By DAN TOMASELLO
NORTH READING — High School Principal and Superintendent–elect Jon Bernard has announced there are two finalists for the North Reading High School principal’s job.
The finalists are current NRHS Assistant Principal Anthony Loprete and Elizabeth McAndrews, who currently serves as the dean of students and curriculum at Amesbury High School.
Loprete is entering his fourth year as NRHS’ assistant principal. He succeeded former assistant principal Ed Rozmiarek, who departed NRHS to become principal at Lowell High School in July 2010. The former Purdue University graduate was one of 72 applicants chosen for the NRHS assistant principal job. Loprete previously served as assistant principal at Littleton High School and taught history for 15 years at Minuteman Tech in Lexington.
In an interview with the Transcript in July 2010, Loprete said he was looking to work in a larger high school after spending three years in Littleton.
“I did interviews at other schools,” Loprete told the Transcript. “I was impressed by (Principal) Jon Bernard and his degree of knowledge and professionalism. It just really struck me that North Reading is a school that knows itself and that is a very appealing thing someone coming into an administrative position.”
McAndrews has worked at Amesbury High School for the past seven years, and has entered her second year as AHS’ dean of students and curriculum. According to the Amesbury website, McAndrews’ responsibilities as the dean of students and curriculum include “discipline for the ninth and 10th grades, administering MCAS (exams) and overseeing 504 (education plans).” She also works directly with high school teachers on writing initiatives and has implemented curriculum programs. The candidate has also helped teachers write, re–write and input AHS’ curriculum into a electronic format.
McAndrews was named as a finalist for the Wakefield Memorial High School principal position in March, a job that went to former Sandwich High School Assistant Principal Richard Metropolis. She was also a finalist to become principal at Winchester High School in February, but that position ended up going to Sean Kiley.
According to Bernard, Loprete and McAndrews were tapped as finalists by a search committee after five semifinalist candidates were interviewed last week. The school department received 16 applications for the high school principal’s job.
Loprete and McAndrews each participated in a half–hour question and answer session with members of the public on Wednesday, Oct.1 in the NRHS media center, taking place after deadline.
The two candidates also participated in public interviews on Oct. 1 in the media center that was conducted by the search committee. The search committee consists of four faculty members: Athletic Director Dave Johnson, guidance counselor Michael Rosa, special education teacher Rosemarie Stadig and band director Eric Forman. The committee also consists of School Committee member Karen Errichetti, Middle School Principal Catherine O’Connell, parent representatives Paula Pretty, Marina Tramontozzi and Richard McGowan, and high school senior Matthew Stead.
Bernard said recently it’s his goal to select the next high school principal on Friday, October 3. The next principal will take over NRHS on Monday, October 20. Bernard will leave his principal’s job to succeed retiring Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Willis on Saturday, Oct. 18.
