ATHOL — The search continues for the right candidate to take the helm at Royalston Community School.
The Athol-Royalston Regional School Committee presented two candidates at their monthly meeting this week. Principal Janeth Williams plans to retire at the end of the school year, and the search for a replacement began Jan. 22.
“The Royalston Community School principal search has take awhile,” School Superintendent Darcy Fernandes said. “Even though the first round of candidates were certified, the School Committee was not comfortable with the pool. We left it open for a second round.”
Fernandes thanked the committee for “working hard and diligently” on making its selections. There were 19 candidates for the position. The two finalists will be at Royalston Community School on Wednesday to meet parents from 3:30 to 4 p.m., and for interviews with teachers from 4 to 4:30 p.m.
The two candidates introduced themselves and gave a history of their work and their reasons for applying for the post.
Rhonda Cohen of Florence was the first candidate to speak. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst; a Master of Education in elementary education from Lesley University & Shady Hill School Teaching Training Course in Cambridge; a Master of Arts in educational foundations, administration and policy from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; and a Doctor of Philosophy in teaching and teacher education from Michigan.
Cohen said she was drawn to RCS for its sense of community and high regard for academic excellence.
She began her career as a third-grade teacher in Winchester Public Schools, then completed advanced graduate work at the University of Michigan. She studied school administration, early reading intervention, research-based practices for improving mathematics teaching and teacher education.
As a new mother, she took a break during the 2015-16 school year to stay home with her daughter and, since January 2017, has worked as an intervention teacher at the local elementary school in Leverett. There, she provides reading and math intervention services to students in kindergarten through sixth grade. She uses research-based curriculum materials and progress monitoring tools to support student learning, such as Fundations, Quick Reads, Lexia, Symphony Math, and AIMSWEB.
She said she enjoys the day-to-day contact with children and teachers. She said she wants a position that combines her passion for teaching and learning with school leadership and work with students and families.
She was a research assistant and instructor at the University of Michigan, an elementary teacher in the Winchester Public Schools and an apprentice teacher at Shady Hill School Teacher Training Course.
Beth Craven lives in South Hadley. She earned her Master of Education in administration of athletics/physical education from Norwich University in Northfield, Vt.; a Bachelor of Arts in education/special education from Providence College, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in administration/interdisciplinary studies from Fitchburg State College.
Craven said she has been teaching for more than 25 years and has worked as dean of students and interim assistant principal at both the elementary school and middle school in South Hadley.
She said she wants a permanent position as an administrator at the elementary level, “where I know I can use my years of experience teaching and leading to reach beyond the walls of my classroom.”
Throughout her years of teaching, she has taught in all areas, including severe, moderate and mild learning and behavioral disabilities, hands-on science, technology, math, social studies and science. She has also taught in grades kindergarten through eighth grade in Holyoke, Chicopee and South Hadley.
She is the science curriculum facilitator and has spent two years as the school coach for Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports.
In South Hadley Public Schools, Craven also participated in student assistance meetings, aided parents and students in filling out bullying forms, initiated the Student of the Month program, organized “Midnight Madness” with the PTO, worked as liaison for paraprofessionals and the principal, participated in teacher evaluation workshops, created grade-level and departmental District Determined Measures for science department and facilitated monthly science department meetings.
At Holyoke, she was responsible for the implementation of curriculum for students with extreme behavioral challenges in grades kindergarten through fourth, created and implemented daily behavior plans, and implemented academic curriculum for all grade levels, all subjects.