Seekonk Public Schools Hosts New Hires Orientation Ahead of 2023-24 School Year
Ahead of students’ return to school, Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell is pleased to announce that Seekonk Public Schools hosted its New Hire Orientation last week.
During Aug. 21-22, Seekonk school officials welcomed 12 out of its 13 new hires to the Seekonk community as part of their orientation at the Hurley Middle School.
New hires include:
- Isabel Given – Aitken Elementary School Special Education
- Margaret Hack – Hurley Middle School Special Education
- Danielle MacKenney – Martin Elementary School Visual Arts
- Daniel Snizek – Seekonk High School Band
- David Flaxman – Hurley Middle School Spanish
- John Doorley – Seekonk High School Biology
- Kaya Flanagan – Aitken Elementary School Grade Three
- Felicia Sollitto – Aitken Elementary School Special Education
- Taylor Dudley – Aitken Elementary School Technology
- Madison Rodgers – Martin Elementary School Grade Two
- Miranda Laughlin – Martin Elementary School Library
- Meredith Rockett – Martin Elementary School Kindergarten
- Timarie Malo – Hurley Middle School Library/Media
“I am so proud to welcome these faculty members to the Seekonk team,” said Superintendent Kidwell. “Our interview teams and building administrators have done a skillful job of identifying those who will be positive contributors to our district’s culture. We are lucky to spend these two days with them, and I commend Assistant Superintendent Zachary Waddicor for organizing their introduction to the district.”
During the orientation, new hires met with Central Office administrators including Superintendent Kidwell, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Waddicor, School Business Administrator Dr. Ryan McGee, Director of Student Service George Kelleher, and Director of Technology and Digital Learning Trisha Leary.
Over the course of the two days, new hires discussed an array of topics relating to the school district, including its Strategy for Success and Vision of Student Success (Vision of a Graduate) and took part in technology integration and team-building exercises.
While discussing the District Strategy for Student Success, which is also known as the District Improvement Plan, new hires learned about the district’s current vision through 2026 and how their positions contribute to that vision.
Attendees were also given access to various district software accounts to help them get acclimated to the instructional tools the district provides through technology.
“New Hire Orientation truthfully is one of my favorite events of the school year. This year’s class of new hires are fantastic educators: some veterans in the field and some new to the profession,” said Assistant Superintendent Waddicor. “As always, we are extremely excited to welcome back Seekonk Public Schools graduates to now serve in the profession alongside us.”
The district is very excited to welcome all faculty back on Tuesday, Aug. 29.
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Seekonk Public Schools Welcomes New School Business Administrator and Director of Technology and Digital Learning
SEEKONK — Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell is pleased to announce the selection of two new members of Seekonk Public Schools administrative leadership team.
Dr. Ryan McGee has been selected as Business Administrator and Trisha Leary has been selected as Director of Technology and Digital Learning. Both will begin their new positions on Aug. 1.
“District and school leadership is truly looking forward to welcoming both Dr. McGee and Mrs. Leary to our administrative team, as they bring with them professional knowledge and teaching experience that will complete our central office team,” Superintendent Kidwell said. “Along with Assistant Superintendent Zach Waddicor and Director of Student Services George Kelleher, we are thrilled to spend August meeting with administrators, teachers, staff, and families, preparing for a great school year.”
School Business Administrator Ryan McGee
Dr. McGee most recently worked in Stoughton Public Schools as the District’s Administrator of Educational Technology. In this role, he worked with, maintained and supported the District’s financial system among his many other responsibilities.
Prior to working for the Stoughton school district, McGee worked for the Town of Stoughton as the Information Technology Director, where he also supported and maintained all town departments’ network infrastructure including the operational plan and budget.
McGee also served as Old Rochester Regional School District & MA Superintendency 55’s Technology Director, Barnstable Horace Mann Public Charter School’s Technology Director/Building Administrator, and Saint Francis Xavier Preparatory School’s Technology Coordinator, among his many other previous positions.
He received his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University and a Master of Business Administration from Johnson and Wales University.
Director of Technology and Digital Learning Trisha Leary
Leary has spent the past 24 years working in education, during which time she has consistently championed the effective use of technology to supplement instructional practices for both students and teachers.
In her most recent position as Dartmouth Public Schools’ District Instructional Technology Specialist, Leary chaired a committee to align and integrate digital literacy standards for Grades K-12. She also collaborated with instructional technology specialists, building administrators and coaches to develop and/or modify curriculum maps to align with digital literacy standards in addition to collaborating with elementary and secondary directors of teaching and learning to ensure that the software supported instruction, assessment and curriculum.
Prior to serving as the district’s Instructional Technology Specialist, Leary also held the positions of instructional technology specialist and classroom teacher for Grades 4 through 6.
Leary holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Cambridge College, a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and holds several certifications in teaching.
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Rebecca Kidwell Named Superintendent of Seekonk Public Schools
The Seekonk Superintendent Search Committee is pleased to announce that Rockland Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell has been selected as the next superintendent of Seekonk Public Schools.
Pending successful contract negotiations, Kidwell is expected to assume her new role on July 1 following Superintendent Rich Drolet’s departure from the district at the end of the school year.
“I’m thrilled to join the Seekonk team, in large part because of the community that cares strongly about education. I truly believe we can work together to maintain Seekonk’s existing strengths and provide avenues for change and growth where the opportunities exist,” Kidwell said. “Seekonk’s students deserve a school system that prepares them for post-secondary education and 21st-century careers. I look forward to working with the school committee, the leadership team, faculty, staff and families to make the Seekonk Public Schools a successful and enjoyable learning experience for all students.”
Kidwell has served as Assistant Superintendent of Rockland Public Schools since 2021. In this role, she led the district review, adoption and implementation process around district-designed resources for literacy and writing. She is also credited with expanding Rockland’s English Learner Education (ELE) department by providing districtwide professional development to support best practices in English Language Development and Sheltered English Immersion instruction and initiating free adult education for English Learners.
Prior to serving in the Rockland Public Schools district, Kidwell held several positions within Braintree Public Schools including Director of Technology and Accountability, Interim Director of Curriculum and Technology, Director of English, Reading and English Learner Education and as an English teacher.
Kidwell received a Master of Education degree in organizational management from Endicott College, a master’s degree in teaching English from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Oberlin College.
Outside of work, Kidwell is involved in several professional organizations including the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, Massachusetts Association of Superintendents (MASS), South Shore Roundtable of MASS and Massachusetts Association of Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages.
She was also a member of the K-6 Digital Literacy and Computer Science Integration Network and a Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers fellow.
Kidwell was selected following a rigorous candidate search that began in March. On May 18, the Superintendent Search Committee publicly interviewed its three finalists and conducted tours of the schools before selecting Kidwell as the superintendent-elect.
“I’d like to thank our three finalists – Dr. Andrea Schwamb, Rebecca Kidwell and Dr. Marlene DiLeo – as they each put significant effort into pursuing a leadership position in our school district,” Search Committee and School Committee Chair Meaghan Mahoney said. “The School Committee applauds their efforts and professionalism throughout the process, and we thank them for their interest in the community we all call home. I’d also like to thank my School Committee colleagues for working to make the best possible decisions for our students, faculty, staff, parents and community.”
The Superintendent Search Committee would also like to thank the District Leadership team – including building Principals, Assistant Principals, teachers and staff – that assisted in coordinating the candidates’ visits and the greater school community for their involvement throughout the process.
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