This week I had the opportunity to meet with the new principal of Algonquin Regional High School to get to know him a bit. He shared with me some his background and goals.
Background:
Mr. Mead had been a math teacher for 4 years, then assistant principal of Andover High School. He is married with two grown children, one living in New Haven, Connecticut and one attending University of Michigan in the medical program.
Personal Interests:
He enjoys cycling, swimming and hiking in the White Mountains.
What gives you the greatest satisfaction as principal?
In his role of principal, his goal is to help both teachers and students reach their potential. For him, furthering this goal may mean helping a teacher explore a special teaching interest or helping students begin to get a glimpse of their potential.
What are the most important things you hope students take away from high school?
He hopes that students leave high school with every chance of success, with the ability to recognize their skills, abilities and learning styles, and to find a college or vocation consistent with these.
What are your personal goals in your new role here?
Principal Mead views the high school as part of a greater system and would like to develop the transitions between middle school and college, and to create new programs and coursework based on feedback between the various levels of education. He hopes that students take the opportunity to cultivate interests through the various clubs and to develop an affiliation with the high school and community. Through these affiliations, he believes they will gain a greater sense of who they are.
What are your thoughts on MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) testing and Class Rank?
“We at the high school reap the benefits of the good work of the K through 8 school system; keeping the scores up is a collaborative effort. Being new, I can’t take credit, but we look for steady growth in the rankings for each class over their years with us,” says Mr. Mead.
(link to MCAS results, Algonquin Regional 2009 results: 10th grade English 46th out of 353 schools, 10th grade Math 42nd out of 351 schools and 10th grade Science 32nd out of 341.)
He states there is ongoing discussion on what is appropriate disclosure of class rank, and doesn’t want to add to students’ and parents’ stress levels. Mr. Mead believes learning is a messy process and thus is wrought with understandable failures and he urges students to continue to challenge themselves. Better colleges are looking at transcripts for students who take risks in their coursework and follow their dreams.
What are your thoughts on the current state budget cuts?
Algonquin gets funded from the state via both Chapter 70 (aid for public schools) and through the transportation budget. He says it will be an adjustment [to close the gap on these funding cuts], but this is nothing new in dealing with funding. No one knows what the cuts will be, but the administration will protect school programs as best they can. He doesn’t think it will mean staffing cuts at this point, but he will look at delaying purchases like textbook and equipment replacements to offset the gap created. “The community understands the school’s need for funding, but there’s a limit on how much they can be called upon to provide support”, says Mr. Mead.
Link to related MDN article on Regional School recent budget cuts, Last week Deval Patrick announced an $18M cut to the regional transportation budget. No word yet on the extent of the effect of this cut on Northborough-Southborough’s budget.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us, Principal Mead.
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