Newton High School Selects Interim Leader For The Next School Year

NEWTON, MA — The public school district announced that it has selected Lisa Gilbert-Smith as the interim principal of Newton North High School for the 2026-2027 school year.

Gilbert-Smith will assume the role following the departure of current Newton North Principal Dr. Henry Turner. She currently serves as the district's Director of the METCO Program, a position she has held since 2019.

Gilbert-Smith brings more than 30 years of experience in public education. During her career, she has served as a teacher, counselor, administrator and principal in the Boston, Brookline and Newton school districts. As METCO director, she oversees services across 21 schools, supervises staff, manages the program's budget and works closely with Boston families to support student success. She has also led districtwide anti-racism and cultural proficiency initiatives and developed a literacy program that pairs younger and older METCO students to strengthen reading skills and relationships across grade levels.

Prior to joining Newton Public Schools, Gilbert-Smith served as headmaster of the Dearborn STEM Academy and the Another Course to College Program in Boston. During her nine years leading the schools, graduation rates increased from 74 percent to 94 percent. She also expanded inclusive learning opportunities, strengthened community partnerships and promoted high academic expectations. Earlier in her career, she served as dean of students at Brookline High School, where she supported the academic and social-emotional needs of approximately 1,000 students and was a member of the school's senior leadership team.

Last year, Gilbert-Smith completed Influence 100, a two-year superintendent preparation fellowship through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The program is designed to diversify assistant superintendent and superintendent leadership positions across the state. She was the fifth Influence 100 fellow and superintendent intern to partner with Newton Superintendent Dr. Anna Nolin. Gilbert-Smith has also served as treasurer of the METCO Directors Association for the past four years and has mentored new METCO directors.

A graduate of Boston Public Schools, Gilbert-Smith earned a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston University.

According to Newton Public Schools, Gilbert-Smith's experience in school leadership, operations, student support and equity-focused programming made her a strong choice for the interim position. District officials said they expect her to bring a focus on student well-being and belonging, clear communication with families and a collaborative approach to leadership throughout the 2026-2027 school year.

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