New Assistant Principal At Hopkinton Middle High School

By Oliver Josephson

As you look around the hallways of Hopkinton Middle High School, there are a few new faces seen in both the faculty and student body. One of the most important new faces in our building this school year is our new assistant principal, Rebecca Gagnon.

Whenever it is time to select a new principal or assistant principal in our school, it can be a lengthy process, which the organized committee has to go through. First, the school has to post the opening for the position and then the application for candidates who are interested in or have potential for the job get collected. Once all of the packets are collected, the pool is narrowed down to about six or seven candidates to interview. All of the selected candidates are interviewed, and then the selection committee has to decide who they would like to recommend to the Superintendent. Then, the selected candidate meets with the Superintendent and he forwards the names of the selected candidates to the School Board for approval. Ms. Gagnon was in the perfection position: Principal Christopher Kelley said, “Ms. Gagnon was the only one selected out of the six candidates we interviewed.”

Ms. Gagnon’s success in the education field began right after she graduated college in 1998. Back in college, she earned a double major in computer science and elementary education. Her first few jobs after graduating college were all in the Franklin School District. Those jobs included teaching computers at the elementary level, teaching at a high school, becoming Director of the technology building, and working with networks. Right when she began working in schools Ms. Gagnon decided to work in the education field because she loved working and being with kids. She also loves challenges. Back when Ms. Gagnon was working with networking as director of the technology building in Franklin, she said, “I loved it because it was a great challenge.” After working in Franklin, she moved onto Farmington and worked as the Assistant Superintendent of that district. While working as Assistant Superintendent, she did not enjoy it as much as her other jobs. She said it was because, “I missed working with kids. This was the reason why I decided to move on and become an assistant principal, so I could be around kids more.”

Currently, as Ms. Gagnon is in the beginning stages of being the new assistant principal of Hopkinton Middle High School, she is feeling confident and happy to be here. “I love it,” she said. “I’m learning a lot, and people are friendly. Overall I am having a lot of fun.” As the new Assistant Principal, there are goals she has for school that she is eager to achieve. Those include working hard to get to know all of the staff and students, learning how to best be supportive, and help people, both students and teachers, meet their goals. As happy as she is in this new position, she has one concern: how to better help new kids fit in. Overall Ms. Gagnon is excited to work here and is extremely grateful for how nice, open, and supportive both students and staff have been throughout the school.