Search is On for New Galvin Middle School Principal

"This has literally been the most difficult decision I have ever made in my life," said Dr. Mullen in her retirement statement. "This job has been nothing but a joy to me."

Since the November announcement, Wakefield Public Schools has been ramping up its process to select a new middle school principal by February 15th, 2012. Wakefield High School Principal Kim Smith has been appointed chairman of the search committee.

Assistant Principal Therese Jarmusik will serve as the interim principal from February 1st through the end of the school year. Jarmusik has served as assistant principal at the GMS since 2000. An interim assistant principal will be appointed on January 2nd.

There are several dates for the community to get involved in the selection process, the first of which is a focus group on January 5th fo  faculty & staff from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. and another one for parents from 6 – 7 p.m. See the chart below for the full list of dates and events.

Date Event Person Responsible November 23, 2011 Superintendent Landers appoints Principal Kim Smith to chair the search committee Joan Landers December 12, 2011 Selection of Search Committee members finalized Kim  Smith December 31, 2011 Closing date for application submittal Kim Smith January 4, 2012 Principal Kim Smith will host a Search Committee planning session from 4:30-6:00 p.m. in the Principal’s Conference Room at WHS Kim Smith
January 5, 2012 Principal Kim Smith will conduct two focus groups in the Galvin Middle School auditorium:  faculty & staff from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. and parents from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Kim Smith
January 9 & 10, 2012 Search Committee to review resumes in the Galvin Assistant Principal’s Office, drop in any time between 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. or make an appointment. Committee members will select their top 6 candidates based on planning session and feedback from the focus groups, which will be sent to the committee members via email. Kim Smith, Search Committee January 13, 2012 Schedule Interviews /Plan Schedule Kim Smith January 18, 2012-January 19, 2012 Interview Candidates in 45 minute increments. Interviews begin at 4:30 p.m. Kim Smith, Search Committee January 23, 2012 Present a list of Finalists to Superintendent Landers based on panel interview Kim Smith January 23, 2012 Schedule Interviews for the Administrative Council with Finalists Joan LandersKaren Fitzpatrick January 26, 2012 Administrative Council  Interviews Finalists from 8:00 – 10:00am Kim Smith, Administrative Council February 2, 2012 Superintendent Landers interviews finalists Joan Landers February 3, 2012 Superintendent Landers conducts reference checks Joan Landers February 6, 2012-February 10, 2012 Finalists visit Galvin Middle  School to meet with staff (at 3 p.m.) and parents (3:45 p.m.) Kim Smith
February 6, 2012- February 10, 2012 Superintendent Landers, Principal Kim Smith conduct site visits at the finalists’ school Joan LandersKim Smith February 15, 2012 Candidate Announced Joan Landers