Two finalists have been selected for principal of Franklin Avenue Elementary School. (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD – Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski invited parents, guardians and staff to meet the two finalists for principal of Franklin Avenue Elementary School on Tuesday at 5:30 and 6:00 p.m.
Czaporowski said the finalists were selected after a screening committee comprised of Franklin Avenue parents and staff, a district elementary principal and central administrators reviewed all qualified applicants and interviewed a pool of candidates.
“I am impressed by the school based background of all candidates and connection with students,” Czaporowski said.
The two finalists are:
Chris Tolpa-Matuszczak
Chris Tolpa-Matuszczak has been serving as the Interim Principal at Franklin Avenue School since January 2018. She has been with the district for 20 years, beginning as assistant principal at Westfield High School for three years.
For the past 17 years, Tolpa-Matuszczak has been the Supervisor of Humanities (social studies, art, English foreign language, and music curriculums). She was also an English Teacher in West Springfield for almost six years.
Christine Wenz
Christine Wenz has 21 years of experience in education. After receiving her Bachelors from North Adams State College, she began as a preschool teacher and served as director for three years in Framingham MA. She became a Math/Science Teacher at a private school in Webster MA for eleven years, while also attaining her Masters in Elementary Education.
Wenz served as the Technology Integration Specialist at the Peter Thacher Elementary School in Attleboro for three years. She also completed her CAGS in School Administration. In 2014, she began her role as Assistant Principal at Peter Thacher Elementary School.
Both candidates will be interviewing all day on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. They will be meeting with staff, students, and central office administrators during the day.
Parents, guardians, and staff members are invited to meet and greet the candidates at Franklin Avenue Elementary School on Tuesday April 3, 2018. Each candidate will meet with community members individually for thirty minutes beginning at 5:30 p.m.
“I look forward to all stakeholders’ input on each finalist in order to help direct my selection of the new principal of Franklin Avenue Elementary School,” Czaporowski said, adding, “I am pleased that this hiring process has expanded to include these opportunities.”
