Middle School Principal Makes Resignation Official

Superintendent Lynne Celli announced this morning that Middle School Principal Ralph Watson submitted a letter of resignation on Monday.

The superintendent accepted his resignation and wished him well in his next position.

The principal announced earlier that he was selected for a head position at a new upper school in Cambridge.

The new job offers him the chance to be part of a new school community — Cambridge has merged four schools to form one that will include k-5 students and 6-8 students, he said.

His position will be as the head of the grades 6-8 part of the school.

Meanwhile, the search for his replacement at the Middle School continues.

Earlier, the superintendent assembled a search committee and said that she is hopeful to hire a veteran administrator who will not miss a beat.

Veteran administrators understand the Rules to the Top regulations that schools are now operating under, she said.

The search panel's members include the superintendent, a representative from the central administrative office, High School Principal Layne Millington, an elementary school principal, middle school teachers, parents of students in Swampscott schools and community members with no children in district schools.

Celli hopes to fill the principal post by the end of April.

This timeline would allow the new principal to be in the school alongside the current principal during the school's transitional days.

Watson will be leaving the position in June, the superintnendent said earlier.

He has been the school's principal for six years. 

The entire press release on resingation letter:

SWAMPSCOTT PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Lynne M. Celli, Ph.D.

207 Forest Avenue

Swampscott, MA 01907

Phone: 781 596 8800

Fax: 781 599 2502

Email: celli@swampscott.k12.ma.us

3/14/12

On Monday, March 12, 2012, I received an official letter of resignation from Mr. Ralph Watson, principal of Swampscott Middle School. It is with appreciation and gratitude that I have accepted his resignation. I wish Mr. Watson all the best in this next phase of his professional career. In the meantime, we are working diligently to develop a plan for a smooth transition in leadership at Swampscott Middle School. Rest assured that as we search for Mr. Watson’s replacement, we are cognizant of the importance of a positive learning environment for both students and staff during this transition period. Thus, this is a top priority and will remain so until permanent, new leadership is in place.

Two weeks ago, as announced, I proactively convened a Principal search committee that represents all constituencies in our community, in anticipation of this resignation. Thank you to everyone who volunteered to do this important work. Currently, the search process is in progress, and semi-finalists’ candidates will be interviewed this week.

As qualified and appropriate finalists’ candidates are identified by the search committee, all constituencies will have an opportunity to meet the finalists and ask questions in an open forum, as well as provide written feedback to the Search Committee. It is a priority of the Search Committee that the community is involved in this process. Additional details and schedules regarding these open forums will be posted on the Swampscott Public Schools’ web site and published in the media and we invite input from all.

Lynne M. Celli, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools