UPDATED: Thursday, March 26, 6:03 PM
Kathleen Dawson, the last of the three principal finalists to visit South, spoke Wednesday about stress at school as well as the school’s role in making sure that every student performs to his or her potential by not getting stuck in lower educational tracks.
Dawson, the assistant headmaster of the assistant headmaster at Brook Farm Academy in Boston, met with parents, students, and faculty members on the same schedule as the first two candidates Monday and Tuesday.
Superintendent Jeffrey Young announced the three finalists for South’s principalship lsat week. The finalists were chosen by the Selection Advisory Committee.
The candidates are Dawson, assistant headmaster at Brook Farm Academy ; Adam Goldberg, assistant principal at Westford Academy ; and Stembridge , headmaster of the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science .
Goldberg, the first principal finalist to visit South, stressed the importance of relationships with students, faculty and parents during a day of meetings Monday.
Goldberg, a 1989 South graduate, said he understands the community from his days as a student.
Stembridge, the second finalist to visit, plans to bring students, faculty and parents together by instilling school pride, he said Tuesday.
Stembridge said he aspires to be a principal because as a child he loved the school environment and wants to continue to be a part of one.
Dawson holds a bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, a master’s degree in education from Harvard University and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked at various positions in the Boston Public Schools for the past several years.
Watch Kathleen Dawson in a video presentation about her current school (her part begins with slide 3)
Goldberg holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Massachusetts. He has worked as a guidance counselor and Director of Guidance in the Weston Public Schools.
Stembridge has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and an master’s degree from Willamette University in Oregon. Currently a doctoral candidate at Boston University, he has previously worked as an assistant principal in Scituate, Mass.
Watch Joel Stembridge dance at the O’Bryant School’s 2007 Asian Night
The Selection Advisory Committee was comprised of 21 students, faculty members, and administrators, including North Principal Jen Price. The committee recommended the three finalists to Young earlier this week, and Young will choose from among them.
Current Principal Brian Salzer announced last December that he is seeking jobs in other districts and will not return to South in the fall.
