New School To Be Named Sunita L. Williams Elementary School

NEEDHAM, MA — The new elementary school in Needham will be named after someone who has been among the stars.

The school committee voted last week to name the school informally known as the new Hillside School as the Sunita L. Williams Elementary School. Williams, a Needham High School graduate, has spent over 321 days in space and has made seven spacewalks. That background as a Naval officer, astronaut, and a member of SpaceX made committee members lean towards her.

Committee member Aaron Pressman said that Williams was a highly inspiring choice for today's young people and noted that she has not been recognized in Needham

"There is something exciting for me for naming the school after Sunita Williams. I think we're trying to promote STEM or STEAM in our schools. She brings a lot of diversity in terms of our naming, and she's a product of our schools," committee member Susan Neckes said.

Currently, Williams is working with SpaceX and Boeing on commercial spaceflight.

The name was one of two final names put forward by the naming subcommittee. The other option given to the school committee was Leslie Cutler, a former Needham selectwoman and member of the Massachusetts Senate.

Williams Elementary School is being constructed as a replacement for Hillside Elementary School.