Matt Collins
WESTFIELD – In a statement released by St. Mary’s parish pastor Fr. Frank Lawlor this morning, he announced the choice of long time Westfield resident, Matthew Collins as their next principal.
Collins, currently Assistant Principal at Hampshire Regional High School since 2015, will be returning to an environment he knows well having attended St. Mary’s schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade and graduating in 1992.
Collins and his wife, Lynn, who is an educator in the parish elementary school, have five children who all attended St. Mary’s with the eldest having graduated in 2017. They reside in Westfield.
Holding a Masters of Education Degrees in Special Services and in Educational Leadership, Collins had also previously held the position of St. Mary’s Athletic Director for many years.
Collins replaces long time Westfield educator Kathy Friguglietti who was hired on an interim basis.
When reached for comment, Parish School Board President Erin Carrier said, “The St. Mary’s community is happy to welcome home one of its own, Mathew Collins. He comes back to us with over twenty years of experience in education as an administrator and special education teacher and is ready now to invest his time and talent into his alma mater, St. Mary’s High School, as school Principal. Mr. Collins brings a 21st century educational perspective that will complement our traditional values. He will contribute to the already positive things happening at St. Mary’s and lead us as we embark on the next 100 years of educating Westfield’s young people. We invite prospective families to meet Mr. Collins and check out what St. Mary’s has to offer at our Open House on Tuesday May 22.”
