Principal Finalists are Winthrop Media Specialist, Woburn Principal

An integrated media specialist at and a Woburn elementary school principal are the two finalists to be Winthrop's next principal.

Christopher Heath, currently principal at and Amy Pasquarello, currently the Integrated Media Specialist at Winthrop, are the two finalists.

Superintendent Michael Harvey said on Monday afternoon in an announcement to parents that the two finalists both “possess the right combination of education, experience and enthusiasm necessary for success in the position.”

Heath and Pasquarello were selected as the two finalists last Wednesday, after the search committee interview seven semi-finalists. A total of 40 candidates applied for the job. On Thursday, .

A search to fill the position began last month when former Principal Carrie Vaich , which she said . Vaich was principal at Winthrop for six years.

Heath has been at Goodyear for two years. During that time, he oversaw the .

Before Woburn, he was an assistant principal and teacher at .

He also has experience as a classroom teacher in Topsfield and Swampscott. He has a Master’s Degree in Education from and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Maine at Orono.

Pasquarello has been the Integrated Media Specialist at Winthrop since 2006. During that time, she has essentially be the school’s second in command, serving as “teacher-in-charge” when the principal is out of the building.

She is also an adjunct professor at Simmons College, teaching a course on integrating 21st Century Skills into the classroom.

Before coming to Winthrop, Pasquarello was a classroom teacher in Virginia and Connecticut. She has a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Education from Salem State University, a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Both Heath and Pasquarello will meet with faculty, parents and community members on Tuesday, July 24 from 6-8 p.m. at Winthrop. It will be an open question and answer session and attendees will be able to fill out feedback forms that Harvey said he would use in making the final decision.

Harvey said he would announce who will be the new principal by July 27.