Reading Educator Becomes North Reading Principal

Though students may be readying for the summer break, school administration is  often a year-round job.

North Reading Superintendent Kathleen Willis announced Catherine O'Connell as the candidate selected to head that town's middle school. O'Connell will begin her contract mid-summer as she uses the time to become familiar with her new responsibilities.

"Although it is difficult to leave Reading after 10 years, I am excited about the opportunity to begin working in the North Reading School District." O'Connell said. "I am passionate about middle school education and eager to share my experiences with the staff, students and parents in North Reading."   

O'Connell leaves her position as assistant principal at the Parker Middle School in Reading where she served since Februaury 2009.

Reading Superintendent John Doherty called the news "bittersweet" but said that O'Connell deserved the promotion because she did a "great job" as Parker's assistant principal.

O'Connell began her educational carreer as a social studies teacher and the chair of the department at Livingston High School in Livingston, Ilinois. She then became a social studies teacher in Reading before becoming an assistant principal there. She has also acted as a literary editor from 1994-2011.

She graduated with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Education from Salem State University. She is currently enrolled in the Leadership in Schooling doctoral program at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.   

She was one of 39 applicants for the position in North Reading. After input from the parents, community and staff, site visits and in-depth interviews conducted by the Middle School Principal Screening and Interview Committees, she interviewed with the superintendent and became Willis' final choice.

"I'm looking forward to working with her," Willis said. "She's enthusiastic about her work and has a lot of good ideas. She'll be an asset to the district."