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Date: 9/3/2015
WILBRAHAM – Two vacancies have been filled in-house by the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (HWRSD) – one for an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and another for Minnechaug Regional High School principal.
The district recently announced Minnechaug Principal Stephen Hale as the successor of former Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Tim Connor, who left for a similar position in West Springfield Public Schools in July.
Minnechaug’s new principal is John Derosia, who previously served as an associate principal at the high school.
Superintendent of Schools M. Martin O’Shea said during the School Committee’s Aug. 25 meeting the district “did not find any candidate that matched” Hale for the position.
“I’m very excited about seeing the work that the district does from a different perspective,” Hale said. “This is kind of an opportunity to see how all the pieces fit together and the good work that’s being done.”
O’Shea said Hale is a Wilbraham resident who has served HWRSD since 2005. Prior to being chosen to lead Minnechaug in 2009, Hale served as principal of Wilbraham Middle School and Soule Road Elementary School.
Before he arrived in the district, Hale worked as an assistant principal for Westfield Public Schools from 2003 to 2005 and was principal of St. John the Baptist School in Ludlow from 1999 to 2003.
O’Shea said “it was logical and natural” to chose Derosia, who has worked in the district during the past 16 years, to serve as Minnechaug’s new principal for the 2015-2016 school year.
“I’m really grateful,” Derosia said. “It’s one of those opportunities that rarely come along. I live in town. I have three little ones that go to school. My wife teaches at [Wilbraham] Middle School. We believe in the school system – that’s why we’re here.”
Derosia began serving as Minnechaug’s assistant principal in 2004. He began his teaching career in HWRSD as a social studies teacher at Minnechaug and also has experience coaching football, lacrosse, and hockey at the high school.
School Committee Chair Peter Salerno said he found the decision to hire both people to the positions “heartening” because it shows the strength of the HWRSD staff and leadership team.
“Many districts are not blessed with the kind of talent that we have,” he added.