WESTFIELD – Stefan Czaporowski, Superintendent of Schools, announced that three finalists have been selected for the Paper Mill Elementary School Principal opening.
In releasing these names, Superintendent Czaporowski commented, “The depth of the Paper Mill Elementary School candidate pool was impressive and has resulted in three great finalists.”
The three finalists are:
Melanie Chasse
In her letter, Melanie Chasse, an Enfield resident, wrote of her vision that, “As a leader I have learned that changing the heart of each individual teacher and staff member leads to improved practice in the classroom and therefore the entire school.” Her application continued to include seven leadership values which in part include, “Putting students at the center of each decision I make; Parents and families as partners in their child’s education; and cultivating teachers as leaders.”
Ms. Chasse’s bachelor’s degree in elementary education is from the University of Maine at Farmington and she earned a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Southern Maine.
From 2003-2005, Ms. Chasse was the Technology Coordinator at Jay Elementary School in Maine. She then went on to be an Apple Training Coordinator for four years. From 2009 – 2015, Ms. Chasse served as the Meroby Elementary School Principal in Mexico, Maine. She served as the Assistant Superintendent in Poland, Maine, from 2015 – 2016. Currently, she is the Superintendent of Schools for Monhegan Island School in Maine.
Laura Creanza
Laura Creanza earned her bachelor’s degree from Western New England College focusing on Elementary Education and Psychology; a master’s in moderate disabilities from College of Our Lady of the Elms and a certificate of advanced graduate studies in educational leadership from American International College.
Ms. Creanza wrote in her application that “I support our safe and caring learning environment by being a key member of the school improvement council, parent teacher organization and leading staff in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports.”
Ms. Creanza is completing her first year as the Assistant Principal at Paper Mill Elementary School. From 2012-2017 she was a third grade teacher at Stony Hill School in Wilbraham. Prior to that, she was a third grade teacher at Holyoke Community Charter School for three years. She is a resident of Agawam.
Debra Grainsky
A resident of West Hartford, Debra Grainsky received both her bachelor’s degree and master’s in special education from the University of Connecticut. She has taken additional coursework from the University of Hartford in special education as well as supervision and evaluation. In her application letter, she wrote of her commitment to “high achievement for all students by forming professional learning communities to align curriculum, collect and analyze data, and use results to inform instruction.”
Ms. Graninsky’s numerous professional credits include special education teacher; curriculum specialist, special education department chair, instructional coach, assistant principal in Avon, Connecticut, and principal in Newington, Connecticut. She has been with the Winchester Connecticut Public Schools since 2013 and has served as the Director of Curriculum/Principal of Hinsdale School (2 years), Principal of Hinsdale School (1 year) and Principal of the Batcheller School –her current position.
Finalists will be in the district and at Paper Mill Elementary School on June 11th and June 12th. All finalists will be meeting with staff, students, administrators and Central Office Administrators. Parents, guardians, and staff members are invited to meet and greet the candidates at Paper Mill Elementary School on Tuesday June 12, 2018. Each candidate will meet with community members individually beginning at 6:00 p.m.
“I encourage all stakeholders to meet with the finalists and provide me with feedback,” noted Superintendent Czaporowski.
The finalists were selected after a Screening Committee comprised of Paper Mill parents and staff, a district elementary principal and Central Administrators reviewed all qualified applicants and interviewed a great pool of candidates. Superintendent Czaporowski accepted the slate of candidates from the Screening Committee on Wednesday, May 30, 2018.
According to Superintendent Czaporowski, “We are providing Paper Mill stakeholders the opportunity to meet the finalists and offer me with input prior to my selection of the new principal. I valued the input from the Franklin Avenue principal search so I am eagerly awaiting the Paper Mill search feedback.”
