Sixth grade foreign languages return; several new hires start in Northampton

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON - Officials in Northampton's public school system are preparing for a school year that will feature a host of new faces, including a new principal at Leeds School.

The 2010 school year will mark the first as principal for Joseph Smith, of Easthampton, who has assumed leadership at Leeds School on Florence Street.

When Smith was hired for the position last June, schools officials touted his wealth of experience among the main reasons he was selected over other applicants. After spending 12 years as a special education teacher at public and private schools in upstate New York, Smith began working in Amherst when he accepted the position of Title 1 teacher at Mark's Meadow Elementary School. Two years later, he was named vice principal of Amherst's Crocker Farm Elementary School.

Smith said one of the main reasons he jumped at the opportunity to take over at Leeds School was because area residents are committed to providing a quality education.

"The community is very welcoming, and it is very progressive," Smith said. "They also have a very committed staff. The teachers who work here have been here an average of 11 or 12 years, which shows how committed they are."

Smith said he plans to kick-off the first day of school at Leeds with a celebratory pancake breakfast aimed at acknowledging veteran staff members as well as welcoming new students and employees.

Among his top priorities for the school year, Smith said, is continuing efforts to promote literacy among all of the school's students and providing anti-bullying education.

Schools Superintendent Isabelina Rodriguez said she is already impressed with the work Smith has done in preparation for the upcoming school year.

"He really is doing a great job already, and he has already been working with our staff and administrators," Rodriguez said. "I expect that he will do some wonderful work with our students, staff and parents."

Rodriguez said school officials are in the process of interviewing for a new director of academic effectiveness, who will be responsible for preparing curriculum and supervising professional development for teachers. The position, Rodriguez said, will hopefully be filled by mid-September.

Other new faces, Rodriguez said, include Sandra Donah, who is taking over the district-wide position of supervisor of special education. Nathan Ziegler will then become director of the special education department, and Barbara Black will begin teaching special education and early childhood education.

Rodriguez also noted that, thanks to federal funding, officials were able to bring back a foreign language program for the city's sixth-grade students.

"Sixth-grade foreign languages were going to be cut right up until our last School Committee meeting," Rodriguez said. "But when we heard we were getting federal funding, we were able to reinstate it."

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com