Dear Chenery Parents/Guardians,
We write to inform the community about our progress toward hiring a Principal for the Chenery Upper Elementary School for 2023-204.
As you know from her communication in late June, Ms. Nicolette Foundas resigned and has accepted a position as an elementary principal in the Wayland Public Schools. We are thankful for her service during her nearly two decades in Belmont -- as both a classroom educator and as a leader-- and we wish her the best of luck in her new school community. We stated at that time of her announcement our dedication to finding a capable replacement and posted the vacancy immediately as an "Interim Principal" position for the 2023-2024 school year. We commenced the process of networking and interviewing for a Principal without delay.
After several weeks of interviews, reference checks, and communication with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education we write to inform the Chenery community that we are in the very final stages of contracting with an experienced Principal. We are waiting for final approval from DESE for a "critical shortage waiver," which will allow us to bring in a veteran principal to help guide the school through this important year. We anticipate introducing the candidate formally this week, but can only do so when final clearance has been given. In the meantime, we are conscious that as the calendar turns to August 1 parents/guardians may be getting nervous about the lack of a formal announcement from the district leadership office. We write to reassure you that we have implemented a thorough process, cast our net wide, and have successfully identified a capable individual. We remain hopeful that the candidate will be announced and can begin this week once we receive final DESE clearance.
Lastly, we wish to acknowledge the exceptional work this summer of Chenery Assistant Principal Ryan Holland, who has guided Chenery so capably through the month of July without a Principal colleague. His dedication to ensuring that the important work continues to get done -- specifically his expertise on scheduling, hiring, and class assignments -- is genuinely appreciated. His efforts are a great example of the "all hands on deck" mantra that we preach throughout the district. Despite not having had a Principal in July, Ryan's efforts have ensured that Chenery will be ready to open in September as usual. We thank Ryan sincerely.
Like all of you, it is important to us that we have a certified, qualified, and capable leader at the helm of the Chenery Upper Elementary School for the 2023-2024 school year. We believe that we have done just that. We are excited to complete the remainder of that process this week. In the meantime, please have assurance that we are working diligently behind the scenes to provide for Chenery students the leader they deserve.
Next year, we will run a complete search for a permanent Principal who will begin July 1, 2024.
Respectfully
Michael E. McAllister