Beal Principal to Retire

After 26 years with the Shrewsbury Public School District, Alice Brennan, principal at , is getting ready to retire at the end of this school year.

Brennan worked all but one of those years at Beal and while she says the school has been such a big part of her life, the staff members have been her friends, and early childhood is her passion, she is also excited about the next chapter in her life.

“It’s very exciting,” Brennan said. “I know I’ll be busy.”

The nearly 40-year resident of Shrewsbury said she has already been invited to speak to students at next year. Additionally, she has three grandchildren who are under 1 year old with whom she will spend a lot of time.

Brennan said she began her career in education as an elementary school teacher in Michigan. She taught fifth grade for two years before taking time off to raise her family.

She later worked two years at Head Start, a preschool program in Worcester, before joining the as a kindergarten teacher in 1986.

The next year, Brennan started teaching kindergarten at Beal, where she has worked ever since. Before becoming principal five years ago, she spent one year as an instructional coach.

When she first came to Beal, the building housed the alternative high school program, the special education offices and Shrewsbury Community Services (now called ), according to Brennan. Back then, the early childhood center occupied six classrooms, she said.

“We did grow and here we are now,” Brennan said, adding that the school now has 14 classrooms and has “absolutely filled this building.”

When it opened as an early childhood center in 1987, Beal had only half-day kindergarten, according to Brennan. With the help of a grant, one full-day kindergarten class was later added. Brennan said she believes in full-day kindergarten because it has the appropriate pacing and leaves time for play and other activities.

The school currently has six full-day sections of kindergarten and plans to have 10 or 11 next year, she said. The district will not hire a new principal for the next school year, she explained, but plans to have principal Jayne Wilkin hold principal duties for both schools.

Brennan speaks highly of the Beal staff, saying “they really get the needs of these little ones.”

“It’s really rewarding working with the kind of staff that works in an early childhood center,” she said, explaining that because these teachers treat the children so well, it extends to the way they treat their colleagues.

She said a highlight of every week has been the Friday , which Brennan has been running the past 15 years.

“The kids really feel a sense of community,” she said of the program.

Brennan is also considering doing some consulting, taking courses, traveling and volunteering. She loves to read as well.

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