Published: 4/20/2020 12:42:00 PM
GILL — Gill Elementary School Principal Connor Driscoll is leaving at the end of the school year to become principal of Hatfield Elementary School, and the Gill-Montague Regional School District expects to choose a replacement by the end of May.
Driscoll explained that Hatfield is closer to his home, and will allow him more time with his family. He emphasized the similarity of the two schools — both rural in their settings, with strong reputations — but added that Hatfield Elementary is slightly bigger, with greater responsibility for the principal.
“I have nothing but positive things to say about Gill,” Driscoll noted.
Driscoll has been principal of Gill Elementary for five years. He has been working in education since 2008, as a teacher in Springfield, the Boston area, Vermont and, most recently, as an English teacher at Great Falls Middle School for three years.
Discussing his five years at Gill Elementary, he mentioned that the stability of the staff has allowed teachers and administrators to focus on work, rather than on reinventing the school’s structure. The relatively recent focus on project-based learning has also been a strength, he said.
“We’re seeing a lot of that pay off in our students and how they feel about school and the level of engagement that they show,” Driscoll said.
A decision on hiring a replacement will most likely be made jointly between Gill-Montague Superintendent Michael Sullivan, who happens to be retiring at the end of June, and his selected successor Brian Beck, according to Sullivan.
The hiring will also involve a search committee, made up of teachers, school staff members, parents or guardians, and district administrators, Sullivan said.
“It’s a very desirable school to be a principal in, for lots of reasons,” Sullivan said. “I expect we’ll get some strong candidates.”
Reach Max Marcus at
mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.