Dwyer picked to lead Summer St.

Published in the February 14, 2018 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Summer Street School has found its next principal.

On Monday, Superintendent Jane Tremblay appointed Dr. Karen Dwyer as Summer Street’s next principal. Dwyer will begin her tenure on July 1. She will succeed Summer Street Interim Principal Greg Hurray.

“It is with great enthusiasm that I announce the appointment of Dr. Karen Dwyer as the next principal at Summer Street Elementary School,” said Tremblay in a letter to parents. “Dr. Dwyer was the unanimous choice of the Interview Committee, which was comprised of administrators, teachers and parents.”

Dwyer is the current assistant principal at Blanchard Memorial School, a pre-K through grade 6 school located in the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District.

In an email sent to the Villager, Huckleberry Hill School Principal Brian Bemiss, who led the Interview Committee along with Hurray, said 26 people applied for the principal job. He said 10 candidates were screened, five were interviewed and three candidates were invited for a second interview.

“We have gone through a comprehensive process to arrive at the finalist we have,” said Bemiss during a forum held at Summer Street on Feb. 8.

In addition to interviewing Dwyer on two separate occasions, Bemiss said Dwyer visited Summer Street and the Search Committee visited Blanchard Memorial School last week.

“We got great feedback from both of those visits,” said Bemiss.

Dwyer received her doctorate of education from Boston University. She earned her master of arts in Teaching from Tufts University and her master of education from Harvard University.

According to Dwyer’s resume, she has been Blanchard Memorial School’s assistant principal since September 2011. She worked as a literacy specialist at Parker Middle School in Chelmsford from September 2003 through August 2011. She also worked as a graduate lecturer at Curry College; was the dean of the academics and a literacy specialist at The Woodward School for Girls; and was a high school English teacher at Thayer Academy.

Dwyer said social-emotional learning has been a major focus of hers for the past seven years.

“I do 100 percent of the discipline in the school,” said Dwyer. “I feel like every time a child misbehaves or makes a mistake, it really is a teaching opportunity to help them understand their emotions and how to navigate life.”

Q&A

In response to a question about communication from Christina Hayman, Dwyer said she tweets about school events either weekly or bi-weekly. She notifies parents via emails or phone calls if the need arises.

“You want to know what is happening in a child’s life and how you can support the child,” said Dwyer. “I think the parent-school connection really has to be a partnership because that is what I think is best for the child.”

Dwyer wants to hold monthly coffees for parents as well. She also wants to continue Hurray’s practice of blogging.

A mother in the audience inquired what would be Dwyer’s goals for Summer Street if appointed principal.

Dwyer said she wants to help the elementary school implement a social-emotional learning program.

“We know anxiety is really becoming an increasingly common event in children’s lives,” said Dwyer. “Making sure we are addressing that would be a big push of mine because if children have anxiety, they can’t learn.”

Interview Committee member and Summer Street parent Heather Rose asked Dwyer how she has been able to develop relationships with students.

Dwyer said she has been having lunch with students over the course of the school year.

“It can be hilarious,” said Dwyer. “I know a lot of jokes on the milk carton and I know a lot of knock-knock jokes. It’s another way to connect with students in a positive way. I also go out in the playground. I go to all of the plays and concerts because students are excited to see you there because it means they matter. We want to have as many positive connections as we could possibly have with students so they feel valued and respected.”

In response to a question from School Committee member Rich Sjoberg, Dwyer said small group learning is important because it helps school officials and teachers understand students’ knowledge as well as identify ways to help students improve academically.

A mother inquired what Dwyer envisions being the biggest challenge at Summer Street.

“The biggest challenge is walking into a community,” said Dwyer. “You have your dynamics and you have your way of doing things. It’s up to me to learn what they are to figure out how to work within it. Getting to know all of the children’s names is really important.”

Another parent asked Dwyer what is the difference between being a good principal and a great principal.

“I think a good principal is on top of operations, talks to the staff, facilitates discussions, and connects with students and parents,” said Dwyer. “But a great principal incorporates all of the talents of the community so that people fell like they can come in with good ideas that can be implemented.”

Interview Committee reaction

After Dwyer concluded the question and answer session with parents, the Interview Committee listened to feedback.

In response to a question from a mother, Interview Committee member and Summer Street parent Sharla Sieve said the committee didn’t see any risks with Dwyer.

“Right from the get go, everybody looked at each other and said ‘A plus’,” said Sieve. “It was one of those things where it seemed to be too good to be true. When we met with her staff, parents and the principal, they confirmed everything that we saw. There wasn’t any weaknesses, and she has everything we were looking for.”

Interview Committee member and Summer Street fourth grade teacher Lorie Kelly said she was impressed with Dwyer’s knowledge about curriculum as well being “child centered.”

“She wants to understand and know the kids,” said Kelly. “I think that is going to be really positive.”

Hurray said he didn’t see any weaknesses.

“I see Karen as a big picture thinker,” said Hurray. “I think it’s important to a have a vision about what makes a great school and where we want to take the staff and the kids. I love the way she interacted with the kids and teachers in the building when we spent the day walking through classrooms here. She got right down at eye level with kids and was asking them what they were working on. I think she is an outstanding candidate.”

Rose said she was impressed Dwyer “encourages risk taking and creativity” by both students and staff.

Interview Committee member and media specialist Alex Caram said Dwyer will continue Summer Street’s tradition of having a “strong leader.”

“I felt like she was the only one who would keep pushing us,” said Caram.