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Center Elementary School selects new principal

Date: 6/29/2009

By Rick Sobey

Staff Intern



LONGMEADOW The Longmeadow Superintendent of Schools E. Jahn Hart recently had to decide whether to promote from within or seek replacement from a neighboring school district.

The principal of Center Elementary School, Dr. Robert Lincoln, retired after five years at that position; therefore, Hart had to find a replacement. She looked at candidates from inside the school district as well as from outside.

Hart decided that she would promote from within the district, as she offered the acting principal position to Donna Hutton, the reading specialist at Center Elementary School. Hutton accepted the acting principal position, and she will officially begin working as principal on July 1. She cannot wait for that day to arrive.

"I am incredibly anxious to begin," Hutton said. "I feel tremendous support and excitement from the school community, as well as the District Administration Team. It will be a busy summer and I'm already anticipating setting up meetings with members of our community to create a shared vision for the coming year."

Hutton has many goals as she begins her new position. "I hope to create a strong compassionate learning community, not only for our students, but also for the teachers and families," Hutton said. "This involves learning opportunities for the entire school community.

"I look forward to the opportunity to enhance our learning community by providing strong instructional leadership, as well as supporting the district vision for continuous improvement," she continued. "I also wish to work closely with the PTO and families to continue traditions that have become part of the fabric of our school community."

Hutton has been a teacher in the Longmeadow school district for 15 years. She is a certified reading consultant and her post-graduate work is in literacy studies. She has also been an adjunct instructor at UMass Amherst in the School of Education.

The new principal loves being in the education field. "I love working with children at any grade level," she said. "I believe that teachers have a profound opportunity to change lives. I cannot imagine anything more meaningful or more important for me than being an educator."

She believes that the past 15 years in Longmeadow will benefit her as she starts this new position. "I've learned from the teachers at Center School," Hutton said. "They are talented teachers, passionate about their work. I consider my history with the district to be a unique asset as I begin this role."

According to the superintendent, this principal role is a one-year position. "A decision regarding the appointment of the permanent principal will occur during the school year and might include a variety of actions, including conducting another principal search, for which Mrs. Hutton could apply," Hart said.

The superintendent believes that Hutton is well qualified for her new position. "As the reading specialist at Center School and someone who has stepped in as temporary acting principal when Dr. Lincoln is out of the building, she is quite familiar with the staff, parents and routines of Center School," Hart said. "She is well versed in the district curriculum and in the school's instructional and assessment practices. Mrs. Hutton is a highly respected professional and I look forward to working with her and welcoming her to our administrative team."