Westlake Schools Hire 2 New Principals

WESTLAKE, OH — The Westlake Schools will have two new principals in the 2017-2018 school year. Amanda Musselman, currently the principal at Midview East Intermediate School in Grafton, will become the principal of Lee Burneson Middle School (LBMS). Interim LBMS Principal Beth Dagostino will become the principal of Holly Lane Elementary School.

Musselman became Midview's principal in 2016 after working for two years as the Midview Middle School assistant principal. Prior to going to Midview, Musselman was a math teacher in the Berea-Midpark City School District. She spent time time as the Mathematics Department Chair for grades 7-9 in Berea.

Musselman has lived in Westlake for the past eight years. She said in a statement that she is looking forward to working in a district where she is personally and professionally vested.

“There is something about being able to serve the kids in my own community,” Musselman said in a statement, adding that she believes in working collaboratively with students, staff and parents for success.

Musselman received her undergraduate mathematics degree from Baldwin Wallace University. She minored in Adolescent/Young Adult Education. She went on to earn a graduate degree in Educational Administration, as well as her principal license for grades 4-12, from Cleveland State University.

Musselman's counterpart, Dagostino, has been a member of the Westlake City Schools for two years. She started as the LBMS assistant principal before moving to the interim principal position when Paul Wilson was named principal at Westlake High School.

Dagostino will replace departing Holly Lane Principal Mimi Verdone. Verdone is retiring after the 2016-2017 school year.

Before joining the Westlake School System, Dagostino worked at Hillcrest Elementary in Revere for 16 years. She also spent time with the Solon City Schools as a fifth grade teacher, and as an intervention specialist for third grade at D.E. Lewis Elementary School.

“It will be difficult to leave the Burneson family. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to work with a very talented and supportive staff, as well as our amazing students and families,” Dagostino said in a statement. “With the move to Holly Lane, I will be returning to my elementary roots. I look forward to establishing a relationship with the Holly Lane community and being able to contribute to an exciting future that includes a move to a new elementary campus.”

Dagostino received her undergraduate degree in education, a graduate degree in reading and a PK-9 administrative license from Ashland University. She is also a doctoral candidate for a degree in teacher leadership from Concordia University of Chicago. Dagostino holds certificates in reading validation (K-12) and special education (K-12).

The district said that it reviewed 79 applicants for the two principal positions. Eight candidates were selected for in-person interviews and four finalists made public presentations. The interview process included internal interviews and a public interview with questions from parents and staff. All of this feedback was considered before a final decision was made.

“Our final four candidates were really strong. We are very fortunate and excited to be adding both Amanda and Beth to our administrative team in Westlake,” said Superintendent Scott Goggin in a statement. “We believe we are keeping our top two picks. They are making our district stronger through their leadership.”

Photo from Westlake Schools