Community celebrates Bernard’s final School Committee meeting

Published December 12, 2019

By JILLIAN STRING

NORTH READING — “Eat a lot of pizza,” Hood School first graders advised Superintendent Jon Bernard at his final School Committee meeting Monday evening.

These words of wisdom regarding retirement, presented in a book created by Hood School first grade teacher Andrea Slaven, were just a few of the many tributes and gifts Bernard received during the meeting.

Present and former School Committee members, Select Board members, and community members attended the meeting to share memories and well wishes for Bernard.

SUPERINTENDENT Jon Bernard (center) proudly displays the crystal recognition bowl presented to him by the School Committee in honor of his retirement. Pictured from left: Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Michael Connelly, Vice Chairman Janene Imbriano, Chairman Scott Buckley, Bernard, committee members Rich McGowan and Chris Pappavaselio, and Assistant Superintendent Patrick Daly. (Jillian String Photo)

“Your support of inclusion at the high school and the community that you enabled there at the high school was incredible,” parent Geof Simons said.

Inclusive practices, as well as strong community engagement and communication were two of the main themes echoed by many who spoke.

Former School Committee member Trish Colella commented that out of all the committees on which she had served throughout the years, her proudest accomplishment was being a member of the committee that had hired Bernard as principal. “I’m proud and I’m happy to call you my friend,” Colella said.

Mike Prisco, a former member of the Select Board, stated that the board was nervous when Superintendent Kathy Willis retired from the district, but their fears were quickly proved to be unfounded.

“We really thought we had the best, and you just took us to the next level,” Prisco said.

Bernard came to North Reading from Saugus in 2003 to assume the role of principal at North Reading High School, where he remained until 2014 when he became superintendent.

Colella recalled that one of her first memories of Bernard was during the School Committee’s visit to Saugus High School where they saw “how the students at Saugus High School reacted to him, and having students walk up to me, as a member of North Reading School Committee, and say, ‘Please don’t take him away from us.’”

Former School Committee member Jerry Venezia stated that once Bernard expressed interest in becoming superintendent, he could not picture anyone else in the role.

“You were perfect for the job,” Venezia said. “We chose the right guy.”

THE SELECT BOARD presented Superintendent Jon Bernard with a photograph of the town common to remind him of snow days in North Reading. From left: Select Board Vice Chairman Stephen O’Leary, Select Board Chairman Kate Manupelli, Bernard, and Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto. (Jillian String Photo)

Hood School Principal Glen McKay offered a unique vantage point, having been a student of Bernard’s, a teacher under his leadership in Saugus, and now working side by side with him as part of the district’s administrative leadership team.

“You’ve been my mentor, a guide through my journey in the world of education, from freshman English class to now, personally and professionally, for over 20 years. Your encouragement and support throughout my career has not gone unrecognized, and I could not have done this without you, so thank you,” McKay said.

Select Board Chairman Kate Manupelli, Vice Chairman Steve O’Leary, and Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto presented Bernard with a framed photograph of children sledding on the North Reading Common.

“Your one flaw, apparently, is that you don’t like to call snow days,” Manupelli said. “Long after you’re gone, we will not forget you, and hopefully, you’ll cherish the memories that you have here.”

School Committee members presented Bernard with a crystal recognition bowl that has become the traditional gift for district retirees.

“We are so incredibly fortunate to have the stability that we have here. That all comes from Mr. Bernard, from that talent that he has, who he is as a person, and so we are just so thankful for that. Your legacy will live on in the people that you helped train here,” School Committee Chairman Scott Buckley said. “Thank you so much for your service.”

Committee member Rich McGowan joked that he only ran for School Committee because of Bernard.

“I was sold a bill of goods. Two years ago I was thinking about running for School Committee and they said, ‘Yeah, run for School Committee. It’ll be great. With Jon there you’ve got nothing to worry about.’ It turns out we’ve got nothing to worry about because of the great team that Jon has put in place,” McGowan said.

Bernard expressed his gratitude to the district for the continued support throughout his tenure.

“I just want to say to all of you and everybody else that I was not fully prepared for tonight. I’m very humbled,” Bernard said. “I feel very blessed, and my work, for what will be a little over 33 years, has given me a lot more than I could ever have imagined, and I’m very grateful to this community for being so special in both my personal and professional life, so thank you all very much.”

Bernard is set to retire as of January 1, 2020, at which time Assistant Superintendent Patrick Daly will succeed him as Superintendent.