WCAC

 

After multiple searches, Waltham school officials have failed to find a qualified permanent principal for Waltham High School. 

“After three rounds of interviews, we do not have a candidate that we feel best matches the needs of our high school,” said Superintendent Marisa Mendonsa in a message to the school community Thursday. “Therefore, we have decided to create a Principal in Residence Model.”

 

Mendonsa said the new model would be a 3-year position, culminating in the successful candidate being named permanent principal. 

Until then, the successful candidate will serve as WHS principal and be listed as such with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). 

“Layers of Support”

The superintendent said she will temporarily move her office from the old high school to the new one to provide “daily support” to the principal in residence, along with members of the WPS executive team.

 

“This support will be connected to data analysis, teaching and learning, school budgeting, special education and student culture,” Mendonsa said.

The principal in residence will also receive monthly support from an outside mentor “who has previously served as an administrator in an urban setting similar to Waltham.”

The district now needs to find the right candidate.

 

Mendonsa said the principal in residence position will be posted this week and interviews, coordinated with the executive team, will take place at the end of June.

The ideal candidate will have a background as an assistant principal at the secondary level with a proven track record in “instructional leadership and improving student culture.”

Struggling to Find the Right Person

The WHS principal situation remains problematic in spite of all the excitement about the $374 million new school.

In December, current principal Darrell Braggs announced his departure at the end of the school year, before the conclusion of his contract.

A principal search committee consisting of 15 school staff, admin and parents convened and identified three finalists, but Mendonsa declined to offer a contract to any of them several months ago.

Additional searching also failed to find the right candidate.

 

The last two WHS principals, Brenda Pena and Darrell Braggs [pictured above], have not stayed in the position for long. 

Their predecessor, Paul Maiorano, was not a permanent principal but rather a WPS administrator who ended up serving as interim principal for several years. 

Part of the challenge currently is the school’s status among the lowest performing 10% of schools statewide, ranking 374th out of 406 public high schools last year.

 

The ranking puts any incoming principal under heavy scrutiny locally and from state education officials to produce evidence of progress. 

Other challenges include absenteeism, dropouts and student discipline issues.

Mendonsa’s plan to keep a watchful eye over the principal in residence with senior admins could allow the candidate room to learn the job, instead of being overwhelmed from day one.

File photos