
Meanwhile, Judy Scannell is doing double duty: serving as the supervising principal at both Tenney Grammar School and Timony Grammar School.
Jim Giuca, who served several years as supervising principal at Tenney, is now the top principal at Methuen High School.
Michael Coltin, who had been associate principal of Tenney, is the student service officer, working with agencies and in the court system for at-risk students.
At Tenney, Linda Curetty serves as associate lower school principal while Mary Beth Donovan has started her first year as associate upper school principal.
Timony’s associate principals are Lisa Durkee for the upper school principal and Timothy Miller for the lower school.
Scannell will serve her two roles for the year, and then Superintendent Jeanne Whitten will re-evaluate the situation and decide how to proceed with Scannell’s input.
“I’m very positive about it,” said Whitten of Scannell’s responsibility to oversee two schools. “I’m sure she will do well. She’s highly skilled. It will take some time and perseverance.”
The schools are close in proximity, and Scannell is a talented administrator, Whitten said. Although there are approximately 3,000 students at the two schools combined, Scannell will have the support of six administrators – four associate principals and two special education administrators.
“The (student/administrator) ratio is OK … and there are good teams at both (schools),” said Whitten.
In August, administrators met for a three-day leadership academy where they fine-tuned their action plans for the school year.
Despite the cost-cutting the school district has been forced to make, Whitten remains optimistic about the quality of education in the schools.
“The leadership team … and the teachers are in a good place to achieve success,” said Whitten. “I’m very hopeful. We have good teachers who know their craft.”
Methuen public schools open Sept. 2.
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Rick Beshara
Supervising Principal
Age: 55
Family: wife of 33 years Mary-Ellen; daughter Erin, married to Rob Prindle, Methuen Police officer; son Brad engaged to Gisette Cabrera; three grandsons, Drew and Brady Prindle, Noah Beshara
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Worked how many years in education? Entering 30th year
Different positions held in Methuen schools? Classroom teacher, Supervisor of Title I, Lower School Associate Principal, Supervising Principal
What changes would you like to implement this school year? Continue to improve Balanced Literacy in elementary grades. Also to use benchmark testing as a way to drive instruction for all teachers.
Biggest challenge this upcoming school year? Being the Supervising Principal, as well as, being responsible for the Lower School. The Marsh Grammar School is down an administrator and a secretary from last year. This will put a lot of pressure on myself to be visible throughout the building, yet the Lower School is my main responsibility.
What are you looking forward to most? I’m looking forward to my new position and being in Upper School classes as well as the Lower School classrooms. I am also looking forward to the yearly PTO events that the school sponsors such as the Fall Festival, Holiday Store, Santa Parade, Festival of Trees, Jigsaw Jamboree, Pasta Dinner, Ice Cream Social, and Fun Day for the Lower School. These events are all social events that I get to interact with children and their families at a different level, as well as the children seeing me in a different light.
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JoAnn Lakow
Associate Principal
Age: 55
Family: Husband of 33 years, Les; sons Jonathan, 27, and Robert, 25; dog Duncan
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Worked how many years in education? 24-plus.
Different positions held in Methuen schools?
In September 1992, I was hired by Jim Smith at Tenney Middle School as a 7th-grade math/reading teacher. I made the move to Marsh in its temporary home (aka “the bank”) for one year as a 7th-grade math/science/reading teacher. I started at the new Marsh Grammar School building in fall 1998 as an 8th-grade math and algebra teacher. Although I earned my master’s degree many years ago, and had already taken 60 credits beyond that, I enrolled in the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in Educational Leadership in January 2003. I was hired as the Upper School Associate Principal in June 2006.
What changes would you like to implement this school year?
One of the changes that the leadership team discussed last year is the concept of intervention – having all students able to access extra help or enrichment activities, when needed, during the school day. I have created a schedule for the Upper School students that provides that time, on a weekly basis.
Biggest challenge this upcoming school year?
Reaching out to all students, and their families – to have us all think of the Marsh as “our” community. My favorite acronym – T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More). An additional challenge is to appropriately acknowledge positive student behaviors. When I started 3 years ago, I extended gold slips up through grade 6 and instituted Marsh STARs (Standing Together As Role-model Students) for 7th- and 8th-graders.
What are you looking forward to most?
I look forward to the first day of school – the anticipation and enthusiasm (students and staff) is contagious! I love to see how the children have changed in just a few short months and how excited they all are to be back.
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Timothy J. Miller,
Lower School
Associate Principal
Age: 48
Family: Married for 23 years to Meg Miller. Five children ages 20, 17, 14, 10, 9.
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Worked how many years in education? 22 years
Different positions held in Methuen schools? This is the only position that I’ve held in Methuen.
