Mr. William Fish to be appointed to position of Pierce Middle School Principal

Mr. Fish to begin new position on July 1, 2019

Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff,

I could not be more pleased and proud to announce the appointment of Mr. William Fish to the position of Pierce Middle School Principal. Mr. Fish has served as Principal of Norwell High School for 8 years and prior to that served as the Assistant Principal of Sharon High School. He is a Milton resident whose children attend the Milton Public Schools.

Mr. Fish is a doctoral candidate at Northeastern University. He earned his master’s degree from Eastern Nazarene College, his Post-Master’s administrative license from Bridgewater State University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut.

Screening Committee member and MPS parent Dana Jessup Turner noted, “The process of finding the new Pierce principal affirmed our town’s commitment to inclusiveness and educational excellence. I especially appreciated the Screening Committee’s attention to finding a principal who values diversity and recognizes the importance of cultivating social and emotional growth. I’m very excited to see how Pierce continues to thrive under Mr. Fish’s leadership.”

Cunningham Principal Jon Redden said, “Mr. Fish presented as a ‘student first’ principal, as he plans his day to be in the hallways rather than in the office and saves paperwork for before or after school so he can be a visible leader. Mr. Fish has high expectations for students and staff and while his high school excels on state assessments and AP exams, he spoke at length to the programs and schedule modifications that enabled him to provide students with extended learning opportunities. Mr. Fish spoke to how enthusiastic he is to work in a diverse school district and strengthen the educational opportunities for all learners. His passion for education was clearly evident in his responses.”

“The School Committee is excited to bring aboard someone of Mr. Fish’s caliber to head up our Pierce community,” shares Milton School Committee Chair Sheila Varela. “His administrative knowledge of both middle and high school will be a great asset to our entire district.”

I would like to thank those who worked with me on the Pierce Principal Screening Committee. The committee included Tucker Principal Dr. Elaine NcNeil-Girmai, Citizens for a Diverse Milton and parent representative Eve Davison, Special Education Parent Advisory Committee member Jennifer Sheehan, Parent Representatives Dana Jessup Turner, Kristen Murphy and Denise Carbone, School Committee Representative Elizabeth White, teachers Kerri Devin and Jake Smith, and Tucker Assistant Principal and Curriculum Coordinator Catherine DesRoche.

This committee worked tirelessly to review the resumes of 40 qualified applicants, then selected and interviewed semi-finalist candidates. Their work helped to focus our attention on Mr. Fish’s qualifications, experience and mindset.

I would also like to thank current Pierce Principal Dr. Karen Spaulding for her outstanding leadership of the Pierce Middle School for the past 7 years. Dr. Spaulding has been appointed to the position of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Human Resources for the Milton Public Schools and will work closely with Mr. Fish to ensure a smooth transition.

Bill Fish asked to share the following: “I am thrilled to join the Pierce community and the Milton Public Schools. I look forward to building relationships with our students, faculty, and families that support students to have positive, nurturing and enriching middle school experiences. I am honored to have the unique opportunity to bring my professional experiences and passions to the place I call home. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. My email address as of July 1 is [email protected].”

Mr. Fish will begin his new position on July 1, 2019. I am confident that he will work collaboratively with parents/guardians, teachers and staff to set high expectations for students and the Pierce Middle School community. I know you will join me in enthusiastically welcoming Bill Fish to the Milton Public Schools.

Sincerely,

Mary C. Gormley, Superintendent of Schools