School Officials Appoint New Preschool Director, Elementary Student Services Head

As the 2011-2012 school year wraps up in Westwood wraps up in Westwood, administrators have already gotten a head start on the upcoming year by appointing two new members to its staff.

New to the role of Westwood's Integrated Preschool Director is Aprile Albertelli, who has worked as Westwood's Co-Elementary Studens Services Department Head for the , and  schools during the last two years.

"It's always been my dream to be a building principal and be an administrative leader," Albertelli said. "I love it [in Westwood]. The administrative team, they're enthusiastic, they're talented, dedicated. It really is just a place that values education and students and I'm very fortunate and very happy."

Prior to working in Westwood, Albertelli worked as a speech and language therapist, head teacher and team chair for Franklin Public Schools for 27 years. She holds a B.S. in Communication Disorders from Worcester State College, as well as a Master's degree from Northeastern University in Speech, Hearing and Language Disorders. She also holds a Master's in Organizational Management in Education from Endicott College.

When asked what she'd like to see most under her new role, Albertelli said she'd like simply bolster the school's already strong reputation.

"I would love to have a waiting list," she said. "Wouldn't that be nice to have a waiting list, and to have the integrated preschool to have such a reputation?"

Albertelli's move opened up her former position, and school officials were able to quickly fill the role with Robin Fabiano, who comes to town from the Newton Public School system, where she's worked for the last 16 years. Most recently, she worked as that district's Co-Director of Elementary Student Services.

While the roles are similar, Fabiano said she's excited to enter a new district.

"I think that what I'm excited about is, because I'm only in two schools [in Westwood] and in Newton I'm in eight," she said, "I'm excited that I'll have the time to spend with students in the program, getting to know people and what children need on a much closer level."

Fabiano will join Glen Atkinson as the co-elementary department head, sharing responsibility for Westwood's five elementary schools. She signed her contract for the role on Thursday, and will oversee programs at the and Sheehan schools.

"[The co-directors] have the power to delegate resources from the town and make those decisions around finances and staffing," said Westwood Director of Student Services Abby Hanscom. "They're the designees for the Superintendent for the purpose of special ed."

Fabiano earned a National Teacher Board Certification in 2003, and is currently licensed in Massachusetts as a Teacher of Students with Intensive Special Needs and a Special Education Administrator. 

She's also served as an adjunct faculty member at Lesley University and has taught in the areas of behavior management and assistive technology.

"We were very happy that were able to get an excellent candidate," Hanscom said. "We got luck, she's a super star candidate."

And Fabiano is more than ready for the move, she said. 

"I'm excited to see how another district approaches things," she said. "I have a strong background in special education, and I have high expectations and an inclusive philosophy, and am excited to bring those things to Westwood.

Both Albertelli and Fabiano begin working in their new roles effective July 1.