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Date: 11/1/2022
NORTHAMPTON – According to a letter sent out to parents on Oct. 24, a new permanent principal for Northampton High School (NHS) could be hired as early as Nov. 14, with hopes that whoever is hired would be able to start in January.
Within that letter includes a timeline of the hiring process. According to this timeline, finalists will be interviewed via Zoom on Nov. 3 and will also visit the school on Nov. 14 before a decision is officially made.
Background
An interim principal has helmed NHS since March after a 267-page records request filed by former School Committee member Susan Voss found that former principal Lori Vaillancourt referred to members of the Student Union as “asshats.”
The comment, as well as a couple others, came after the Student Union raised concerns about a change within the Math Department at the time.
During that period, former NHS principal Nancy Athas served as the interim principal when former superintendent John Provost placed Vaillancourt on administrative leave.
So far this fall, Meghan Harrison and Diane Zamer, the NHS’s associate principals, have overseen the high school.
The present search
“Our future principal will embrace the district’s core educational values and will work with our community to create a shared vision for a successful high school experience for students in Northampton,” said interim Superintendent Dr. Jannell Pearson-Campbell, in her letter to Northampton Public Schools parents. “The right candidate will be committed to diversity and equity issues, have a high degree of autonomy and trust within the school and collaborate with educators, students, administrators and community members to cultivate lifelong learning in all of our students, ensuring success for college and career readiness.”
The letter also states that Pearson-Campbell will incorporate input from the school community for the search so that “it is well-organized for success.” She added that she will appoint a search committee that represents diverse members of the community who play different roles in Northampton Public Schools.
“Keep in mind that this schedule is ambitious,” she added. “If I determine there is a need to modify it as we move through the process, I will provide the community with an updated schedule.”
In a statement to Reminder Publishing, Pearson-Campbell said that a “number of things” had to be put on hold since NHS did not have a permanent principal. “Northampton is a unique place, and we needed to start early,” she said, of the process.
In addition to this principal search, there have been several other administrative changes, as well as more to come within the district. Aside from Pearson-Campbell, who started as the interim superintendent in July, the School Committee has also entered the process of searching for a permanent superintendent.
Additionally, Pearson-Campbell has already filled the positions of school business administrator and director of curriculum and instruction. The district also has three interim principals at six of the schools, including the high school.
“Schools benefit from having stability,” said Pearson-Campbell, who told Reminder Publishing that two other searches are on the horizon. “Plus, I have to prepare for any surprises in case anyone else leaves the district.”