New principal appointed at Elm Hil

Christine Pereira of Westminster will take the helm as new principal of Elm Hill Elementary School, beginning this summer.

www.eagletimes.com     www.rutlandherald.com

2017-03-22 / Front Page New principal appointed at Elm Hill By TORY JONES toryb@eagletimes.com Christine Pereira will take the role as new principal at Elm Hill School this summer. — TORY JONES DENIS Christine Pereira will take the role as new principal at Elm Hill School this summer. — TORY JONES DENIS SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Christine Pereira of Westminster will take the helm as new principal of Elm Hill Elementary School, beginning this summer. The Springfield School Board unanimously accepted a recommendation by Superintendent Zachary McLaughlin on Monday, March 20 to appoint Pereira to the position of principal. Pereira said she is “excited and honored” to take on the new role. “For me, it is going to be a lot of learning,” to absorb what strengths the school offers at this time, and to make improvements where she can, she said. Pereira has worked as an instructional coach since 2015 at Riverside Middle School. She earned her doctorate in curriculum instruction and education policy from Michigan State University. “I’m very excited to bring her on board,” McLaughlin said at a Springfield School Board meeting on Monday. McLaughlin said that Pereira has shown commitment to the Springfield community in her educational role at RMS the past two years. School board member Michael Griffin moved that the school board authorize McLaughlin to offer Pereira a job, with school board member Jeanice Garfield seconding the motion. Garfield also said she recommends Pereira, “with enthusiasm,” for the position. The hiring process was different this year than in past years, McLaughlin said. Four designated committees helped in the hiring process this time around, rather than a “mega-committee,” he said. The four committees included about 40 people total, and involved a group of teachers from Elm Hill School, a group of instructional staff members, a group of parents that met with all four finalists, and a group of administrators. Each committee was able to deliberate the potential candidates. Through that process, “there was a real agreement” between all sets of stakeholders that Pereira was the strongest candidate, McLaughlin said, just before making his recommendation. Elm Hill is a primary school with nearly 300 students in kindergarten through second grade. The search for a new principal follows a recent resignation announcement by current principal Dana Jacobson-Goodhue, who is leaving the elementary school in June after five years as principal. Pereira will step into her new role at Elm Hill on July 1, for the coming school year.