Principal Changes In Williamstown Abound
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Superintendent of Schools Rose Ellis announced last month Joelle Brookner as the new Elementary School principal and is opening the search for a new assistant principal at Mount Greylock Regional High School.The Mount Greylock School Committee approved last week eliminating the dean of students position and replacing it with an assistant principal. School officials are now in the process of crafting the vacancy listing and organizing a search committee.
"The position will go out next week," Ellis said on Thursday. "We'd like to get this well in advance for the next semester."
The move intends to focus more effort on academics. The dean of students' role is mainly to enforce discipline, and Ellis previously cited shrinking enrollment numbers and increasing academic demands for the move. The school also has added a full-time psychologist and has launched a new student support center to curb discipline problems.
Middle School Principal Ellen Kaiser will take on an expanded role as curriculum coordinator; the new assistant principal will have an increased role in academics.
"We discussed the ever-growing demands on curriculum," Ellis said. "We're focusing on educational programming."
The position will be paid with the salary previously allocated for the dean of students. The school has $48,897 budgeted for the position.
The search committee will consist of school officials, staff and community members similar to the one that chose Brookner.
Brookner has been a teacher at the elementary school for 18 years and later became the math coach. Last year, she completed an administrative internship under current Principal Steven Johnson. She recently received her state certification.
"She's been part of this school for a number of years," Ellis said. "She has demonstrated very, very good leadership. I think she has all the makings to be a great principal."
Brookner will continue her duties as math coach but will also shadow Johnson for the rest of the school year. She will take over as principal on July 1.
Johnson announced his retirement in December and an 11-member search committee had been pondering hiring his replacement since the beginning of the year. Ellis appointed Brookner based on the committee's recommendation.
Mount Greylock Administration Restructuring
