BERNARDSTON — Rounding out the Pioneer Valley Regional School District’s trio of principal appointments is one who already has some experience in the district.

Cindy Schultz was brought to the district last summer to serve as Bernardston Elementary School’s interim principal for the 2022-2023 school year, while the school determined its plan for the future. Nearly six months after that initial hiring, though, district administrators slashed the temporary title from her role and tapped Schultz as the school’s permanent principal.

A self-described “career educator,” Schultz spent nine years teaching at elementary schools in Springfield and more than 20 years in Longmeadow before taking the plunge into an administrative role in Bernardston. In her time as a teacher, she took on roles as the English curriculum coordinator and mentored other teachers, which she said gave her some of the leadership skills needed to succeed as an administrator.

“I had this opportunity to come and be the principal here in Bernardston and was excited to do it,” Schultz said. “It was nice to be offered the opportunity to stay.”

In her first year, Schultz learned the ropes of being a principal with support from numerous people, including Superintendent Patricia Kinsella and James Trill, who was Northfield Elementary School’s interim principal.

“I think support matters. You need to have a team that supports you and guides you,” she said. “The kids were fun; I knew I would like that, I knew I would like the teachers, that’s been my whole life. And the families were lovely. … You can see the community, they come out.”

In a school newsletter, Kinsella wrote that Schultz’s acceptance of the permanent role ensures “compassionate and effective leadership in the coming years.”

“Ms. Schultz, in her first five months at BES, has proved herself to be a kind, calm, deliberative and collaborative leader,” Kinsella wrote. “She has made the development of relationships her priority — which is key to leadership in any school community.”

Entering her second year, Schultz said her main goal is to continue the sort of recovery period that has started in the wake of the pandemic.

“Stating the obvious, the pandemic had a huge impact on schools and children and families, and I just want to help us keep coming back,” Schultz said. “Having been a teacher for so many years — and it’s not just here, it’s everywhere — the kids were out of sorts. … It’s nice to have them coming back, even just learning how to play on the playground together.

“I think it’s still a time of healing,” she added.

Another initiative she is looking forward to is the district-wide push for more outdoor and environmental education. The district has hired an environmental educator and has also started a partnership with retired Pioneer Valley Regional School teacher John Lepore to explore how the school can use its wooded wetlands and farmland for outdoor education.

The priority, Schultz said, is “happy kids, happy teachers and happy families,” which will all lead to a positive school environment.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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