Linda Simmons Brings Her Methods and Open Door Policy to the Middle School

Linda Simmons takes pride in all she accomplished during her nine years as principal of . Now she is on her way towards implementing the same methods which brought much success to Euclid students into her new role as principal.

“I want to focus on developing our own identity here, have our own school culture,” she commented about her new sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes which are housed in the same building as the high school.

Simmons changed roles as part of the which took effect Feb. 1. Simmons was chosen to fill a vacancy at the middle school after longtime principal for a position in another district.

Simmons’ 27 year career in education began in Elmwood Park where she taught reading and language arts for six years at the elementary school level and then for nine years at the middle school. She then came to Hasbrouck Heights and has been here ever since.

“It’s a wonderful school,” she said about Euclid. When she first came to the elementary school the curriculum needed alignment, she explained. There needed to be a continuity with the curriculum in the K-5 school and she said she takes pride that she really accomplished that, with the help of the staff which she calls “unbelievable” and always ahead of their time, ready and willing to take on new projects.

Simmons has a strong open door policy with parents. If a parent comes to the door with a concern she will drop everything to discuss it.

Her background in middle school teaching helped lead the district’s decision to come to her to fill the middle school principal role.

One of her main focuses is upgrading academic programming and she has already taken steps towards implementing stronger writing and math studies. She is bringing in a consultant to work with language arts teachers to help get students writing more freely. Simmons wants students to write in a way that allows them to express themselves, writing to her and not just for her. She is also bringing in a computer based program for remedial math known as study island. 

“We’ve seen positive results with these methods in the past,” she commented.

Simmons is already opening the lines of communication with the parents. She’s already sent an email to parents and will meet with them along with Steve Forte, the new high school principal at a forum set for March 2.

Communication is key to bonding with her students and their parents. This coming week Simmons will meet with each class asking the students to put down on paper a few things they love about their school and one or two things they would like to see change. “I think everyone has to take part in the process,” she said.

She is taking the same steps with the teachers asking them what they think is great about the school and what they may want to change.

Simmons said she is glad to be at the middle school working close by with Forte at the high school as both have similar personalities and both have an elementary school background. The administrative restructure plan was designed to bring fluid instruction from pre-K to grade 12. Peter O’Hare who served as principal of the high school for 14 years is now principal of Euclid School bringing his knowledge of high school curriculum to the elementary school level.

For Simmons, being at the middle school now gives her an opportunity to do what she did for Euclid School all over again.