New leaders, new era arrive at Acton's schools
Change is in the air in Acton schools.
Bill Ryan, the longtime superintendent of Acton-Boxborough Regional High School and Acton public schools, is retiring next summer after 34 years in the school district, and leaving behind a leadership team that's almost entirely new.
Within the past 18 months, Ryan has hired three elementary school principals and the principal at the high school. By the time he departs, he will have hired one more elementary principal to replace a person serving a one-year interim appointment.
"In the last eight years," Ryan said in an interview, "I will have hired all the principals" - at five elementary schools, one junior high, and the high school.
The wave of retirements in such a short period has brought a sea change in the system that took some getting used to.
"My first reaction was, of course, disappointment that we were losing such talented leadership," said Heather Harer, chairwoman of the Acton Public School Committee. "The principals have all left a legacy in their school buildings."
But as a parent, Harer lived through such a transition some years ago when Chris Whitbeck took over at C.T. Douglas School, which her three children attended. Although initially doubtful that another leader could meet her expectations, Harer said the transition was successful. Thus, she said, she has confidence that new leadership will only enhance what is already in place in Acton's schools.
The new principals say there is a lot of community energy behind them.
"To not be the only new person is very exciting," said Lynne Newman, principal of the Paul P. Gates, M.D. School. "You have partners."
The culture at each of the schools is slightly different. Parents in Acton have school choice, which makes the elementary schools not neighborhood schools, but individual communities in themselves. Each principal recognizes that distinction.
The new principals all met with the outgoing leaders, making the transition smoother. "The passing of the torch was sincere," Newman said. "These people had a full career and were devoted to the town and the buildings."
Whitbeck said he knew what was at stake with the retirement of longtime leaders. "I was very aware that a major part of history was leaving," he said.
Each new principal is cautious of making immediate changes. Newman, for example, said she hopes "to preserve and embrace the positive things that are working at Gates." 