JOSEPH TURMEL
SOUTHWICK – Joseph Turmel was named the new principal of Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School (STRGRHS) yesterday.
Turmel was selected by the regional school committee following interviews with four candidates Tuesday night.
Superintendent Dr. John Barry said all the candidates were well qualified, but Turmel has a combination of experience, vision and commitment the committee and Barry were looking for.
“He rose to the level of coming in first,” Barry said. “His references spoke very highly of him and he wants o make a commitment to the school and community.”
Turmel is currently the principal of the Lee combined middle and high school. He held the assistant principal position there from 2006-2012 when he became principal. Prior to that he was an English teacher and athletic director at St. Mary High School. Turmel received his Bachelors degree from Assumption College and his Masters in Education from Endicott College. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Other finalists interviewed this week were the current STGRHS Assistant Principal William Metzger, Minnechaugh Regional Assistant Principal Nicole Smith, and Agawam High School Assistant Principal Sheila Hoffman.
Each candidate was asked the same series of questions by the committee in a public session. The candidates were all given two questions prior to the interview and were asked to be prepared to discuss their answers at the interview. The first question was about how the candidate would orient him or herself into the school district and community, and the second was about their preliminary plan for transition to a combined 7-12 school.
Turmel handed out his entry plan, created based on his experience and review of existing school policies. He said he looked at the five goals outlined on the district website for both the high school and middle school in creating his plan.
“Through this I could gain an understanding and foster relationships with teachers,” he said. “Then I would focus on the buildings and relationships with people in the community.”
Once school began, Turmel would work on forging relationships with students and parents.
“I’d host open houses and coffee hours,” Turmel said. “Understanding this is a three-town district, I would go out into the communities.”
Turmel, a married father of five, said his wife was also eager to become part of the community. He said being a parent himself made him more aware of the needs of students and he believes they need to be protected and empowered, as do the faculty and staff.
As far as the transition, Turmel said keeping open lines of communication with parents, students, teachers and the community at large was the key to a smooth transition.
“I’ve had the opportunity to experience this change and experience first-hand the challenges presented in this move,” Turmel said.
Turmel was asked what “stamp” he would put on the school.
“Raising expectations of all learners and creating a climate and culture where students feel respected,” Turmel responded.
Turmel’s leadership style is that of empowerment, he told the committee and audience of teachers, parents, and interested residents.
When asked to discuss his personal opinion of the amount of testing required of students today, Turmel said there are a lot of tests, but they provide data and feedback crucial to assessment.
Turmel was asked what he hoped the perception of him would be after his first year as principal.
“That they want me back,” he joked.
Seriously, Turmel said he hoped people would think that there was a safe environment for students and “we were more than competent in communicating with parents.”
Turmel will take over the position from Principal Pamela Hunter who is retiring at the end of June. Barry said Turmel will likely start on July 1.
