Submitted by Jon Sills, Superintendent of Schools
It is my distinct honor to announce the appointment of Beth Benoit as the new Davis School Principal beginning on July 1.
Beth’s deep knowledge of early childhood education, her passion for teaching and learning, her love of children, her clear communication with parents and her deep respect for teachers and support staff promise to make her a wonderful Davis School leader. Beth’s experience as a kindergarten teacher and as a Director/Principal of a public preschool, where she successfully integrated learning standards in developmentally appropriate ways, will be a welcome addition to our school community. Her inclusive leadership style and willingness to make important decisions, which enabled her to build an innovative, positive and collegial professional culture during her seven years as a Colorado principal, are qualities that will be welcomed by her future colleagues at Davis School.
Described as the “brightest educator he has ever worked with”, her former superintendent has tried to lure her back to Colorado and more recently to Arkansas, where he presently heads up a large school district. But Beth and her husband have returned to Massachusetts and to family and friends to stay. She is excited to find a community to which she can contribute and in which she can grow in the years to come, and will provide the long-term stability that Davis School has missed these last seven years.
A few comments from Beth’s day-long site visit with staff and evening meeting with parents include: “she has the in depth understanding of child development and the warmth and personality to lead the staff,” “I liked her focus on play in learning, data generating to look closely at students and their needs…,” “I really believe she is a perfect fit for Davis School,” “I liked that she has worked with diverse populations,”
“Confident, articulate and understands literacy,” and “strikes me as the kind of leader who could promote a sense of community here at Davis….”
Beth presently works for the Boston Public Schools as an Early Childhood Curriculum and Assessment Specialist after recently moving back to the Boston area, previously served as Director/Principal of Early Childhood Education and Child Find for the Englewood Public Schools in Colorado (2008-2012) and as Director of ECE from 2005-2008. Before moving to Colorado, Beth worked as the Executive Director of the Cambridgeport Children’s Center from 2003 to 2005, and as a Mentor Kindergarten Teacher and Special Education Coordinator at the Tufts University Educational Day Care Center from 1995-2003.
Beth earned her M.A. in Child Development/Early Childhood Education from Tufts University, her B.S. from Wheelock College, and has since done postgraduate work at the University of Colorado at Denver.
Editor’s Note: Earlier today Mr. Sills sent the following note to parents
Before announcing Davis School’s next principal, I want to thank a number of people for their exceptional work on behalf of our school community :
Nancy Peterson, who was described by faculty members as having “righted the ship”, has brought focused, reassuring, and expert leadership to the Davis School community these past two years. Her calm demeanor and professional wisdom, her advocacy for Davis’s needs, her school-wide celebrations, scheduling of time for teacher collaboration and decision-making based on the well-being of students have been all so important during this period of transition.
Andrea Salipante, whose remarkable connections with students and parents have anchored the ship during the past six years as Davis School has weathered three changes in leadership. Andrea’s operational knowledge and omnipresence have soothed the anxiety that parents and staff have naturally experienced in the face of discontinuous leadership. We look forward to Andrea’s partnership with Davis’s new principal.
For forwarding three excellent candidates, thank you to Dr. Jackson and the Davis School principal interview committee: Ed Pierce, Abbie Siebert, Sema Arakalian, Carol Wait, Julie Lane, Peter Laskaris, Kathy Lanz, Terri Kramer and Kristen Tocci.
Finally, the faculty and staff at Davis School, for all of your loving work on behalf of Davis Children. Spending these days with you during our site visits has been inspiring.
Jon Sills
Superintendent
Bedford Public Schools
781-275-7588
[email protected]
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