What changes would you like to implement this school year? We would like to continue to implement the school and district initiatives.
Biggest challenge this upcoming school year? To continue on our established path to educational success while working within the confines of the recent changes made due to budget and financial concerns.
What are you looking forward to most? Continuing to move forward with the outstanding staff at the Timony creating a positive culture of success.
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Linda Curetty
Associate Principal Lower School
Worked how many years in education? 12
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Different positions held in Methuen schools?
This school year will be my second year as the Associate Principal Lower School at the Tenney Grammar.
What changes would you like to implement this school year? Continue to work on helping our students to achieve to their highest levels.
What are you looking forward to most? Continue working with our students, teachers and parents.
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Brandi Lee Kwong, Ed.D
Supervising Principal
Age: 36
Family: Married with one daughter Emma, 5 years old
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Worked how many years in education? 13 years
Different positions held in Methuen schools? Associate Principal 5-8 CGS from 2002-2004, Supervising Principal PK-8 CGS 2004-present
What changes would you like to implement this school year? More consistent communication with parents using connected (automated phone system for school). I also want to initiate more consistent communication with staff and students as well about events and activities school-wide. I will continue to encourage implementation of district-wide initiatives such as balanced literacy, differentiated instruction, and the scope and sequences for ELA, math, science and social studies.
Biggest challenge this upcoming school year? Mr. Reeve and I will be dividing up all of the administrative responsibilities PK-8. It will undoubtedly force us to be extremely organized and communicate regularly with each other and the CGS parents, students and staff.
What are you looking forward to most? I always look forward to seeing all the students each September, but it is especially exciting to meet our new kindergarten students as they begin their formal education for the first time. The best aspect of my job is that I can see the academic progression of the students year to year for nine years. It is amazing how quickly the students grow and learn and how hard the students, parents and teachers work at the CGS to make this school one of the best in the Merrimack Valley. The current 8th-graders were in first grade when I first came to the CGS, so I have seen them through their elementary years and middle school years, which is great.
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Christopher Reeve,
Associate Principal
Age: 37
Family: wife Joanne, children Liam, 8; Seamus, 6; John Joe, 4; and Siobhan, 2.
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Worked how many years in education? 12
Different positions held in Methuen schools? None, but most recently came from the Boston Public School where I was a 7th-grade Language Arts teacher and director of instruction my last year.
What changes would you like to implement this school year? I continually look to improve communication with parents, staff and students. Additionally, I will look to support the districts initiative to differentiate instruction for our students.
Biggest challenge this upcoming school year? Working more closely with Lower School issues. It is always something I have done as the Upper School Associate Principal for the past four years, but now it is in a more expanded, official capacity.
What are you looking forward to most? Seeing the students again. Situations always change in the workplace from year to year in some capacity; it’s working with the kids on a daily basis that is the biggest and most rewarding constant in schools.
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Judith Scannell
Supervising Principal Tenney/Timmony Grammar Schools
Family: Married, one daughter
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Worked how many years in education? 33
Different positions held in Methuen? Classroom teacher, upper and lower level; curriculum specialist; Gifted and Talented Program coordinator/teacher; associate principal; supervising principal.
What changes would you like to implement this school year? Create a culture of continuous learning for students tied to community goals. Initiative 2009/2010 school year is the theme of RESPECT.
Biggest challenge this upcoming school year? Continue the smooth running of two K-8 buildings in positive direction.
What are you looking forward to the most? The excitement, curiosity and enthusiasm of the children when they walk through the doors.
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Lisa Marie Durkee Upper School
Associate Principal
Age: 41
Family: Husband Peter Durkee, children Cameron, 13, Cayla, 11, and Connor, 7, as well as three dogs.
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Worked how many years in education? 14 years, nine years as a special education teacher, five years as an administrator.
Different positions held in Methuen schools? This is the only position that I have held in Methuen.
What changes would you like to implement this school year? We will be continuing our initiative that support the school’s and district’s improvement plans.
Biggest challenge this upcoming school year? To continue to support positive growth for the school and the district despite of the current budget situation.
What are you looking forward to the most? I am looking forward to working with our excellent Timony staff, supporting their initiatives and celebrating excellence in our Timony students.
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Mary Beth Donovan
Associate Principal
Upper School
Family: Husband, Tom Grassi; children Caroline, a sophomore at Brandeis University, and Christopher, sophomore at Methuen High.
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Worked how many years in education? 10 years
Different positions held in Methuen schools? Eighth-grade Language Arts teacher at Tenney
What changes would you like to implement this school year? Continue to work on team building and collegiality with the staff and to help students better understand the value and power of an education.
Biggest challenge this upcoming school year? Moving from a teaching position to an administrative position.
What are you looking forward to most? Working with our great staff, great students and great parents.
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