Wellesley’s Sprague Elementary School is seeking a replacement for Principal Susan Snyder, who is retiring in June after running the 369-student K – 5 school since 2015.
Snyder came to Sprague from Hannah Elementary School in Beverly, Massachusetts, where she had served since 2006.
“I am proud to work in a school where students are respectful, and speak their minds,” Snyder said in a letter to the Sprague community, “where they are kind and empathetic, and where everyone is welcome. I know Sprague will continue to be this kind of school for as long as its doors are open. For now, I plan to keep on enjoying Sprague and am committed to giving you my best until the day I leave in June.”
Snyder named the pilot and implementation of Spanish Foreign Language for Elementary Students (FLES) instruction and the ongoing work supporting improvement in curriculum and instruction as two of the most noteworthy and rewarding projects on which she worked.
Snyder will leave big shoes to fill. The educator holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Gettysburg College (PA) a Masters from Lesley University in Special Education, and a Masters from Salem State University in Educational Leadership. Ms. Snyder is fluent in Spanish and is licensed as Principal / Assistant Principal and Superintendent / Assistant Superintendent through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Superintendent David Lussier said, “We remain grateful for Ms. Snyder’s strong leadership at Sprague during the past five years and for her 37 years of service in public education in Massachusetts. Ms. Snyder has touched the lives of thousands of students during her career and she will be sorely missed both at Sprague and as a member of our District leadership team.”
Lussier’s office is seeking candidates for the 2014-day work-year position who hold at minimum a Master’s Degree and licensure as an elementary school principal. Previous teaching experience and administrative experience at the building or district level is required. The job starts July 1, 2019 and the salary range is $128,265 – $147,151.
Lussier and the transition team has scheduled meetings with parents and staff to provide an overview of the search process and develop the leadership profile that will help inform selection deliberations. The staff meeting is Monday, March 11th at 3:15pm in the Sprague Library, and the parent meeting is Monday, March 11th at 6pm in the Sprague Library.
Lussier hopes to make a final appointment by the end of April.
Some past Sprague principals:
Fiske the last Wellesley school to switch up the top slot
In 2016, Wellesley named Rachel McGregor as principal of Fiske on an interim basis for the 2015-16 school year. She replaced Anthony Colannino, whose contract wasn’t renewed after three years on the job.
After a search that attracted a pool of 53 applicants for the Fiske principalship, McGregor beat them all out and was appointed to the job in March 2016.
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