Published: 4/28/2017 11:15:39 PM
CHARLEMONT — Mohawk science teacher and “Science Educator of the Year” award-winner Samantha B. Rutz has been hired to serve as Hawlemont Regional School principal, starting this July.
According to School Superintendent Michael Buoniconti, Rutz has more than 10 years of experience of teaching. Her current position is as seventh-grade science teacher at the Mohawk Trail Regional Middle School.
“In her position at Mohawk, which she has held since the fall of 2012, Ms. Rutz has developed a curriculum centered on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and project-based learning.”
I am very confident that Samantha’s exceptional performance in the classroom and demonstrated leadership among her peers will translate into similar success as the instructional leader of Hawlemont,” Buoniconti said. “Her passion for science and project-based learning will no doubt support the continued development and success of the Hawlemont HAY (Hawlemont, Agriculture and You) program.”
The current principal, Wayne Kermenski, has found another principal job and will remain at Hawlemont for the rest of this school year, according to Buoniconti.
Last fall, Rutz won the Massachusetts Association of Science Teacher’s “Franklin County Science Educator of the Year” award for leadership in the classroom and school community — a county educator award given to 13 teachers in the state.
Besides teaching at Mohawk, Rutz has taught at Mahar Regional School in Orange and at the Chestnut Accelerated Middle School in Springfield. Her contract with the district is for a three-year term.