Highland Elementary School (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – Superintendent of Schools Stefan Czaporowski announced that Andrea Bishop and Jill Phelan are the finalists for the principal position at Highland Elementary School.
Parents, guardians and staff members are invited to meet and greet the candidates at the school Feb. 13. Each candidate will meet with community members individually for 30 minutes beginning at 5:30 p.m.
“Based upon the classroom and administrative background of these candidates, I believe that the students and Highland Elementary School will be well served by either one of these candidates,” Czaporowski said.
Bishop earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Framingham State University and her Master’s Degree from Fitchburg State College, both in education. She has over 25 years in public education, serving as an elementary school teacher for three years in Needham Public Schools and eight years in Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District. Additionally, at the Ashburnham-Westminsters Regional School District, she served as an assistant principal for five years and a principal for seven years. Bishop was also a Principal in West Boylston for two years.
Bishop believes that the, “social and emotional learning is the foundation of strong academic experience and a strong student to educator connection is vital to a child’s’ academic, social and emotional success at school,” according to the announcement.
Phelan has been with Westfield Public Schools since 2016, serving as the interim principal at Highland Elementary School since September, 2019. Previously, she was the assistant principal at Highland Elementary School for three years. Additionally, Phelan served as a grade two teacher in Chicopee for 11 years and as kindergarten teacher in Springfield for four years. Her undergraduate degree from Western New England College is in psychology and her Master’s degree from Springfield College is in early childhood education.
Phelan said that her educational mission includes in part, “to promote an environment of respect, teamwork, and cooperation with staff and I look to coordinate my efforts with families to ensure students receive the attention and supports they need.”
Czaporowski is seeking feedback regarding both candidates. “I will take into consideration the input of all stakeholders as I determine who will lead the Highland Elementary School,” he said.
