DR. SUZANNE SCALLION
WESTFIELD – Challenge and opportunity are often the two side of the same coin.
School Superintendent said the school district is winning regardless of which side comes up when the coin is flipped.
The challenge is replacing three key members of the administrative staff who are retiring at the end of the year.
The opportunity, Scallion said, is redefining responsibilities, promoting from within the system and hiring “exceptional” people from outside the district.
“We’ve have three major retirements, three very significant people, which is the reason for this reorganization,” Scallion said. “It’s a once-in-a-lift time opportunity for a school superintendent to structure a leadership team and at a cost savings.”
“My goal is to align these new positions to the district’s strategic plan,” Scallion said
Chief Financial Officer John Kane, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Eileen Jachym and Westfield High School Principal Ray Broderick are all leaving the administrative team that has supported Scallion during the first two years in her tenure in Westfield. Jachym will continue to be involved in the district’s professional development program.
Jonathan Carter of West Springfield has been named the new principal at Westfield High School. Susan Dargie, the current principal of Paper Mill Elementary School, will take over as Director of Curriculum and Instruction, while South Middle School Principal Ron Rix has been appointed to a hybrid post as Director of Technology and Business services, filling in both as the district business manager and pushing technology across the district.
“Ron is leading the district in technology integration at the South Middle School and will now being doing that for the entire district,” Scallion said.
Scallion said the district hired a new South Middle School principal yesterday afternoon, Dennis Duquette, who has served as a middle school principal in Maine and Connecticut.
Duquette, whose cousin is Dan Duquette, was also the dean of students at Gateway Regional High School.
“The teachers on the search team were very impressed with him,” Scallion said. “I think he will be a very good fit because he has a special affinity for middle school students.”
The reorganization also involves Carla Lussier who has served as the principal of Munger Hill Elementary School for the past 12 years and who will bring that experience to the district as a principal on special assignment at Juniper Park Elementary School, Franklin Avenue Elementary School and the Russell Road programs.
Scallion said the student population of Juniper Park has been expanded pending construction of a new elementary school at Cross Street and that the present fourth graders will remain at that location for their fifth grade year, adding three classrooms to the school.
“Carla will also help implement the new evaluation system in the district,” Scallion said.
The reorganization will create two openings in the ranks of principal, at Paper Milll and Munger Hill, which have yet to be filled. Franklin Avenue Principal Leslie Clark-Yvon will serve as a mentor for those new principals. Clark-Yvon and Maggie Adams will be asked to assume district-wide roles.
“I’m asking the principals in the smaller schools, with 200 kids, to take on other duties,” Scallion said.
One of those additional duties will be at the Fort Meadow Early Childhood program which will be staffed with a coordinator this year rather than a principal this year.
“The retirements are what started this chain, this is such a great opportunity and a chance to save money,” Scallion said. “We were able to hire from within to fill two of those positions, which created other openings, opportunities for people in our district to grow and develop professionally.”
