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July 11, 2008 - Superintendent of Schools Dr. Alan Ingram today announced the appointment of five principals. The appointments were made to fill existing vacancies.
Ingram made the appointments following a four-week screening process that included an interview committee comprised of administrators, principals and central office staff. The interview committee made final recommendations to Ingram, who then personally interviewed each principal candidate.
Though the process began prior to Ingram’s arrival, the new superintendent said he has had ample involvement in the process since starting work on July 1st and has full confidence in his appointments and the school department’s ability to ensure their success. He emphasized that those appointed to the new positions will be supported by a revamped system of peer mentorship and structured follow-up.
“This is a qualified pool of educational leaders with strong training and valuable experience,” said Ingram. “But I firmly believe that good instructional leadership requires more than that. If we want our principals to be successful, we can’t continue to appoint and then abandon them. I will make sure these new appointees have the support mechanisms they need to triumphantly lead our schools.”
Principal Appointments
Shalimar Colon of Springfield at Brightwood Elementary School
Colon has worked her way through the Springfield School System since beginning as a teacher in 2002. She has worked as a special education teacher for students of other languages and is a Project LEAD graduate. In 2007, she became supervisor of leadership development. In that role, Colon assisted in the implementation of the learning center curriculum and provided professional development support to administrators.
Colon is bilingual and holds a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State College. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in educational administration at the University of Massachusetts.
Darcia Milner of Springfield at Daniel Brunton Elementary School
Milner has worked for the Springfield Public Schools for 16 years, starting as a para-professional at Warner Elementary School. Since 2005, she has served as eighth grade assistant principal at Forest Park Middle School. Prior to that, she worked for 11 years as a special education teacher at Rebecca M. Johnson Elementary School.
As a para-professional, Darcia was encouraged by School Committee member and former principal Chris Collins to pursue in education in teaching.
Milner is a graduate of Project LEAD and holds a master’s degree in education from Cambridge College and an undergraduate degree from American International College. She also holds a certificate of advanced graduate studies from the University of Massachusetts and an associate’s degree from Springfield Technical Community College.
Terry D. Powe of Longmeadow at Elias Brookings Elementary School
Powe has worked in the Springfield Public Schools for 10 years, serving as learning center curriculum administrator since 2006. Powe has worked as a cornerstone coach, conducting professional development workshops for educators and participated on literacy and math teams. She began her education career as a classroom teacher at Frank H. Freedman School.
Powe is a Project LEAD graduate. She holds a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Massachusetts and a bachelor’s degree from Springfield College, along with several other certifications.
Anthony Davila of Springfield at Chestnut Accelerated Middle School
Davila has served as assistant principal at Chestnut Middle School since 2004 and has served as acting principal for the past three months. He has worked in the Springfield Public Schools since 1997, beginning as a clinical teacher at Chestnut Middle School.
Davila, who is bilingual, is a Project LEAD graduate and holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts.
Andrea Lewis at the new Science, Technology and Engineering Middle School
Lewis, who has worked as acting principal at the High School of Commerce since December, began her Springfield Public Schools career in 1998 as a teacher in the High School of Science and Technology. She served as assistant principal at the High School of Commerce from 2005 to 2007.
Lewis is a graduate of Project LEAD and holds a master’s degree in education from American International College and a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State College.
Stated Ingram:
“I am especially pleased with the level of commitment, enthusiasm and talent, which these new principals bring to the job. Many of them are products of Springfield Public Schools. All of them have worked their way up the ladder and demonstrated their ability and desire help lead our schools into a new direction.”
Funded by a $5 million grant from the Wallace Foundation, Project LEAD is an initiative to recruit and train administrators from the Springfield Public Schools system.
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Ingram also appointed Martha Cahillane and Rachel Romano assistant principals at Kiley Middle School and the Renaissance School, respectively. All appointments are effective immediately.
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