By GAIL LOWE
WAKEFIELD — Galvin Middle School Principal Mark Bedrosian has resigned effective at the end of the school year, a move confirmed this morning by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stephen K. Zrike.
In a letter to the school community yesterday, the much-respected Galvin leader wrote:
“Upon the completion of the 2014-2015 school year, I will be moving on to pursue another professional opportunity. I am proud of the accomplishments of the entire Galvin staff since my arrival in the fall of 2012.”
Among his accomplishments while at the Galvin, Bedrosian said he had completed the school review process with New England Association of Schools and Colleges, implemented the new Massachusetts Teacher and Administrator Supervision and Evaluation system, planned and opened the new school, expanded Student Services and the Health and Wellness programs and founded a pilot robotics program.
In his letter, Bedrosian continued: “I am absolutely committed to maintaining the same pace of school improvement and innovation through the remainder of the year. Chief among our priorities are the social-emotional health of all students, the successful implementation of the Galvin’s 1:1 Technology Initiative and growth in student performance in literacy and math.”
Dr. Zrike commented, “We appreciate all of Mr. Bedrosian’s efforts at the Galvin Middle School over the past two-and-a-half years and we wish him all the best.”
Bedrosian, former assistant principal and dean of Academic Affairs at Gloucester High School, replaced Dr. Paula Mullen who retired on Jan. 31, 2012 after serving in the role for 17 years.
While serving in Wakefield, Bedrosian watched the old Galvin Middle School being torn down and the new school being constructed when Bond Bros. broke ground in 2013. During his tenure in Wakefield, Therese Jarmusik and Andrew Tetrault have served under Bedrosian as assistant principals.
Bedrosian had worked in Gloucester’s public schools since 1996 and also was an assistant football coach before coming to Wakefield.
When he applied for the Galvin principal’s spot, he said it was a “natural step,” and the Gloucester school community had been supportive of his pursuits.
In an interview in 2012, Bedrosian said that a big part of his day would be his daily visits to classrooms at the Galvin to show his support for teachers.
“Being in a classroom is the best part of my day,” he said. “I love to see kids as they’re learning and I need to support my teachers.”
When the principal position opened up at the Galvin Middle School, Richard Cowdell, principal of the Thurgood Marshall School in Lynn, was also a finalist for the position.
