By Bethany Bray
Staff Writer
June 11, 2009 05:00 am LETTER FROM SUPERINTENDENT CLAUDIA BACH June 8, 2009 Dear Members of the High Plain School Community, With much enthusiasm I write to announce that I have appointed Ms. Pamela Lathrop to the position of Principal of High Plain School. She will assume this position on July 1, 2009. Pamela Lathrop comes to us with impressive administrative and teaching experience. She currently serves as the Principal of the Franklin Elementary School in North Andover, a position she has held with distinction since 2002. At Franklin - a preK-5 Grade school of over 500 students - Ms. Lathrop has been the driving force behind many major initiatives. These include leading the Lesley Literacy Initiative as part of a larger curriculum development plan, establishing student programs such as Peer Mediation and the Responsive Classroom, implementing enrichment programs using parent and community resources, and chairing the development of the District Technology Plan. Her Superintendent says she "runs a great school," and describes her as a "key player" in the district, and his "go to" person. He says, "She is one of the best administrators with whom I have ever worked." Her staff speak of the wonderful culture she has created at Franklin, and of her total commitment to the children and staff under her watch. Before becoming the Principal of Franklin, Ms. Lathrop was a successful classroom teacher for 12 years, teaching Grades 1, 2, and 5. Ms. Lathrop, who has a special interest in math, serves as her district's math chairperson, and in that capacity identified weaknesses in elementary math program, piloted materials, and recommended the adoption of a new math program. She also oversees the integrated preschool program and has developed two district special education programs for children with PDD and Autism. We began the search for the High Plain principal in the spring. We held focus group sessions with the faculty and the parents, and both groups provided valuable information regarding the skills, experience and attributes they wanted in the next principal. We then formed a search committee made up of parents and teachers, who forwarded 3 qualified finalists to me. I interviewed each individual, and they each attended parent and staff receptions, and then Mr. Patrick Bucco, Principal of Wood Hill and I conducted site visits. During her visit to High Plain, Pam Lathrop impressed many of you with her "genuine and warm" personality, her "approachability," her "confident, but not overbearing" manner, her "openness to new ideas," and her passion for education. One of you observed that she did not "skirt answering questions." Another commented that "she would push our school and our teachers to be better." Another said you found her "more grounded." A parent commented that, "She seems to have an excellent grasp of how to balance parents' concerns, children's needs, and teachers' needs." One teacher said, "I would love to work for this candidate," and another said, "In my opinion, Ms. Lathrop is absolutely the best fit for our HPE community." Ms. Lathrop earned a B.S. degree in psychology and elementary education from Merrimack College, her Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Educational and Child Development from Wheelock College, and her Certification of Advanced Graduate Study in Educational Leadership from Salem State College. She also earned a Mentorship Certification from Lesley College. An experienced, proven instructional leader, Ms. Lathrop has an excellent reputation as a dedicated and compassionate administrator who possesses the personal character, people skills and knowledge to empower and enable students and staff to realize their full potential. I believe Pamela Lathrop will value and recognize the work this outstanding faculty has accomplished to date, and she will honor the exemplary leadership of Brenda O'Brien, High Plain's founding and much-loved Principal. Ms. Lathrop will provide the vision, innovation, and support in the coming years to enable an excellent school to continue to grow and become even better. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Pamela Lathrop to High Plain Elementary School. The daily commute of Pamela Lathrop, newly-hired principal of High Plain Elementary, will change by about five miles next year. Lathrop, principal at Franklin Elementary in North Andover, was hired by Superintendent Claudia Bach this week to take over for outgoing principal Brenda O'Brien, who will retire July 1. "I have big shoes to fill. Brenda has done an amazing job of working with parents and staff to create a healthy school culture," said Lathrop of O'Brien. "I feel fortunate to take on the role of principal at a school with such great standing." A 30-year veteran of the Andover school district, O'Brien has been High Plain's first and only principal since it was built in 2002. Lathrop has spent all of her years in education at Franklin Elementary, starting there as a student teacher. After college, she was hired at Franklin as classroom teacher, teaching first, second and fifth grades, before becoming principal for seven years. "I'm very excited about coming to Andover. I think it's an exceptional school and district. I'm appreciative of my foundation in North Andover. I've worked in an exceptional school and will miss them," said Lathrop. "I think I have something to offer to the school (High Plain), and the school has something to offer me." O'Brien announced her intention to retire at the beginning of April. With the help of High Plain parents and staff, Bach launched a principal search through the spring. Lathrop was hired by Bach from the High Plain search committee's top three finalists, which included Methuen native Tara Rossi, an assistant principal at the North Hampton School in North Hampton, N.H. and Barbara McKinley, an early childhood director and out-of-district coordinator for the Pentucket Regional School District in West Newbury. Lathrop said that during her candidate visit to High Plain, student "tour guides" showed her around the school. "The whole process was very wonderful. Everyone (on the search committee) was warm and welcoming, very genuine. It was clear to me that they were looking for a good match to their school," said Lathrop. "It was a delightful day. The parent community was very open and receptive, and it was clear they are very supportive of their school." Vision and innovation Bach sent a letter home to parents announcing her choice on June 8. "Lathrop has an excellent reputation as a dedicated and compassionate administrator who possesses the personal character, people skills and knowledge to empower and enable students and staff to realize their full potential. I believe Pamela Lathrop will value and recognize the work this outstanding faculty has accomplished to date, and she will honor the exemplary leadership of Brenda O'Brien, High Plain's founding and much-loved principal," wrote Bach. "Lathrop will provide the vision, innovation, and support in the coming years to enable an excellent school to continue to grow and become even better." Lathrop will finish out the school year in North Andover and start in Andover on July 1. "One of my biggest things will be to get know the families and staff at High Plain, familiarize myself with the school and understand culture of the building," said Lathrop. Lathrop has a degree in psychology and elementary education from Merrimack College, a masters in early childhood educational and child development from Wheelock College and a certification of advanced graduate study in educational leadership from Salem State College.
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