Meet Leigh Becker, New Principal of Hastings Elementary School

will welcome new principal Leigh Becker, at the start of August 2011. Although new to the Westborough school system, she is no stranger to leading the education of young minds.

Becker has been working in the Medway school system for the last 20 years. Her last seven years have been spent as the principal of Francis J. Burke Elementary School.

Becker enjoyed her time as school principal in Medway and took the position in Westborough as a new leadership challenge. Becker explained “I really enjoy educational leadership. I enjoy getting to work with all of the different people and really pulling all the people and all of their expertise together.”

Prior to becoming a teacher, she was a student at Worcester State College where she earned both her undergraduate degree in communication disorders and her master’s in speech pathology. Becker lived in Westborough for seven years as she studied for her master’s degree and worked at the New England Center for Autism.

Today she lives in Bellingham with her husband of 20 years, but she said the Westborough community left a lasting impression on her.

Saying she is a natural leader, Becker explained, “In all the jobs I’ve had I’ve always ended up in leadership positions.” Her career grew from being a speech and language pathologist, to a special education team chair, a reading specialist, an assistant principal, and her current position as principal.

“One of things that I feel describes the way that I am as a leader is I’m a consensus builder. I want to make sure that when we make decisions I’m not making decisions in a vacuum,” Becker said.

She also believes that although she will be coming into Hastings as the new principal, there are many leadership positions within the school. Becker stressed that each person in the school has strengths. To figure out these strengths and to use them in the most effective way, she said, is the key to continuing school growth.

“The biggest responsibility as a school leader is making sure that everyone associated with the school- parents, teachers - stays focused on always improving. Always trying to make things better.”

Practicing what she preaches, Becker is still working on improving her own leadership skills. She is currently earning her doctorate in educational leadership at Lesley University. Working and going to school at the same time has been beneficial to Becker’s learning. “The things that I’m learning about leadership I can apply right away to my work,” Becker said.

Her own experiences have helped shape her as a school leader. Her many years working as a special needs teacher has made her sensitive to the quality of education for each individual. “One of the things that I always look at, when I’m looking at instruction and programs, is making sure that all the children - including the children with special needs - have the same access to good quality instruction and programs.”

What can parents and students at Hastings expect this fall when school begins? Becker will be working hard to get to know everyone in the Hastings community. She said, “They are a school that has a lot to be proud of. There are already lots of things in place that make Hastings a really special school. In order to make anything happen or to continue to grow and improve it has to start with trusting, respectful relationships with people. The first thing I need to do is get to know all of the people.”

 Working as a full time school principal and going to school does not leave Becker much free time. When she is able to fit something else into her packed schedule, she said it is  either exercise or spending time with her three adult stepchildren and grandchildren.

Becker officially steps into her principal role on Aug. 1.